On Monday in the French Chamber M. Clemenceau, the Minister
of the Interior, replied to the criticisms of M. Jaures in one of the most remarkable speeches delivered for long by any public man in Europe. In contrast to the cloudy idealism of the Socialist leader, M. Clemenceau adopted a tone of luminous common-sense. The speech was continued on Tuesday, when M. Clemenceau, leaving detail, dealt with broad principles of policy. He was a. democrat and a reformer, and in favour of many Socialist measures,—an eight-hours day, a progressive Income-tax, the restriction of monopolies. On these matters he was more consistently. Collectivist than M. Jaures. But he was utterly opposed to the mechanical and dogmatic unification which was the ideal of the Socialist State. The speech made a profound impression, and by a majority of nearly 300 votes it was resolved to placard it throughout France.
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