Another French Ministry has fallen, and there are two theories
about its fall. According to one, the Chamber has displayed its usual recklessness ; and according to another, M. de Freycinet has snatched an opportunity to resign. On Friday week, the Radicals renewed their opposition to the exist- ence of Sub-Prefects, who are mere channels for the wishes of the Executive, and supported a motion for suppressing their cost, some 260,000 a year. The Minister of the Interior offered to suppress them next year, but the offer was rejected ; and M. de Freycinet made a strong speech, finally declaring that the inno- vation "would be dangerous to the Republic itself." Neverthe- less, the Chamber voted it by 262 to 249, the Reactionaries in a body joining the Radicals, and the Ministry resigned. It is asserted that the vote was a mere caprice, and that the Chamber is hopelessly unreliable and incompetent, the "groups "forming combinations irrespective of the necessities, or even the opinions of the country. This is probably the correct explanation ; but there is also another, that M. de Freycinet was anxious to resign, either to escape foreign difficulties he clearly foresaw, or to be free from the trammels of office when the Presidency becomes vacant. There is a general feeling in Paris that M. GrSvy, who is oppressed with years and with the situation, desires to resign, and hopes that M. de Freycinet will be his successor. At all events, the Premier has adhered to his resignation.
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