2 OCTOBER 1886, Page 2

M. de Freycinet on Tuesday delivered a speech at Toulouse

considered to have a certain importance. It was, though vague, both able and eloquent, and was received with extreme applause. As regards internal affairs, the Premier admitted that "one- third of France had not yet accepted the Republic," but main- tained that the Republic had nevertheless accomplished much, —having reorganised the Army, reconstituted the frontier, lavished education on all classes, driven on public works, and " placed the finances in a position of solidity." He acknowledged, however, that the augmentations of taxation had been frequent, and hinted that a radical reform must be introduced into the method of raising revenue, as France could not live for ever under the fiscal arrangements of fifty years ago, or be content with mere augmentations to supply increasing needs. His general deduction from the situation was that the two grand divisions of Republicans could not part and accept p.wer alternately, but must for the present work together, and yield to each other, as if they did not, the enemies of both would league with each to destroy the other. All that means that Opportunism must still be the internal policy, though there might be a necessity for an income-tax,—which in France is a Radical scheme.