The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-05-31
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-4tNeftBttpspectaoE thesMsuAtion in
Frabce, hnce the snfreh'der at Sedan.
tVtll disoloss'he extraordinary turbulence
Of FeeDch politics. aud indicate what
pnreiy transition regime must be the
ninistration OF Marshal MoMahon.
Hardly had the news of the inglorious
foapttniatioh of an Emperor with his
chief army; been announced in Paris,
| before jules TFavre, from the tribune Of
the Corps Legislatif, became the pioneer
OF the new republic. aud the 4th of Sep
tsmber, 1870. became one of those quo.
table dates which form tho chief feature
of French history. It was bloodless
day; but it was victory, too. Hurried
away BY the crowd to the Hotel de
Yllle, the new government was installed
according to precedent, and cabinet
formed OF which Que extreme was the
soldierly Breton. Troohu. and the other
Henri Rochefort, the destroyer of the
empire, now languishing in fortress
prison. The inheritance Of the Favre
Ministry was O disastrous war, which
subsequently involved the surrender, as
prisoners Of war, of over 100000 SOL
diers and the capitulation of nearly
every stronghold in France. On the
very men who had bitterly opposed the
empire, during its nineteen years of op-
pressfve rule, devolved the duty of olos-
ing its unfinished war and Of signing hu.
initiating terms OF peace.
Oat OF the general ruin and chaos that
prevailed daring the closing days of
January, 1871, there arose one who had
long been silent in public aff4irs. It is
true he had made circuit of the Euro
pean capitals to find an ally, and he had
implored bismarck and the Prussian
King IN their headquarters at Versailles.
But throughout the extraordinary pro-
oeedings Of Gambetta at Tours and
Bordeaux he had not the influence of a
child. 1t wus only on the 9th OF Febru-
ary, when the French people gathered at
the polls, that the popularity Of Adolphe
Theirs was proven by his becoming the
elect of nineteen departments OF the
Nationa! Assembly. He was naturally
called to the position of Chef du Pouroir,
and began with a resolute hand to repair
the disorders of state. Fettered by tho
pact OF Bordeaux, embarrassed by the
lnsensate demands of monarchists pant
ing for an immediate king, embarrassed
by the claims of the great republican
cities, and driven to civil war by the So
cialists OF Paris. the opening months of
his administration were characterized by
dissensions and perils which have seldom
perplexed ruler. The 18th of March
found the great statesman in the ridicu-
Ions position of fugitive from his own
capital; the 22l instant saw the Place
Vendome the scene of heartless massa-
Gre, and mere accident on the 4th of
April prevented Bergeret and his 80, 900
National Guards from seiziug the for
tress Of Vslerien. There the local Com
| muns began t. weaken; bnt Lyons,
Mhraeilles, Bordeaux and Lille exhibited
revolutionary symptoms. NJ Theirs
hastened to assure the republicans that
the remainder Of his life would be de-
voted to the esta abiish ment of an endur-
ing republic, and that tho only ambition
of his last years was to become second
Washington. Then he sought them to
remmin quiet and pacific. They did.
On the 22d Of May Marshal MoMahon's
investing army began to conquer Paris,
and on the I'd of June be announced the
submission OF the capital Followed
then the barbarons executions at Satory
and the fearful reprisnis dictated by the
monarchical Assembly. Tho re.organiza-
ton OF the army, tile emission aud ab-
sorptlon OF the national emprunt, the
gradual consolidation Of the temporary
regime anu Lno evacuation OF occupied
provinces by the Germans were the
principal events wherein Al. Theirs dis
played an astuteness and vigor rarely
e1celled. In the meantime Henri Y re-.
turned, temporarily, to Chambord, the
Orleans Princes took their seats in the
Assembly and the Bonapartists showed
fresh activity. The situation became
moro perple1ed. One day NJ. Theirs
was tho target for the bitter denuncia-
tions of the Right, and the next be fell
onder the impatient suspicious of the
Left. Gambetta rose week by week, and
became power in the tribune.
III. Thiers saw that the question would
become, not as to the form OF govern
ment-for the people were decided as to
that-but ''shail il be Thiers or Gambe
tar" He was for Theirs. He coquetted
with the Left. The Right cried Urea
son! and the "Pact of Bordeauxl' Crisis
after crisis followed, and again Herald
correspondents were sent to every part
OF France to await tho annual civil war
But tho skillfu) Parliam entarian, armed
With the weapon OF debate, controlled
the factions from the tribune and celmed
the tumultuous Assembly at every ex-
cited sitting. The shrewd monarchists