The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-09
The New President Of France.
MarshaI MasNIahon, who Succeeds Pr0sI-
dent Theirs.


Mahon, Duke OF Magenta, better known
as Marshal MacNIahOn, the distinguish
ed Marshal Of France, who has been
elected to succeed NJ. Thiers rs Presi-
dent OF the French Republic, is the
descendant OF IN ancient Catholic iami.
~ OF Ireland whose ancestors followed
the fortunes OF James H., the last OF
the Stuarts, and after the fall OF that
house emigrated to France. He was
born at Sully, in the province OF Saone
and Loire, on the 18th Of July, 1908.
His father was peer Of France, and n
personal friend OF Charles Y, and as
such his son, young MacMahon, was
admitted in the year 1926 to the royal
military school Of ST. Cyr. Graduating
thence, he entered the army and most
Immediately after proceeded to active
service in Algeirs, where heldistinguish'
cd himself. In December, 1888, he
was commissioned captain. He again
served in the Algerian campaign of
1887, and gained renewed reputation,
especially in the assault on Constantine.
From this time forth MacMahon's pro-
motion was rapid. In 1916 he became
colonel, and in 1913 he attained the
grade OF brigadier.general. Appointed
general Of division in 1852, he COM
mnnded tho Constantine division in
Africa until the year 1866 when he was
recalled to France by the Emperor
Napoleon and was placed in command
Of a division Of infantry in Bosquets
corps in the Crimea. He gained addi-
tional laurels in this campaign, rs it
was his division which carried the
formidable Malakof' MS the siege of
Sebastopol upon the Sth OF September,
1856, and held it against tho prolonged
and desperate efforts Of the Russians to
retake It. MacNTahon was amply re-
warded for this service by his imperial
master. Already made officer Of the
Legion OF Honor, in 1897, commander
in 1S40, Grand Officer in 1868, he was
further honored, few days after his
capture OF the Nfalakoff with the rank
OF Grand Cross OF tho Legion, and
latter, on June "a, 1856, with the
dignity OF Senator Of France.
General MacNTahou commanded the
French expedition Of 1867 against the
warlike Algerian tribe OF Kabyles.
These he vanquished, and not long af-
forwards was placed in command Of the
entire land forces OF Algeria. At the
outbreak OF tho AuStro-Fr anco-Sardi.
nian war in 1850 MacMahon entered
the field in command OF tho second
corps OF the French army Of the Alps.
1t was in this war that his military
glory eliminated. Ho was tho virtual
victor Of the bloody field Of Magenta,
fought on June 4, and received the rig
nal honor Of being declared upon the
battlefield, by the Emperor Napoleon,
Duke Of Magenta and Marshal OF
Franco. In 1861 Marshal MacNfallon
represented Franco in Berlin at the
coronation OF William ILL.,, now En-
peror William, as King Of Prussia. Re-
turning to France lie was placed in
command OF tho Third Army Corps
vice Marshal Canrobert, and by i'm
perial decree Of September l, 1854, he
was appointed Govornor.General OF AL
geria. Upon tho 10Th OF September,
MacNfahon, in n proclamation which he
issued upon assuming command Of the
colony, announced tie plan Of govern
mont which the Emperor sent him to
Algeria to put into plactice. The pro-
gramme provided for q monarchy among
the Arabs, but the event proved it n
failure. The French md European
colonization which had been anticipa'
ted and hoped for never reached sucll
proportions as to justify the expecta'
tons Of the Emperor. Colonization,
on tho contrary, was deferred by mimi
cal agricultural laws which were estab'
lished, and many Of the colonists who
went to Algeria, instead Of abiding
there, crossed tho Atlantic TO America
and especially to Brazil, which Offered
them at that period exceptional induce
ments in the way Of agricultural advan
tages.
Personal government Of the strictest
kind prevailed in the French towns II
Algeria under MacNIahon's administers
ton, and the severity OF law and regu
lations which had sensibly diminished
in Paris was transferable tho MARSHALL
dominions. Tho natives suffered the
horrors of famine, and cannibalism wai
resorted to to furnish sustenance to the
starving. II became necessary, so nu
merous were the deaths from hunger, tc
establish orphan aSylums in Algeria t.
shelter the children of the dead. Tho
cry of the wretched natives reached
France and subscriptions were opened
in their behalf, and in March, 1868, ex
traordinary appropriations were voted
for the relief Of the victims OF the fam
ine.S Public opinion in France arose il
protest against the horrors that dark
ened this period Of French Colonia
Government, and serious charges vert
brought against MacNlahon. The only
result OF the agitation was that tho idet
of the Arab monarchy was abandoned
without entailinga more liberal govern
mcnt in Algeria.
Tho record Of MacNEahon's careel
during the recent war between France
and Germany, and subsequently III
commander Of the Army OF Versailles
against the rising Of the Commune il
Paris, is familiar to all. At the great
battlc and slaughter At Sedan that day
ho was wounded, and became prisoner
in the hands of tho Germans, when the
Emperor surrendered his army. He wat
sufficiently recovered from his wound tc
assume command Of the army which NJ,
Thiers organized against the Commune
when Paris was taken. Politically,
Marshal MacMahon has profCssed nc
bias or partisanship in the current com
plications OF France. When questioned
upon the subject Of his political afllia-
tions he has refused to give any salts
factory answer. ~ am soldier" he
would reply, "and / will do my duty Us