Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
CLEMENCEAU' s FALL
London View of Retirement
of French Premier.
SUCCESSOR AN ACTIVE NAN
Excels in Tact, Brilliancy and
Moderation.
SHORT LIFE OF MINISTRIES
South Africa in the Imperial De-
Tense NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Sequel to Royal Wedding.
SHORT LIFE OF MINISTRIES
Sneeial cnrresnnn.ience Of ILe SIR.


To those who are behind the scenes OF
French politics the fall Of VI. Ciemen-
ceau has not been so much OF a bolt from
the blue as is generally supposed. The
precise manner of ii. and above all. tie
tactlessness of the ex-premier which rem
dered Il inevitable were, Of course, not
foreseen. Even NJ. Delcasse could not
have dreamed that his enemy would fall
so easily into the trap laid for him. But
that a catastrophe was steadily approach
ing. and could not be avoided, has been
known for some time.
In the first place, VI. Clemenceau had
been lulied into n sense of false security
by his tremendous victory at the polls in
May. 1906. Never since the establishment
of the constitution OF lS15-not even in
1877 and 1Ss1-had a French statesman
found himself at the head OF so large and
compact a parliamentary majority. None
of his great predecessors, not Gambetta.
Jules Ferry or Waldeck-Rousseau. was
invested with so incontestable a dicta-
torShip.
In the first flush of victory NJ. Clemen-
ceau made his first serious mistake. He
elaborated a colossal program of reforms
on which no fewer than eighteen epoch
making political changes figured. His
next blunder was that he VIZ
tually abandoned the majority OF
them and gave himself UP to the game of
parliamentary tactics, which fascinated
his combative mind more than anything
else. The result was that he gradually
alienated his supporters without conciliat-
ing his adversaries and a coalition
against him, on the approved Clemenceau
model, was only question OF time and
opportunity.
Clemenceaus successor, NJ. BRAND, the
very able minister of Justice in the fallen
cabinet Is only forty-three years old and
is the type of French politician who
achieves success in short period. Ten
wears ago he was violent socialist. but
his views have undergone some modera-
ton during that time though he is still
sufficiently socialistic to cause amusing
comment on his reception of the car
when the latter arrives in France. NJ.
BRAND will also doubtless find his politi-
cal views an obstacle both in the forma-
ton of his cabinet and the conduct of
business in the chamber. As former
minister of public worship he had to pilot
the separation bill through the chamber;
and as minister of justice IN the late min
fstry he had TO see that the provisions of
the act were carried out.
He has great tact and moderation and
is generally respected by all parties, and
France will have in him another brilliant
prime minister and an orator as COM
manding as Clemenceau himself.
Fifty Ministries in Forty Years.
During the past forty years England
has had about dozen ministries: in
France they have had over fifty. Some.
like that of Clemenceau, have lasted two
or three years. others anything between a
year and forty -eight hours-the exact
life" of a cabinet formed by NJ Sarrien.
The ministerial record was achieved by
the war Office during the Dreyfus crisis.
Four ministers lodged in and out within
four weeks.
One cabinet crisis occurred the evening
the president was giving a grand dinner
to introduce the ministers to a certain
monarch, but Monsieur de Freycinet, &C
customed to these political vicissitudes,
treated the affair with delightful non
chalance. When they separated the king
said to him. Gin France, in my coun-
try. YOU have the game of political musi-
cal chairs On my next visit l certain
~ expect to see you back In office again.
Your majesty is very kind replied the
ex-minister, but / am horribly fatigued,
and shall be glad to return to my favorite
studies" Within few days the minis
ter was again in the cabinet, and went to
pay his respects to the departing king,
who laughingly said: "Ah, back again In
harness. I see France always returns
to her first political loves
One ministry was turned out for main
tanning certain officials called subprefects.
The first act of the new ministry was to
servants whom they themselves had just
denounced as useless.
The existence of a cabinet ia challenged
by interpretations with amusing fre-
duency. In two years one premier had to
parry about 10 OF these insidious attacks
Very frequently a persistent "heckler''
maneuvers to get himself bought of by
some lucrative post abroad: ministers are
constantly being reminded that other
Statesmen are waiting their turn. and
are frankly notified that ii is time to quit
In this way everybody gets "a fair
ahow.' France has had as premier a
matchmaker. lawyer. a school usher, a
journalist and grocers assistant
The foreign Office has been controlled
by lawyer. a chemist, clerk a doctor
and school teacher. Ministers serve in
endless combinations and rise triumpha mt
after many crushing defeats and disasters
abjure politics for ever. NJ. Clemenceau
himself was ANONYMOUSLY driven from
public life for ten years by his enemies.
who accused him of completely in the
Panama scandals.
The women see the attractions of these
brilliant positions: they are in a fever OF
excitement until papa is definitely ap-
pointed. Madame sees herself installed
at the palatial ministry and her friends
green with envy. Having Seen there as
guest. she burns 10 return as mistress
She has mentally decided to redecorat e
throughout-at the governments expense,
" touTSe-tne previous mistress having
displayed eXecrabe taste.
Clemenceau a Back Number.
Ciemenceau is gore as political force.
He reached power late; he held il long
he PLAYED for all or nothing But long
atter tlemenceau'S cabinet is forgotten
the man himself will live. He waste
speak o. him as historical parsonage
a character and wit. People will tell
stories OF him as they do of Palmerston.
o. Carlyle, or Dean Swift His appear
big man, with Chinese eyes. and the face
of distinguished Mongol: with bald, high
forehead color like that of old ivory.
drooplhg mustache jaw which show
ed hrmness and courage. and evident ap-
pearance of intellect, and vet withal
something not wholly responsible, a surg.
gestion OF the 'leery" sportiye air of
the sanin of Paris
That must never be forgotten in the
estimation OF his character OF c1-eai
power of intellect he certainly was He
was, first OF all. medical man. and .
treatise OF his may still be read with
pleasure. After warm parlia maptarx
day he could go home and enjoy himself
by reading Homer at his fireside He was
passionate over Greek civilization His
own literary style was excellent He
spoke English almost like an Engiishman
and he knew Paris in every nook and
corner.
On Wednesday next the imperial defense
conference will hold its first sitting In
Downing street. All the delegates Il, this
conference are already in London, and
have been spectators OF the naval demon.
Stration in the Thames excenfinp 81,