New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-11
MACMAHON'S RULE.
PROSECUTING SPIRIT OF THE MONARCH
ICTS


OF the day and likely TO be the topic of many days Ia
this fact look for at least reason why the
Government makes affair OF it. It desirable for a
Government whose policy is 10 have defined, large
policy TO distract public attention with little affairs
although other may eventually appear.
For partial understanding OF the strange chap
Ter need look back little. M. Ranc was known
politician in the Republican party under the Empire
accused Of being duplicated" in the Opera COmique
plot against Napoleon, and transported 70 AFRICA
In 1855 Escaping from there, he lived in exlle
ali the amnesty OF 1859, between which date ana
the fan OF the Empire ne repeatedly prosecuted
and OF course condemned for his crimes OF liberal jour
palsm. lie held Office under Gambetta at Tours ana
Bordeaux was elected member OF the Assembly from
Paris February 1871 voted against acceptance OF the
bremnares Of peace resigned his seat and on the 26th
of March was elected member OF the Paris Commune
Disguised with the folly and violence OF that body he
publicly Withdrew from IL on the 9th Of April. After
the suppression OF the rebeOnhe chosen member
of the Municipal Council became leading editor OF La
RdpubbqHe Franedse, the socaed Gambetta organ and
was recently returned 10 the Assembly from Lyons.
He has taken bis seat and his election declared
valid by the last Saturday On the same day the
same House in its bureaux" virtually decided that he
should be tried before military commission for his two
yearod done In the body OF the Communel On the
Thursday previous, letter from Gen. Ladmirault, ad-
dressed 10 President Of the Assembly, was read TO
the House by that functionary, beginning as follows:
"Justice which should be equal for all, makes 1t my
duty point out your attention the situation OF NJ
Ranc Deputy the National Assembly, the only one OF
the members OF the Commune OF Paris seriously com
promised who has not been prosecuted and closing
with requesting authorization to bring NJ Ranc for
trial before the competent tribunals military commits
sionD
This letter being referred the Assembly in its bu
reaux, these last met Saturday, each naming ono
member Of the committee that is TO report this week
The large majority Of members so named are known 10
be favorable 20 Gen. Ladmiraus request-at least 10
have been favorable Saturday. Some folks are be-
ginning 70 see that there are two sides to this Ranc az
fair and that the prosecuting side prove the wrong
one for the Government 10 be for Government Is viz
tuay the prosecutor. When Gen. Ladmrault says that
Ranc is the only OF the seriously compromised men,
bers Of the Commune who has not been arragned. he
forgets Beslay, for instance, who guilty
Of everything with which Rano is charged
and remained in the Commune 10 the
end But that is detail The graver question
Ia Why, after years. during which Ranc was left
90 walk the streets SIT in Municipal Council, edit
paper openly any other citizen. should the Military
of Paris suddenly just after the Path May
be seized with OF equal justice and OF his duty
Observe that his functions general director, chief
gineer. as we might say, Of the whole prosecuting
machinery applicable 20 the Commune criminals, we're
exactly the in all that time before the success OF
81 de BrOge's coup de Parchment that they since.
Now either, as is asserted by the Bonapartists,
the only party likely TO profit by the az
fair, in which they are taking malicious delight
Gen Ladmirault, at a hint from Theirs, winked
ut the awful slant which the years pressure OF that
"Sinister Old Man" to the beam of Justice
or Gen Ladmaut has been tardiy operated for scales
the eyes by the government that cast out NJ Theirs
So far as the compliment to the General goes suppO
sition as natterng the other SO far the two
governments are concerned there are differences Be
fore going further ia this direction. let remind you
that long ago, the time OF the Commune trials, Rauo
was questioned a witness IN some one of the cases
and then. may legally happen was momentarily held
on a criminal charge but on further examination, was
dismissed from accusation 1t is not pretended that any
facts concerning his Commune sayings and dongs
have since been brought 10 light
Long also, in December, 1871, the Government OF NJ
Theirs interpellated on the case OF NJ Ranc. The
debate ia recorded IN the Journal 0fieiel where you
may read the unqualified assertion of Dufaure. Minister
of Justice that Government has abdeAted and always
will abdcae in presence OF the judicial authority and
that Government has ordered ever prevented
any prosecution" Gen. de Cissey Minister of War, in
reply TO the question whether Gen. Ladmirault had
asked for authOrzatiOnItO issue summons for
the arrest Of NJ. Ranc. said: "The proof that have
received request OF this kind is that few days
NJ brought up before Of the councils,
which did not find cause for OBTAINING him" Dufaure,
in answer to persistent questoner who asked whether
tits OF not true the 5th OF last September the
Government received request for authorization to
rest Ranc said: mo demand Of this kind has been ad
dressed TO Government neither for NJ. Ranc for
any one else. This affirm"
From this synopsis Of the history OF the RaDc affair
up 10 it's present stage may be the ch promise of
ate future developments which It is well TO wait for
anticipate. II NJ Ranc stands his trial and is
quilted here is failure, buDgle 10 the debit of
The Government II be is condemned in default, then
Government puts itself in defiant conflict not only with
his electors in Lyons but with Barodetsl electors in
Z is All a gnt or Government
after all rests for its subbase universal suffrage TO
enter with the majority Of the citizens OF the two
of France. This last result is exactly
what the thorough BOnapartsts with calculation and
their poor allies the exalted Legitimsts bndly desire
10 bring about As / already said, the only party
Of the coalition which proted by the bargain Of May "a
Is the Imperialist party. NJ. de BrOglie bought
his leadership OF transitory Cabinet at
a high price Bonapartists and clerical friends
are dear than fond II he does not already
fee this II Therss Parhdn shot, PrOtege of the Eu-
pre" does not ranke where wounded, is fault Of
the BOnapsrtist press They take pains to make the
broades distinction between him. his Cabinet, his par
Elementary whims and his Chief the Chief OF Govern
snent, .the Imperial Marshal MaeMahoD, whom they
exat and claim for their They attribute the rise
IN public funds the exceptional brlliancy OF the Grand
FTT the Bots dc BoulOgDe last Sunday week,
The revived pOmp OF the Fete DeH ceremonies in the
Paris churches, not 90 de BrOge but TO the Marshal
Republicans hardly the Bonapartists 10
unsparing mockery OF Minister Beule and his bunge
with his circulars.
the appointment Of Beul6 10 the very important Min
isTy Of tho Interior matter of general surprise
the time. One explanation seems, more clearly now
than teh TO DE not 50 much that the Imperial partners
fothe MAY contract would not have iretPasquler,
far abler man. as that DAudfretPasquier would not
Jake the place. He Is reported TO have pronounced
recently for the Republic in the THEIRS sense HIS report
gu the carly conduct Of the war and biz
remarkable speech IA which he resumed and
emphasized Its bitter censure OF the faults and
folies of the Imperial military administration
made hardly worse record for him with Napoeonists