The Dominion. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1914. THE LATEST FRENCH CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1914. THE LATEST FRENCH CRISIS.

The shooting of M. Galhjjtib by Madame Oaillaifjc has thrown France into a state of excitement comparable in 'its intensity to the sensation caused by the assassination of President Oaknot and the trial of Dreyfus. The tragic occurrence is expected to have far-reaching political consequences, and is likely to play an important part in connection with the coming general elections. For some time past there has been a growing sense -of dissatisfaction with the aiifts and ideas of the dominant party in French politics, and intelligent observers declare that a Strang reaction or reawakening is making itself felt. It is impossible to set limits to theeffects of a crisis such us that which is now stirring the passions of thu whole country, coining as it does at a lime when a d-osm; for a chtiiigo is spreading . tlmmghmit the laud. The. Kreneh an; a highly-strong and quick-moving people, and the assassination of M. .Cauiette, together with the unple-asani revelations which it has brought to light, will ! probably play into the hands t.tf I the new.Matronal Party, which is manifesting its influence Under the

. leadership of M, Beiakd. The appearance of this new and vigorous movement in French politics has already made it quite evident that tlie elections which arc to be held in May will be of exceptional im- ■ portancc, and the Cauiewe sensation will increase the keenness of : the..coming battle at the polls. The leaders of the new party are, making a resolute effort to unite all the best elements of the French people, with the object of raisins the whole tone and standard of political life, and to put an end to the degradation of Parliamentary government and the_ drift towards national disintegration which has been going on in recent years under the R-adlcal-Secialisfc regime. These Radical extremists have obtained possession of the political machine, and they have retained their hold on the administration largely by their power of rewarding their friends and punishing their foes, M. Briasb and his supporters have no Irish for the downfall of the Republic, They are wholehearted Republicans, but they want to heal those unhappy divisions which at present separate the French people into hostile camps, and they contend that "the Republic must be the Republic of all Frenchmen." The aim of the movement is national union and regeneration, and it is identified with the' policy of appeasement and toleration i» religious matters, Its promoters fully approve the separation of Church and.State, but they fcd_ that certain phases .of recent anti-clerical legislation are scarcely distinguishable from persecution. The complaint has been made that the -education system is being used as a weapon against religion, md the' so-called "neutrality" campaign has been carried even to the length ol expurgating the fables of La iONTAijrß:Used in the schools, so that the children may not have to pronounce the word "Got)." In referring to this matter in an article in the Nineteenth Vtritrtnj, Dr. Chat-TERtos-HiiA, Doeenfc of Sociology at the University of Geneva, asks; anyone bo found, to-day capable of denying the . steady, disquieting increase—of juvenile , crime in France i Since •ehikfr-en educated at the cetitc mm Dm\ {school have begun to fill the yanks of the .grownup, citizens, the immber of youthful criminals has increased in a truly alarming niannci\" However that may be, M. Biuasj3 has no of re-establishing clerical influence ja France. H c merely desires that ■ all sections of the community should ; have fair and equal treatment at tic hands of the Government. His . watchword is "a.ppeasoraent." The election of H. Raymond P-ow-CAIiE as President of France »as-a significant indication of the growing strength of the new national spirit. M. Poincme stands above party factions and class' feuds, and, ...like M, _B»iasp, his ideal is a reunited France. He was chosen in . spite, of the apposition of the Radical .wirepullers, arid this fast, added to his distinguished career and .fee personal, .qualities has secured for ■him a very high place in public os- *• .1' Th<?t, Sfl ho is hound to keep, •outside the arena of party parities, : to exercises a very powerful indirect influence on the political thought of the country. The- actual leadership of the party of appeasement belongs to M. BrUnd, who recently declared at fejt, Etieatle that he '"'believes that trim progress is not that which the ■ootitjfcry .brings forth in. agony, but that which it- obtains 'in p-eato." ■ Fmm hasted enough of agony and sorely needs a period .of social and political rest, 'A.new spirit is. at Work and if all goes well' a brighter and happier era will ere long be opened up for the nation. Some .people seem to think flw-t France has ruri h«r course, and is now passing : from her decline to her fall, hut ibis is a great mistake. Many of those mV) are in the best position to judge :.'teli us that powerful forces of social, moral, and intellectual regeneration' are actively at work, and that the awaktoieg will soon mate itself ;..manifest. The nation is s regaining : faith arid confidence in itself, .hi . the course of a recent address to the Committee set up in connection With the National Aviation Subscription,. j the President of the- Republic (M. I i oinoaee) laid stress, oil' this point, m said that at a. mmnb of crisis ■ they did not despair of the nation, they had faith in it, and ,jt fulfilled their expectations, Me, Urged them to continue -.to have faith in' it. "Doubt Wither lis -sentiments, nyr j{* energy, - he said, '"nop its tenacity. . LpnrJ no ertr to those who believe ft \$ e •trusted by secpticiiiM or iurfcebleii by «oMfon, uor to those who deetor* that it is weakened by tliscoiirageiiiettt. franc* remains what she- always bus b«n-> healthy ami robust, Ja;i and strong, conscious of that great pftft that slue has tsi play 111 the history erf civilisation., jirowi ef her past, ami confktent-jh her't'-utitre." Every Britisher wishes Franco well, both because she is Britain's neighbour and friend, and . because the whole.world owes her a debt of grati- ■ •fcude- for her contributions to htiman . enlightenment,