The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-24

Disturbed District subject 10 Assault
and Abuse and With orders Not 10 Fire
II Flag Raised at Many Points
Further Hesitation TO Enforce Law
at Any Cost May Result In Another
bloody Chapter OF French History.
Special Gable despatch 10 THE Sun
PARIS. April 23.-Sunny April skies never
smiled upon a fairer Paris, the streets OF
the worlds gayest capital never teemed
with brighter life, San Francisco itself
on the eve of its great calamity showed
no more outward signs of impending dis
a,ter than are visible here to-day yet
France at the present moment is face TO
face with the gravest peril that can menace
p democracy or any form of government
The law has bowed before the mob IN
more than one disturbed district, with the
inevitable result Rebellion has begun
and anarchy threatens to follow swiftly
NOT only at the scenes of the prevailing
riots, but in Paris itself
The attention of the world annot fail
TO concentrate on the tremendous OBJECT
lesson in modern statecrait which france
will he compelled to furnish in the next
few days. The situation is OF such vast
importance yet so simple withai that 1t
is necessary to review briefly its inception
and development.
Franco is not anarchistic, revolutionary
ar oven socialistic in its general public
eeptiment any more than is America, Eng
and or Germany. The country honestly
relieves in republican principles, and the
sincere desire for peace of the French
reonIe has been amply demonstrated by
their splendid restraint under German
nroyocation during the past year.
OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Since the retirement of Prime Minister
Waldeck- Rousseau the country has not had
n strong government in its internal dmln-
istration. Weakness first manifested itself
in tolerance Of virtual defiance of the law.
Even President Loubet on n occasion
permitted a red flag to pass him in a process
sion without a protest. Virtual treason
has been talked openly in certain quarters
for months past.
There will be attempts made to connect
the present labor instruction with the
agitation against the religious separation
law, The only connection is the effect of a
bad example. 1t was in dealing with the
rioters who opposed the authorities taking
inventories Of church property that the
Government first openly oondoned violent
defiance OF the law. Citizens who fagrantly
assaulted public officers I'M oldiers who
refused to obey orders were allowed to go
scot free. Attempts to enforce the law in
districts where it was especially unpopular
we're finally abandoned entirely.
ENEMIES OF THE REPUBLIC MOVE TO THE
ATTACK.
It was a foregone conclusion that this
successful defiance of law would encourage
agitators of various types to press for
ward their schemes for undermining the
Government. All the enemies OF the pres
ent regime, though there was no direct
cooperation, advanced to the attack sinful
~taneously. The Royalists, Clericals, anar-
chists and Socialists we're reinforced by
the great body OF organized labor, whose
rank and file are not enemies Of the
Republic, but whose INSCRIPTIONS leaders
seized the opportunity to prcss demands
which they knew we're impossible of attain
ment in ordinary times.
The conditions we're provocative and the
opportunity unique. The unnatural ALI
ance of inharmonious groups known as
the bloc" had gained control Of the Govern
ment and elected NJ. Fallieres President OF
the Republic. 1t was known that NJ.
Clemenceau was the real power behind
the throne. The opposition was 30 strong
that it was thought by NJ. Clemenoeau's
own supporters among the labor leaders
that the chance was a good n to demand
concessions.
NJ, Clemenceau is not a Socialist, but he
has always posed as a stanch supporter
Of organized labor. He and the Govern
ment may be expected to say presently
that the agitation in the country is not
the work Of true labor unions, but is the
result Of a plot among the enemies of the
Republic, with the Revolutionary object