SLUMP IN FRENCH SOCIALISM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 14

SLUMP IN FRENCH SOCIALISM

A picture of French politics, which cannot fail to suggest interesting analogies to an Australian reader, is given by Mr Laurence Jerrold in the October "Contemporary." French Socialists have recently become “unified," as they term it—that is to say, they have set up on their own account as an uncompromising party, with their hands against ail other parties, and in determined opposition to the "bourgeoisie." by which term they mean all tho people outside the unpropertied working class, everybody who has anything to lose, in fact, from the njationaliaatioa or confiscation Of land and capital. About six years ago, before "unification" was brought about, M. Jaures, the Socialist leader, was virtually ruler of the French political world. Not that lie had a majority of Socialists behind him in the Chamber of Deputies or in tho country, but that tho Premier (M. Coombes) was dependent upon him for tho maintenance of his Ministerial

“bloc” majority. “M. Jaurcs pulled the wires while M. Coombos danced, and it seemed to tho world that tho French. . Republic stopped to tho bidding of French Socialism, since tho latter's captain (played with her Prime Minister for his puppet." It was, in short, a Frondh version of the Australian “Yes, Mr Watson." and “Yea, Mr Ftehor." M. Jaurce enjoyed his power, but his followers, especially trade unionists out side Parliament, wore not content. They insisted upon his cutting himself adrift from tho parties of bourgeoiMiarn, and upon his going boldly for the Bocialtobio goal. Until then tho electors had coano to regard the Socialists as really little more than advanced middle-class politicians. Radicals dared to call themselves Socialists Without loss of. respectability. and even M. Clemenoeau damo near to assuming the name before ho took office. French Socialism was in what Mr - Reid once aptly termed tho tiger-cub stage. It lapped milk only, and. tho shrewd Frenchman had ceased to fear for his savings-' “Unification" disclosed the growing taste for blood and flesh. Besides, it exposed Radicals to risk of Socialist opposition in their constituencies. "M. Glomonooau," says Mr Jerrold, “saw Ms chance, ami since he has been a Cabinet Minister, first Horn© Secretary, than Premier, his deliberate and determined policy has boon -to Widen tho broaefh dug by ‘unified* Socialism itself between Socialism t»nd tho reality' of (politics." M. Jaurcs has played into M. Clemonceau's hands. "The match began with a great forensic encounter between Jaurea for Socialism and Clemenoeau for individualism, and Jaureo began it—an initial false move. Jauros had to bttild —and .build the City of tho Futureleaving the pulling down to Clemenoeau the next day; and, if it be always easier to destroy, it is not easy to boos brilliant a destroyer os Clemenoeau.. One really felt for honest Jealu Jauros, and the jguilelessness of has attack , was the'tm. He built the City of tho Future with sonorous periods atm flights of eloquencel. M. Clomenceau answered, and. the country was instantly flung back into realities. There was no mistaking the power of the voice and the mental force. It was no eloquence and no splcn. did dreaming, but it was the real world finding a mind to grasp it whole and a voice to express it fully. The country suddenly felt face to face with reality when it heard M. demencoau, and 311. Jaurea faded away into shadowlaud. This game of the shadow end tho substance has gone on ever since. . . . The country taught thus, is beginning again to look upon Socialism as a dream, after thinking it a live power.” The Confederation General of Labour has helped tho reaction by such acts as the electricians’ strike, which put out the lights of Paris for two hours. Tho “slump" in Socialism seems to loom near, since at this year's municipal elections the “unified” party lost threa scats in Paris, six in Lyons, the towns of Brest, Toulouse, and Dijon completely, and failed to recapture, as it hqpcd. to do.'either'Marseilles, Grenoble, Lisle, Roubaax, Limoges, Bourgcs, or 9t. Etienne.