The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-26
FROM SEDAN TO THE PRESENT TIME

q
A brief retrospect OF the situation in France
uince the surrender at Sedan will disclose the ex
traoroinary turbulence Of French politics and ndi
cate what purely transition regime must be the
ministration OF Marshal Mcmahon. Hardly had
the news OF the inglorous capitulation Of an En-
peror with his chief army been announced in Paris
before Jules Favre, from the tribune OF the Corps
Legislatif, became the pioneer Of the new Republic,
and the 4th OF September, 1870, became one OF
those quotable dates which form the chief feature
of French history. 1t was bloodess day;
but 1t was victory, too. Hurried away
by the crowd to the Hotel de Vile.
the new government was installed &C
Cording to precedent and a Cabinet formed
Of which one extreme was the soldierly Breton,
Trochu, and the other Henri Rochefort, the de-
stroyer ofthe Empire, now anguishng in fort
ress prison. The inheritance OF the Favre Min
istry was disastrous war, which subsequently
Involved the surrender, as prisoners OF war, OF
over 600 soldiers and the capitulaton OF nearly
every stronghold In France. On the very men who
had bitterly opposed the Empire during its nineteen
years Of oppressive rule devoved the duty Of clos
ing Its unfinished war and OF signing humiliatlng
terms OF peace
Out OF the general ruin and chaos that prevailed
during the closing days of January, 1871, there
arose one who had long been silent in public az
fairs. 1t Is true he had made circuit OF the Euro
pean capitals to md an ally, and he mad impl0red
Bismarck and the Prussian King in their
headquarters at Versailles. But through
cut the extraordinary proceedings OF Gam
beta at Tours and Bordeaux he had
not the influence OF child. 1t was only on the 9Th
Of February, when the French people gathered at
the polls, that the popularity OF Adophe Theirs was
proven by his becoming the elect Of nineteen depart
called to the position of Cher du P0uuotr and be-
gan with resoute hand to repair the disorders
OF state. Fettered by the pact of Bordeaux, en-
barrassed by the insensate demands OF monarch
lists painting for an immediate king, embarrassed
by the claims OF the great republican cities, and
driven to civil war by the socialists OF Paris the
opening months OF his administration were charac-
terized by dissensi0ns and perls which have seldom
perplexcd ruler The 18th OF March found the great
statesman In the ridiculous position OF q fugitive
from his own capital; the 22d inst. saw the Place
Vendome the scene Of heartless massacre, and q
mere accident on the 4th OF April prevented
Bergeret and his 80 600 national guards from seiz
ing the fortress OF yaleren. There the local Com
mune began to weaken; but Lyons, Marseilles,
Bordeaux and Lille exhibited revolutionary
symptoms. NJ. Theirs fastened to assure the Re-
pubcans that the remainder OF his life would be
devoted to the establishment Of an enduring re-
public and that the only ambition OF his last years
was to become q second Washington. Then he
sought them to remain quiet and pacific. They
did. On the 22d of May Marshal McMahon's invest
ting army began to conquer Paris, aud on
the I'd OF June he announced the sub
mission of the capital. Followed then the
barbarous executions at satory and the feaful re-
prisals dictated by the monarchical Assembly. The
reorganization OF the army, the emission and alb
ssrpkon Of the national enap,unt, the gradual con-
Bolidaton OF the temporary regime and the evacu-
alton Of occupied provinces by the Germans were
III principal events wherein NJ. Theirs displayed
an astuteness and vigor rarely excelled In the
meantime Henri v. returned temporarily, to
Chambord the Orleans Princes took their seats in
the Assembly and the Bsnapartsts showed fresh
activity. The situation became more perplexed
One day M. Theirs the target for the bitter de-
nunciations OF the Right, and the next he fell
under the impatient suspicious OF the Left. Gam
beta rose week by week, and became q power in
the Tribune.
N. Theirs saw that the question would become
not az to the form OF government-for the people
were decided as to that-but "shal 1t be Theirs or
Cambetta ?" he was for Tnlers. He coquetted
with the Len. The Right cried Treason 70 and
the "Pact OF Bordeaux Crisis after crisis fol-
lowed and again HERALD correspondents were
sent to every part OF France TO await the annual
civil war. But the skilful Parliamentaran, armed
with the weapon OF debate, controlled the factions
from the Tribune and Gained the tumultuons As
sembly at every excited sitting. The shrewd
monarchsts got tired. "Close his month"; they
said, "and his oficla days will be numbered"
After hard struggle Nj. Theirs surrendered his
strong arm, and thenceforth NJ. Dufaure be-
came his spokesman. From that moment
mis- power and influence have diminished.
The last few days OF the session have
were characterized by many elements OF dlssen-
sion, but the coalition was too well organized. and
Saturday morning NJ. Theirs closed his career
President Of the Republic with resignation ap-
parently voluntary, but in reality the most reluct
ant act OF his eventful life Whatever the defects
of temper, or the aspirations OF the man, he has
been more to France than France has been to her.
SELF
Marshal MacMahon has long been the most pop
nlar man in France Even the Communists, VINO
encountered the strong blows OF his army, thought
him an idol. When the Emperor died In January
last he was expected to go to the funeral but from
. sense OF military propriety abstalned. With that
life, as Rouher said, Bonapartism was adjourned
for ten yearsr'
VUr ormyY A mYnM nu n DTYpu Nnuy