The troable with Germany doubtedly given France " very shock. For a considerable time Frenchmen have been living in the pleasant belief that they were in no danger of conflict with " great Power. Now they are suddenly brought face to face wi the grim possibilities of world-po This is larvely due to the fort that country for three yeara possessed a Prime Minist-r who cated nothing about Foreign Affairs. M. Combes: subordinate! everything t" his one great the reduction of e Church to proper level of humility. It was as if what did not interest him had no existence. His anti-clerical supporters shared this peculiarity; and his War Minister notoriously spent a great desi ore time in making speeches and pulling political wires than in keeping the mark. One result was to sow and—discouragement amongst the officers, who could never be sure that occult influences were not de-roying their prospects of promotion without their knowledge. Another was to create a widespread belief that all power and influence were concentrated in the hands of the Grand Orient Freemssons, the most formidable an clerical organisation in the country. The Parliamentary majority insensibly came to believe that M. so many years' experience in the management of Foreign Affairs, could do no wrong. These dreams have been rudely dispelled by Germany. who has been abruptly roused from a pleasant slumber by a bad-tempered hour and has not yet collected hhimself sufficiently to deside whether he will resent the interruption or contain his wrath. The good thing for the Nationali ave been severely Kept under ever since M Waldeck-Rousseau took office. Now, as the advocates st foreign aggression, they will obtain a much better hearing" The outcome can hardly be an improve. ment in the relations between France and England. M. Déronléde thinks Franco should side with England rather than with Germany, but M. Henri Rochefort, M. Drumont, and other pro.
ut members of the party are og him on this point. The entente cordiale will be put to a severe test.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.