Evening star., 1909-05-02
SYNDICATES VERSUS NATIONALlSM


The chamber feels. in a confused sort
of way. the danger which menaces II and
which threatens the constitutional regime
Already the power which 1t has abused
syndicates! Authority finally follows
force, and the people have found II in tho
syndicate. In the face of parliament and
the government there rises now the re-
doubtabe strike committees.
New forces have been formed under the
quasi protection of government, which
under the Combes administration. for ex-
ample, gave them aid and support. II Is,
perhaps. too late to halt the movement.
And NJ. Charmes evokes the memory of
Cfarlemagne. who wept bitterly when he
saw the Norman harks that menaced the
coast of France and predicted that which
happened after him.
nj. BRAND. minister of Justice delivered
speech at NeubourE. i'm the Department
of ]. .Eure. NJ. BRAND is a socialist. and
nothing was more natural than he should
speak OF socialism.
NJ. BRAND. minister. and M. BRAND.
simple citizen, constitute two. persons
quite distinct. This is. perhaps. a weak
ness common to mortals Mr.. Gladstone
possessed the same weakness. NJ. BRAND
frankly avOwS this when he says: IF
tomorrow the old friends who criticise
me should accept serious posts they would
understand that the higher Il party holds
its ideals the more its program of re-
forms becomes heightened and the more
the want of order in the nation and dis
cipline in its actions"
X
: NJ BRAND confeSses that serious diyi-
'sions have arisen in the social and political
body. Formerly the re-
Groups public was common
center for all republicans;
oAncu' today small groups have
f1,~
look at each other with defiance. and
tomorrow the look may mean fratricide,
and the men who gave their blood to es-
tablish the republic may tear each other
to pieces.
Yes" added the minister, these are
new things. l recognize that in certain
circumstances they may be regarded as
disquieting, pernicious, redoubtable. What
will you do? 1t is the first attack of
gout of society that politically has
aged And NJ. BRAND added, In a con-
sOlatory manner "Gout may become a
certificate Of long life.
NJ. BRAND declared that the syndicate
of functiOnaries was particularly serious.
The subject was very delicate. Il am
he said. "a great friend of liberty. and l
maintain that only when 1t transforms
itself into tyranny we should intervene
and repress it,
He confesses that the strikers may have
parliamentary regime is not perfect, while
the administrations are given up to the
brigandage of politicians. But IL the
government suffers from the malady it
possesses the remedy. Under the regime
OF liberty protestations are heard and
ndUce Is taken of grievances; injustice
should not be perpetuated under the re-
public. M. BRAND refused to believe that
the working classes may turn against the
regime for which they shed their blood.
The ranks of those arrayed in revolt
against the state have been reinforced
recently by functionaries led by NJ. Char
don. master Of petitions in the council of
state. A meeting was held at the Hotel
des Societies Savantes. It would seem
that 1t was an attempt on the part of
government to divide the forces Of the
malcontents-create q diversion. II SO,
1t was unsuccessful.
NJ Chardon affirmed the right to pro-
lection against arbitrary governmental
authority. He declared
Chardon's the necessity of putting
n,Ae an end to favoritism,
which, having sown dis
order in the public service. has broken
almost all the springs of parliamentary
government. NJ. Chardon recognizes his
duties to the state, which is in contra
distinction to the socialists. who deny
that they owe the state anything at all
M. Chardon is opposed to the pretensions
Of the deputy who would be supreme
master in his ''circonscription.'' The
deputies present protested and the audi
ence howled, Down with the Loo! Hur-
rah for the strike!'
At this juncture the Citizen" Pataud
mounted the rostrum, and the deputies
made haste to depart. The president,
amid the confusion, declared the seance
closed. Indeed" replied NJ. Pataud. I'VE
will have another" and he announced
"The seance is opened
The functionaries in Prince Alberts were
obliged to beat a retreat in face of the
functionaries of the third class in jackets
and in smock frocks.
The adjourned meeting was reconvoked
at the HippodrOme. where the 4th Of April
the orators hurled defiance at the govern
ment. "Anti-mlitarism,' it was said
was the first condition of all progress"
We do not care for the form of govern
ment.' Patriotism serves only to ia
naticize the crowd" etc.
At the congress Of ST. Etienne on the
18th of March the anti-nilitarist doctrines
of NJ. Gustave Herve were given large
place in the debates. The patriotic social
lists proposed to exclude M Herve, but
NJ Jaures came to the rescue and saved
him.
The Petite Republique. socialist organ,