Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-07
FRANCES NEW
PRIME MINISTER
Ferdinand Sarrien Has Been
Powerful Force For Last
Eight Years.
ONCE MODERATE REPUBLICAN
Nov an Extreme Radical and the Most
Jpyetcratc of Anti-Clericals--
His Cabinet Is mixed"
sueclal Correspondence.

SueCial correspondence
ARTS. March 29.---The selection
of Ferdinand Sarrien as prime
minister has come as something
of relief for France, because he
has been hanging as the sword OF
Damocles over the peoples heads for
eight years. The power behind the
throne in the Radico-Socialist party
which governs France, every time
there was a presidential election in
sight, or ministerial crisis In action,
,he word would be passed around, ut
will be Sarriel.' Somehow, II never
was. but that did not keep the pro-
phecy from being repeated next time,
II was said that Sarrien would be
elected president on Felix Faure's
death, but Loubet was elected instead,
II was also said that If Fallieres were
rot elected at the first ballot last Janu-
airy Sarrlen would get in on the sec
end ballot, only Faliieres got i'm. When
Dupuys ministry fell, when Waldeck-
Rousseau resigned, when Cdmbes was
oyerthrowD, when discussions all but
broke UP the Rouvier ministry last
year and caused considerable changes,
Sarren's name was regularly brought
forward az the man who would take
up the reins of government. But he
never did. And SO, when Rouvier re-
signed at last, and people began TO
say that Sarrien would be the premier.
It was relief even for Sarrien's po-
lliical adversaries TO see him there at
last where his value could be judged,
and where he must either succeed or
fall but could not continue indefinitely
as the coming man.
For considerable as Sarrieu's inilu-
ence has incidentally been on his party,
he came really TO the front only once
as minister of justice in the Brlsson
cabinet IN $685. when he transmitted
the request FOR the Dreyfus revision to
the court of cessation. disregarding
the report OF the government commits
sion which was adverse to this meas
ure. Sarrien's action caused Cavaig-
nae, the minister Of war. to resign:
and not long after the entire cabinet
fcll In consequence of the Dreyfus
agitation.
Ferdinand Sarren was born in 1910
at Bourbon Lancy. in the east of
France. and studied to he a lawyer
He fought through the Franco Prus-
sian war and rose to the rank of cap
tain, returning 10 his native town when
peace was concluded and interesting
himself In local politics. Elected may
or, he retained this post until he en-
tered national politics IN 1876, by be-
ing elected member of the chamber
Of deputies, He flew the flag OF Mod
crate Republioanism. and devoted
himself particularly to scholastic and
colonial questions. He first held office
n 1885 In the Brisson cabinet. as min
ister of posts and telegraphs; and in
1856 was minister OF the interior In
the freycinet cabinet. In the Goblet
cabinet at the end OF 1856, he was
minister Of Justice, and resumed the
portfolio OF the Interior In the Tirard
cabinet, 1SS7-SS. During the 10 years
after this, he was little heard Of, but
his political opinions began to change;
nom Moderate Republican, he became
an extreme Radical. and with the ex-
eeption OF former Premier Combes,
there IL not In France today a more
lnyeterate anti-clerlcal than Sarrien.
sarrien was next heard of IN the Bris-
son cabinet In 1898. and was then
ecllpsed again until 1906.
The cabinet which Sarrien has form
ca has awakened part surprise, part
olsmay in France. No such hetero-
geneous combination was ever seen.
There is Poincarre the Anglo maniac
ana Bourgeois, the Germanophile;
brand, who framed the associations
Jaw In Its present vicious form and
VINO has sworn that /; shall be carried
cul IN every detail, and Leagues, who
mas Pledged himself to see fair play
lor churches and Catholics. The gem
eeral feeling Is that II the ministry can
I'VE during the six weeks which separ-
a'e France from the general elections