The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-10
MACMAHON'S ADDRESS.

MACMAHON'S ADDRESS.
Tho Address or tho Newly Elected Prcsf-
don't OF the French Republic to the Ma
ttoaal Assembly at Versailles.
PARIS, May %, 1873.
Marshal MacMahon has not kept the National
Assembly long in suspense regarding the course he
intends to adopt in the government or the coun-
try. When the session opened yesterday the Duke
de Br0glie. Vice President OF the Council, an
nounced that he had In his possession message
from the newly elected President OF the Republic
which, he said, he had been requested to read to
the representatives OF che land. or course the
mere announcement OF such Q document was sui
ncient to call forth excitement in the Assembly.
Loud calls were made to ''readn from the Right,
but the members Of the Left remained moderately
quiet. So far as the message is concerned, it APP
pears to be but paraphrase OF the letter by which
the Marshal accepted the Presidency. Both decu.
ments speak upon two points principally, the liberia
ton OF the territory and the restoration of moral
order, question Of finance on the one side and
question or policy on the other. This after ALL Is
but the continuation OF the government as M.
Theirs had organized It, The government OF Mar.
shall MacMahon, in effect, has little to do with the
evacuation. The treaty has been negotiated and
four milliards Of the i've demanded by Germany are
already in the exchequer of the latter government
Nevertheless 1t will be generally gratifying to
learn that while he intends to follow up the course
adopted by his predecessor in the matter Of freeing
the soil OF France OF the presence OF the invader
MacMahon will not at least for the present. at
tempt any new reforms that might give rise to
fresh complications in the country.
MACMAHON's ADDRESS TO THE DEPUTIES.
The Duke, in introducing the subject of the mes
sage, made slight appeal for an attentive hear
ing, and then read as foows:-
GRNrLEMRN-Called by the National Assembl to
the Presidency OF the Republic, / nave exercised
chosen Ministry whose members are selected
from your ranks. (Cheers.) The idea which mas
that which will inspire the Ministry In all its acts
Is respect for the will OF the Assembly and the de-
plause from the Right ana Ucntre The right Of
the majority Is the rule OF all parliamentary gov
ernments-l cheersl-but this rule has special
ern, In virtue OF which the magistrate charged
with executive power Is but the delegate OF the
thority and who is the active expression Of the
laws. Cheersl This Assembly, In the course of
great tasks to perform; llberate our territory
which was invaded after frghtfu struggle, and
re-establish order among society torn by spirit
The first OF these tasks has been pursued with a
constant devotion, not by the majority Alone but
with perfect unanimity on the part Of the repre-
sentatives OF France.
Neither OF the great measures, which had for
their object the recovery OF our national ndepend-
ence, has called forth debate nor been met with
severe opposition. 1t is not too much to say that
these measures could not have been carried If the
country herself the entire country had not ready
though onerous enough some OF them were. to ac-
cept them with heroic patience and without either
agreement Of all classes was the principal force
which aided the llustrious man, whom replace
from whom only difference OF opinion. which
deplore. has separated you. lCheers.) ! count
the efforts shall make in order to finish. by the
COMPLETE FULFILMENT OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS,
tnst WORK Which thank Cod s now nearly accom-
excellent relations which the recent government
has established between France and foreign powers
and which shall endeavOr to maintain. My line
OF conduct, in this respect, Will be exactly that
which has been several times indicated by my pre-
decessor to this tribunal, and which you have al
ways approved: maintain that peace we have so
highly protested and practised, so that Europe,
ton of the army tat which shall continue to labor
without relaxation) but the legitimate desire to
pair our forces, and to recover the rank to which
In the policy OF the interior the sentiment that has
dictated all your acts mas been that OF social conser
mense majority have had this essential conserva-
tive character. Sometimes divided upon questions
found ready to unite upon the ground or defence OF
the great fundamental principles upon which
society rests, and whiesl Is menaced to-day by so
which you represent ought therefore, to be, and
will be, pledge you, theoretically and resoutely
conservative. (Cheers.) The very important
laws upon
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY,
upon municipal administration. public instruction,
and other questions which affect interests OF the
first commercial and financial order, either
prepared or now under discussion in your
commissions. On these, think, | have chosen
ministers competent to treat with you. other
laws. which raise constitutional questions or great
gravity have been presented by my predecessor,
on which you will express decisive opinion. You
have taken and will examine them; the govern
day shall arrive that you may Judge convenient Tor
their discussion 1T will give you on each point
raised its we'll considered opinion.
But while You deliberate, gentlemen, 1t Is the
duty and the right OF the government to act. Its
task is, first OF ALL that OF administrator-that ia
the laws which you have made and to keep an Jnft
regarding public feeling and opinion. (Cheers.)
To impress upon the administration entire unity
cohesion, to cause to be respected and on all occa
those functionaries that respect themselves and
the laws Is plain duty, often imperative, but for
this reason all the more necessary to be compiled
with now. owing to the revolutionary times, and
one in which the government will not fail
(Cheers)
Such are, gentlemen, my intentions which be-
lieve almost in conformity with yours. To all
the titles which command our obedience the AS
sembly adds to them that OF being the bulwarK ola
society menaced In France and in Europe through
out by faction which lmperis the peace OF all
nations, but which cannot hasten your dissolution,
because that 1t sees in you the principal obstacle
to its designs. (Applause)
consider the post IN which you have placed me
as that OF a sentinel who watches over and MAN.
tains the integrity OF your sovereign power. loud
cheers)
TEJnY AMI