The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-10 00:00:00

THE FRENCH CRISIS.

RESIGNATION AND MESSAGE OF M. GREVY.
M. Grevy's Presidency came to an end on the 2nd
inst. The pressure of the Chamber, backed by the
pressure of the street, compelled the twice-elected
President to resign. In retiring he created a prece-
dent which brings practically the Constitution back
to wi he pointed out it should be in his famous
proposal in 1848. The following is the text of M.
Grevy's Message:
"Gentlemen of the Chamber of Deputies,—So long
only as I was encompassed with the difficulties which
have recently been heaped upon my path, to wit, the
attacks of the press, the falling away of men whom the
voice of the Republic had called to my side, and the
growing inability to form a Cabinet, I held out and stood
where duty bade me, bat when,better enlightened, public
opinion was about to come round to my side, giving
me fresh hope of forming a Government, the Senate
and the Chamber of Deputies voted a double resolu-
tion which in the form of an adjournment to
an appointed time to await a promised Mes-
sage, was in fact an injunction for the Presi-
dent of the Republic to resign his power. I
should have had the right and held it a duty to
resist, but under existing circumstances a conflict
between Parliament and the Executive Power might
bring on consequences the fear of which make me
take another course. Both wisdom and patriotism
bid me yield. The responsibility of such a precedent
and of the events that may result from it, will fall on
those who assumed it. I descend therefore without
regret, though not without sadness; from the high
position to which I was twice raised without my ask-
ing, and in which I have the consciousness of having
done my duty. I call upon France to witness this !
She will say that for the space of nine years my
Government secured for her peace, order and
freedom ; that it caused her to be respected all over
the world; that it has constantly laboured for her
weal, and that amidst armed Europe it leaves
her in a condition to defend her honour and her
rights, and lastly that at home it has known how to
keep the Republic in that path of wisdom to which
the interests and the wish of the nation pointed. She
will say that in return I have been removed from the
wet which she entrusted to me. In leaving politice,l
life I express but this desire—that the Republic may
not be struck by the shafts aimed at me, and that she
may triumphantly emerge from the dangers to which
she id being exposed. I lay upon the table of the
Chamber of Deputies my resignation of the functions
of President of the Republic.
The President of the Republic,
(Signed) JULES GLIM.
The House was, of course cot the 2nd inst., full ta
overflowing. M. Rouvier, General Ferron, and other
members of the late Association were in their seats.
M. Floquet announced that he had received from
IL Rouvier a Message from the President of the
Republic, containing his resignation which he pro-
ceeded to read. This he did in a clear voice, behind
which there was deep emotion. The Message was
listened to amid the most profound silence, and it
elicited not a remark. After the reading was over
the houpe adjourned.
M. SIDI-CARNOT ELECTED PRESIDENT.
The Congress for the Election of a new President
of the French Republic met at Versailles on Saturday
afternoon. There was a very large attendance of
both Senators and Deputies. On the first ballot M.
Sadi-Carnot obtained 303 votes and M. Jules Ferry
212, several other candidates obtaining smaller
numbers. None of them, however, had an absolute
majority on the voting, and so a second ballot had to
take place. Just as it was about to commence M.
Ferry withdrew in favour of M. Carnot—a course
which had been previously taken by M. de Frevcinet.
The result was that M. Carnot obtained 616 votes
out of the 827 recorded.
M. Carnot afterwards received the Ministers, who
congratulated him on his election, which M. Rouvier
described as the outcome of the union of all the frac-
tions of the Republican party. He briefly replied, and
then drove to Paris, where he formally took pos-
session of the Elyse°. On Sunday afternoon M.
Rouvier and his colleagues again resigned their
posts.
M. Carnot took up his residence at the Elyse() on
Sunday afternoon. He subsequently received several
politicians to whom he expressed his intention to ask
the Chamber, as soon as a new Cabinet was formed,
to vote the provisional instalments of the Budget, and
then to close the session on the 15th inst.