The new Ministry on Tuesday laid its programme before the
'Chamber, promising that it would reduce expenditure by £2,400,000; that it would go on with the Military Bill; that it would maintain a dignified, prudent, and firm foreign policy; and that it would seek Republican " concentration," by which is meant, it is presumed, the union of all Republican groups. General Ferron added that he accepted the abolition of exemp- tions from conscription, and that students for the priesthood must serve. The programme is intentionally colourless ; but the Radicals are furious, and moved a vote of want of confidence, which was defeated by 285 to 139. M. Bouvier then asked for the Order of the Day, and carried it by 384 to 156. It is calcu- lated that apart from the Right, the new Ministry has only a majority of twenty ; but the Right probably intend to support it till the recess, thus postponing the crisis till October. The action of the Right must, however, depend upon that of the Ministry, which, in sanctioning the conscription of seminarists, a measure upon which the Right cannot support it, has shown that it either remains as anti-clerical as ever, or that upon all clerical questions it fears the popularity of the Radicals. There will be strenuous fighting over the Budget yet, and M. Bouvier, in order to obtain his reductions, must sanction dismissals on a scale that will create for him bitter enemies within the Chamber. He cannot, in presence of the popular feeling that invasion is possible, touch the military expenditure.
