The French Crisis.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 76, 6 December 1887, Page 2

The French Crisis.

The following particulars in connection with the French political crisis will be of interest just now :— I'he administration of M. Rouvier has been for some time past known to be tottering, undermined by financial disappointments and scandals, and needing but a push from the Legitimists to upset it. It was formed in May last to replace the Goblet Ministry, defeated on the 18th of that month by an adverse majority of 18 votes on a vote of confidence. M. Rouvier, its constructor, a prominent member of the budget committee, which overthrew M. Goblet, and in 1885 Minister of Commerce under M. Jules Ferry, took the finances. Among the other members of the Cabinet, nearly all new men, were General Ferron, Minister of War, and Messrs Flourens, Mazeau and Fallieres. The line upon which it took office were that a really practicable policy should be inaugurated, and, in particular, that strict economy should be in'reduced into all branches of the public service, the Premier’s knowledge of finance being supposed to specially qualify him to undertake this task. The Chamber for some time supported the new Ministry, and in a speech made on the 6th July M. Rouvier announced an anticipated saving of 129,000,000 f. This was subsequently diminished to 60,000,000 which since seems to have vanished altogether. These innacurate estimates have naturally had a most damaging influence on the public mind, and confidence has been further weakened by the military malversations and the peculations of M. Wilson, the President’s son-in-law, styled “ the De Morny of the Republic.” He has been thrusYout of the Elysee, and M. Rouvier and his colleagues out of their places. Whether they will be replaced by a fresh batch of untried men, or by older politicians, such as Freycinet, Ferry, Leon Say, Tirard or Le Royer, remains to be seen ; but the present state of affairs is not such as to make any sagacious statesman anxious for office. L'he most creditable act of M. Rouvier’s administration has been its settlement of the New Hebrides question.