THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1895. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2415, 22 January 1895, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1895. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent « established 1845, and the New Zealander.

The election of M. Faure to tho French ; Presidency has allayed the apprehension felt generally throughout Europe by the extraordinary—not to say cowardly—resignation •of M. Casimir-Perier. Influenced probably by Madame Casimir-Perier, who, stung by the reproaches of the Socialists for her letter of condolence to the Empress on tho death of Alexander JIX.,. which that rabid section of the French nation chose to regard as an attempt to play the yglf'ot a Sovereign, the lady and her husband promptly retreated from the eminent position- they occupied. Now that the curtain has , : fallen' bn ' M- CasimirPerier’s short andinglorious administration, and that his successor has been elected, we may say that “ all’s well that ends well.” Nevertheless, it is evident that the late President was playing with fire. The most surprising, incident ip the drama was that M. Dupuy only secured four votes in the recent election of Prosi- . dent. It is surprising, when one remembers the historic scene in -the French Chamber when the recent explosion of the Anarchist bombs created tho ■ most undisguised terror amongst the members, and when in the midst of the dismay, outcries and confusion caused by the catastrophe, the President of tho Chamber, M. Dupuy, seemed to bo the only man present who retained- his pre. aence of mind. With rare courage ho promptly called the terror-stricken and disorganised Assembly to order, and proceeded to the next business as if nothing had happened. In tho face of so recent a display of rare courage and firmness, the few-votes cast for M. Dupuy seem unaccountable; French political movements are as pinch an enigma to-day . .as they move than a century. On Si, Casimir-Perier’s sudden resignation all Europe was electric with alarm. The restless impulsiveness of tho French was regarded with an apprehension not unnatural, considering the sudden outbursts of violence and atrocity ; which so many episodes of French history ; have .displayed.: Once more, however, the unexpected has happened. That turbulent; portion of the crowd of lawyers, journalists, philosophers. Socialists and fools which makes up so largo apart of the.. French Chamber of Deputies was evidently not in touch with the great body of the nation. But yesterday, Paris ■ - considered itself France. , It is so no longer. - Every the crowd of turbulent adventurers finds its wings clipped more and more by this great body of snjallfroehdldors, which in France, more than .in any other country, controls the mad enthusiasts who would rule and ruin a great hafaflu, jf they had their way.; That is the balance wheel which regulates the erratic movements of political schemers and reckless’ charlatans, who may, create - confusion and alarm for awhile,’ but who are powerless to drive the nation into a bloody revolution as of old. We venture to think that the' worst }s over, and that, if M. Faaro displays courage and discretion. Franca will shortly resume, the even tenor of her way.