The Extreme Left of the French Chamber, or Socialist. Radicals,
have issued a manifesto laying down their political aspirations. They demand the revision of the Constitution, readjustment of taxation, separation of Church and State,. and decentralisation, but repudiate the Collectivist doctrine, because "social welfare consists in rendering more easy the possession of individual property." The real feeling of the' Government towards the working classes is, they declare, re- vealed by its persistence in maintaining the rigorous measures against trade-unions and its refusal to aid the various strikers. "In these circumstances, how can any one be surprised that the first year of the Legislature has produced no result P". The election of M. Casimir-Perier is condemned. In order to win the confidence of the democracy, and so to stop crimes of violence, it would have been wise and just to put at the head of the State "one of its oldest and most faithful servants." The Presidential election of June 27th was not of this character. The document is signed by seventy-four. Deputies, among whom are M. Goblet, M. Maret, M. Lockroy, and M. Pelletan. Prima' facie, their demands seem anything but extreme. In England, they would hardly be called Radical. The attack on Collectivism seems, too, hardly con- sistent with the name of Socialist-Radicals.
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