In a letter to President Loubet dated June 4th M.
Waldeck-Rousseau formally resigns the Premiership. His reasons for this act, which is a most unusual one in constitu- tional history, the elections having greatly strengthened his hands, are, first, that the Republic, " in spite of an unprece- dented effort, has issued victorious from its final trial," and secondly, that the Premier's "physical strength does not permit him any longer to continue" performing " duties which demand, in order to be well fulfilled, constant and unremitting activity." M. Loubet accordingly summoned M. Bourgeois, President of the Chamber, and M. Fallieres, President of the Senate, and upon their advice offered the Premiership on Thursday to M. Brisson, who, however, declined it. The President thereupon sent for M. Justin Combes, whose assurance that he would consult his friends is regarded as tantamount to acceptance. M. Combes was formerly Minister of Education, and is now greatly trusted by the Radical party, who consider him a determined " Anti-Clerical." In other respects M. Combes is something of a dark horse even in France, and outside his own country he is entirely unknown. The sudden rise of a man with so obscure a record is unusual even in a Republic, and points among other things to a certain dearth of great figures in France. Democracy seems both there and in America to act as the steam-roller over reputations. It destroys nothing, but levels much.
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