unquestionable trend of the France of to-day away
from the individualism of the Revolutionary period in the direction of
the ideals of collectivism. The Briand ministry by which it was
succeeded followed in the same lines, three of its members, indeed,
being active socialists. Prior to the elections of April-May, 1910,
there took place some readjustment of political forces, but, on the
whole, no change of large importance. The _bloc_, however, more than
once showed signs of breaking up, and the majority of the party groups
arrived at the electoral season devoid of harmony and paralyzed by
uncertainty of policy. The Radicals were divided upon the question of
the income-tax; the Socialists, upon the question of the party's
attitude toward trade-unions; and all parties, upon the issue of
proportional representation. That the voters were no less bewildered
than were the party leaders appeared from the fact that in 231
constituencies--almost an unprecedented number[493]--second ballotings
were required. With the issues so confused, the results could hardly
prove of large significance. The lines which separate party groups
to-day in France are not infrequently both ill-defined and shifting,
with the consequence that it is not possible to express party strength
by exact numbers, as may be done in the case of the parties of Great
Britain or of the United States. A deputy may even belong to two
groups at one time. The composition of the Chamber following the
elections of 1910 can be stated, therefore, only approximately.
Composing the Right were (1) the Right proper, 19; (2) the Action
Liberale Populaire--organized originally to combat the radicalism of
Waldeck-Rousseau, 34; (3) the Progressives, now to be identified with
the Right, 76--a total of 129. Identified with the Left were (1) the
Republicans, 73; (2) the Radicals, 112; and (3) the Radical-Socialists,
149--a total of 334. Comprising the Extreme Left were the Socialists
(Independent 30; Unified, 75), aggregating 105. Finally, of
Independents there were upwards of 20. The continued preponderance of
the Left was assured, although to prolong their mastery of the
situation the Radicals and Radical-Socialists fell under the (p. 333)
necessity of securing the support of either the Republicans or the
Independent Socialists.[494]

[Footnote 493: Absolutely so, save for the _scrutin
de liste_ election of 1885.]

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