New-York tribune., 1909-01-03
FRENCH ANTLSOCIALISM.

The most significant feature Of domestic poll
tics in France during the last year was unqueS-
tionably the reaction against socialism. This
involved not alone the conservative portions of
the Republican party, which have always been
opposed to socialism, but equally those radlcal
and labor elements which have frequently been
allied with the Socialists and have been sup
posed 10 he inClinlng more and more toward
outright socialism. For years prior TO 1908
party or factional lines were so indefinitely
drawn that ii was difficult to tell where repuh-
licansm ended and socialism began and the
latter doubtless enjoyed undue prestige through
being credited with actual potential support
which il did not really have. But in Ihe last
twelve months the lines of demarcation have
been SO distinctly drawn that there should n"
longer be any doubt concerning the status OF
any faction or Individual AS this salutary
change was erected chiefly at or as conSe-
duence of the congress Of Limoges. tiaf gain
ering NAV without eXa@geration he regarded aS
having marked an op "h in French p"I't"'
HISTORY. We shall expect henceforth to see rhe
decline Of socialism III France dated from Il
Today Seua- ,ial elections are held in Franc"
I-suallv the. ,o not have as much political siS
pificanre =s do elections for the Chamber Of
DEPUTIES. but in The present case they have
great significance and the preparations for
them have been highly Illuminating. 4 httl"
more than & fortnight ago conventions OF IN"
Senatorial delegates were held. and In some
Of them, particularly IN and about Paris. the
issue Of socialism or anti-socalsm was clearly
drawn. The question arose whether the so
called RadicaESocialist Union should support
republicanism or socialism. It was answered
unhesitatingly and unequivocally- The Union
definitely separated itself from the SOCIALIST
party and declared for republcsnism. 1t spe
re SrrrgTo fD n
Socialist candidate When a Socialist delegate
asked If its discrimination was against the en-
tire Socialist party the answer was, tersely and
conCIusively, Yes"
The reason given for the alignment Of the
Radcals-even Of thoss who have been called
Radical Socialists against the Socialists was
perfectly plain. II was based upon the action
of the Socialists at the congress OF Limoges
At that gathering the Socialists distinctly de
cIared against serving in the army or navy
even for the protection OF France from alien
attack In so doing, say the Radicals, they
separated themselves from France. and 1t IS
therefore Impossible for any patriotic French
man 10 cooperate with them. That feeling has
become general and Is now dominant through
ont the republic In demanding that French
Socialists shall practically deny the fatheriand
and shall hold allegiance 10 International social
ism above allegiance 10 the French republic
the Socialists have provoked the drawing of the
line between socialism and antisocialism, or
between anti-patriotism and patriotism, and in
such a division there can be no question rs to
where the aiority Of Frenchmen will stand
They will gree with Mr.. Nauian, the director
Of The Radical" newspaper, in insisting that
since the dav on which the Socialists refused to
participate in maintaining and operating the
established institutions Of the national govern
+bo No n
mon with them. True Frenchmen will never
march at the side Of men who preach desertion,
who injure their country and who Insult and
dpnv France