M. Brisson has commenced his career with a sort of
success. He read a long speech in the Chamber on Thursday, in which he said that his two great measures would be the substitution of an Income-tax on the rich only for the Window-tax and some other direct imposts, and the establishment of old-age pensions for artisans. He will maintain Protection, will fine stockjobbers, and will form a colonial army,—apparently, though this is not clear, of white men. He will maintain the Russian Alliance, and the sentence on Dreyfus, and "will ener- getically defend lay society and the supremacy of the civil power against any encroachment." The Right looked glum at that hint, which in the mouth of a Radical Premier with a Radical Cabinet means a great dea]; and the "Rallied" were irritated by a threat that bnly trite Republicans shall be admitted to office ; but it has been decided to let the new Ministry have its chance, and a vote of confidence was passed by 315 to 230. That is a working majority, if M. Brisson can keep it ; and it must be remembered that the Chamber is very new, and may prove unexpectedly Radical. There will be great turmoil over the Old Age Pensions Bill unless it is strictly a measure of insurance, the little peasant asking why on earth he should help to keep the ourrier of the cities.
