The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-27

Exccutivc-Win 1t End In Peace or
Bloody Rcvolutions
We, who are in the habit of gliding smoothly
from one executive chief to another when the
change has been provided for by the votes Of
the people, cannot but indulge the hope that
France will pass through the change from one
President to another without danger to the
Republic 1t is gratifying to learn that, SO far,
the powerful republican party in the National
Assembly and the people have not resorted to
| violence against the decision of the majority
of the Assembly in virtually deposing M.
Theirs and choosing Marshal MacMahon to
succeed him. We say deposing M. Theirs,
because the vote Of the Assembly really
amounted to that, though the venerable chief
Voluntarily rendered his resignation. He
might have resisted, and thus have forced
the majority of the Assembly to q
direct vote on his deposition if it should have
been SO disposed. 1t is not unlikely such
vote would have been given, considering the
temper, combination and resolution of the
factions arrayed against his government At
all events he would have been powerless
Executive under such hostility, and the
whole machinery of government would have
been paralyzed. The majority might even
have impeached him. To avoid the possible
or probable consequences and the anarchy
that might have followed M. Theirs acted in
patriotic and conservative manner. He was
chosen President by the Assembly, and when
that body showed its persistent factious hos
tility he resigned into its hands the authority
it had given. Had M. Theirs been elected by
the people, as the President OF the United
States is, the case would have been different.
His position was more like that of q British
Premier or Ministry, which, under the theory
of constitutional government in England, re-
signs Office when the majority Of Parliamentis
persistsntly opposed. There is every reason
to believe the Assembly does not represent the
views and wishes of the French people; but it
is the only regular and supreme constituted
authority. The change of the Executive,
therefore, is regular, however antagonistic it
may be to the unexpressed sentiment of the
people at the ballot box. Happily, both the
powerful minority of the Assembly and
the people, up to this time, do not resist
the decision by violence Should they main
tain that attitude and depend upon peaceful
means to overcome the monarchical factions
they will obtain the admiration Of the world,
and do more tor the republican cause than by
any other course. We may be sure that
Marshal MacMahon will show not less modera-
ton and conservatism, and let US hope that
the majority will also.
But we cannot close our eyes to the danger
that besets the French Republic and France
The factions that menace both the Republic
and the peace Of the country are undeniably,
in the Assembly itself They are the mon
archists and imperialists. Though they
have but an insignificant % majority,
even when combined, over the republicans,
as we have seen by the votes in the Assembly
on Saturday and Sunday, they have had under
that combination the power to carry out their
will Dare they and will they 60 further and
attempt to squelch the Republic? That is the
question upon which, probably, hangs peace
or terrible civil war in France. The first vote,
emanating from the Left and supported by the
Theirs government, on the simple order of the
34S for and 1852 against the motion, thus
showing in full house, IA majority only
against the government. On q motion of
the Right to the effect that the Ministry of M.
Theirs did not afford conservative guarantees
the vote Stood for $50, against 344, thus
giving 16 majority against the President On
the motion to accept the resignation of M.
Theirs there were 368 for and 800 against
majority of 20. We see, then, how COM
pact and close the votes were. The differ
ence all through was small. The vote for
MacMahon as President was 800, the Left
abstaining from voting This was an in
crease of AZ over the first vote supporting the
Theirs government. Such result, though
still showing the outand-out republican pha-
hnx strong, was brought about, doubtless, by
o few moderate men, not pronounced rspubh-
cans, but who saw the necessity Of promptly
supplying the place M. Theirs vacated.
Again, we ask, will the majority attempt
to destroy the Republic in the face of the
powerful republican party in the Assembly
and the republican sentiment of France
behind it? If they should they need not
expect MacNIahon will be their instrument to
accomplish that.
We are inclined to believe there Is no un-
derstanding between the monarchical and i'm
perialist factions, known as the Right, to es-
tablish any government in place of the Re-
public No doubt they desire to destroy the
Republic; but each has its separate ambition
and purpose, and is waiting for whatever
chance its factious and disorganizing course
may develop. The first thought was, we
suppose, to preserve order after driving M.
Theirs from the Presidency, and this led
them to choose the popular and able soldier
MacMahon-as Executive on the instant.
Having been 0 Marshal Of the EN-