The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1913. THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 208, 22 January 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1913. THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY.

After a singularly keen contest M. Raymond Poincare, the late French Premier, has been elected to the French Presidency. When he became Prime Minister of France, a little over twelve months ago, lie was described by wellinformed clitics as a very moderate politician, witli a turn for phrasing, a reputation for probity, and the social prestige of an Academician." lie owed his position to the fact that he had no close connection with any of the political parties —an attitude strangely foreign in our country—aud apparently lie had 110 very pronounced views on any subject. This, of course, is an admirable attitude for any politician to assume. particularly if he wishes to continue ill office. M. Poincare, whose virtues were all of a negative character, was exactly the Prime Minister that France wanted at the moment. The frogs, like those in the fable, wanted a log, and not a stork, for their king, and they succeeded in getting it. The Chamber of Deputies was split into warring sections, each with its attention concentrated on the >t niggle of parties, and tlie republic was watching uneasily the developments of foreign policy which represented the aftermath of the Moroccan

crisis. A national Ministry was needed, and JM. Poineare created it by selecting as his colleagues the best men who were available, without regard to party. His Cabinet was a coalition of eminent men —"The Grand Ministry," it was called—with all the important national sections represented, and with the extremes of Socialism and anti-Germanism excluded. The venture was successful, and France has had a year of comparative political peace, broken only by the discussion of the schemes of electoral reform which are still before the Legislature. The Prime Minister himself proved to be. a consistent advocate of proportional representation. His elevation to the Presidency now may be regarded as a tribute to his capacity for bringing the nation's leading statesmen together, and pursuing the paths of least resistance in matters of home and foreign policy. He defines national progress as ''order in motion." and lie can, apparently, be trusted to interpret Lis phrase in a prudent and moderate spirit. A French President has less actual power than that possessed by a President of the United States, and M. Poineare, judging from his political record, is not the man to exercise any authority which he can j properly delegate to another. His influence, as far as it reaches, will be used j to promote national accord and interI national peace, and for tins reason alone ; it is gratifying to hear of his election. j There are many occasions upon which it is better to have a man of negative I quietude at the bead of matters politi- ! cal than one of aggressive parts, and [ this appears to be one of them.