Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-11

chamber of deputies OF
ClemenCeau France on the 14th of
July. Senator Clemen-
ceau issued an anti-pro-
portional manifesto. The opposition
was not unexpected. NJ Poincare. in
deed, said in his speech of defiance to
a most uncertain assembly: I'VE ex-
pect that radicals and radical Socialists
will attack us and with visors down.
their intention. we warn
them from this moment on in all hon
esty that il they nourish the design of
opposing electoral reform they had bet
ter commence by overturning the
As we have seen, the radi-
Gals and radical socialists attacked,
but were signally defeated.
NJ. Combes, or NJ Jaures or NJ Call
lauX was the logical leader of an at
tempt at revolt against proportional
reform. but it is NJ. Clemenceau who
has assumed the leadership. with
other reasons because he is senator.
Proportional reform. IL should be
borne in mind. signifies. briefly. reform
of the electoral system. which main
tains representation In the national
chamber based upon the number OF
inscribed voters in contradistinction to
the actual voters in the district. Tne
maintenance OF the inscribed voters
was an arm which promised to per-
petuate the power of the radical
socialists indefinitely.
NJ. Clemenceau, it is thought by 1.-The
radical socialists, will be able to create
divisions among senators ana
Socialist secure a vote in the senate
against the electoral reform.
AVPeS. The cry Will be raised of in
fringement Of the rights Of the people and
of restriction of universal suffrage" The
fact is that the reform was passed by
the chamber Of deputies by an irresistible
movement of the country Gin favor of
more sincerity in universal suffrage, which
under the past circumstances was mis-
homer and fraud.
The Temps commenting upon the Situa-
ton. says; IF NJ. Clemenceau proposes to
finish as he has commenced-that is 10
say, by dividing the republican party and
compromising the institutions OF the
country-he will not be followed. we can
assure him. by the majority in parlia-
ment The latter, supported by public
opinionE will administer rebuke to the
agitatofs."
A writer to the Temps. who, claims to
reflect popular sentiment, declares that
sible this electoral reform may appear to
the elector, it had the good fortune to be
taken UP at a psychological moment
lone Of these moments when the coun-
try longed for a change" 1t was for re-
publicans. said this writer, to decide IL it
was not preferable for democracy to at
tach itself to an idea rather than to a
man! When the reform was first moot
ed France was a prey to interior unrest.
vast movement in opposition arose,
which was augmented by parliamentary
abuses This movement, 1t should be
added. was of 50 grave a nature that IT
threatened the republic itself. Under
these circumstances. while some praised
electoral reform purely because of its
merits, others adopted it as a means OF
diverting the rising tide of disaffection.
Regarded as a shield of defense by
alarmed republicans. electoral reform ap-
peared to enemies of the
OnnOsiti0n republic as a catapult OF
Organized. and radical socialists
then joined hands to oppose proportional
representation. The royalists declared
that they had nothing to gain by the
electoral in any event: the restoration of
the monarchy through elections was an
absurdity. law that restored the cleo
toral to all electors could not menace the
republic, but only those who were OPP
posed. Nevertheless, the radical social
lists accuse proportional representation of
being a danger to the republic. But be-
hind this protest lies the incontestable
fact that the radical socialist does not
fear change Of regime. but change of
personnel
The writer to the Temps tells it's read
ers that in the provinces there is pro-
found irritation against parliamentarism.
The deputy has assumed to be the
sovereign representative of the nation
and that audacious Interpretation has
brought him to attribute to himself an
unlimited power The nation has become
exasperated. The role Of deputy is con-
sidered by the people as a vulgar profess
sion which they no longer respect.
TocQueville, that distinguished states
man and writer. author of Democratic
en- Amerique," predicts that abasement.
When the question of salary of deputies
was being discussed Tocqueville wrote
that that measure. if combined with the
system of small districts, would consti-
tute the deputy the object of base cal
culation and money scandals. which would
be fatal to the deputy. In France Toe
queville's forecast was realized. The dep
uty was abased, but parliamentary CO.
temporaries were increased by the sys-
tenn of inscribed lists. Also the deputy
voted himself increased indemnity under
conditions that created a scandal. Since
ten years radical socialists have made of
the republic a monopoly and turned it
over to a faction. France has suffered
from this republican oligarchy which has
loudly proclaimed it's love for the people,
but which the people with their eyes now
wide open have denounced as an impure
and ''abject regime" and Of which they
would be rid. The people say there are
ut al ND
if not. We will have done with the re-
public"
The coming of NJ. Poincare was oppor-
tune. He has destroyed the radical So
cialist idea of the repub-
National lie and has substituted
D.L,:v therefore his idea. that
hepuDllc. is, the national repub-
lie" The radical socialists in the fury
of their defeat declare that ''boulangism''
has returned, but it is "nationalism" pure
and simple that has been awakened and
the radical socialists knows it full well.
NJ Clemenceau treats the partisans OF
electoral reform as ''reactionarfes and
revolutionaries," enemies Of republican in
stitutions, Joined in an enterprise for
pretended electoral reform which is moth
ing more nor less than an attempt against
universal suffrage
NJ Clemenceau says: Behold these re-