National Republican., 1873-05-26
FRANCE.


The telegraph yesterday brought the start
ling news that NJ. Theirs had resigned the
Presidency Of the French republic, and that
General Mcmahon had been installed In his
place. For the last ten days tho dispatches
from Paris foToshadowcd an impending crisis
In French politics, and the possible overthrow
Of VI. Thiers, but 1t was hoped that the mar
volous genius and tact that had enabled him
TO meet and overcome so many difficulties
would carry him victorious through the storm
Of opposition to which he has been compelled
toyield. A rccapitulation Of the leading events
which eliminated In his resignation Is neccs-
Bary to an understanding Of the present sltua-
tlon. On the lith Of the present month Il was
rumorcd In Paris that VI. Goulard had In
formed NJ. Theirs that he had resolved TO re-
sign the Ministry Of the Interior unless Jules
Simon, the Minister Of Public Instruction,
should retire. The same evening II was an
nounccd that both Goulard and Simon had
left VI. THEIRS Cabinet. On the 18th Il
was reported that the Legitimists and the
Orlcanists had combined In movement To
overthrow Theirs, and had sent Rochcfou-
cauld to Vienna TO ask the Count do Cham
bord to authorize the Legitimists TO nominate
the Due d'Aumale for the Presidency. Next
day the Count returned and reported that he
had had q conference with the imperial exile,
but gave no indication Of It's result, except
that he had no intention whatever Of adopt
Ing as his son the young Prince Imperial
These, In brief, arc q few Of the more re-
mote causes that have led TO the present dliii-
cul:ies.
President Theirs, however, Jravely battlcd
with the obstacles thrown In his way by the
opposition, and on the 18th instant succeeded
in recognizing his Cabinet. The National
Assembly convened on the 10Th, when the
Right Centre presented what Is called in our
dispatches ian Interpolation, In which they
demanded an explanation Of the recent
changes In the ministry, and reorganization
Of the Cabinet upon conservative basis. A
vote showed that parties were evenly bal
auccd. On the 10th instant another test
vote was had over tho election Of a fourth
Vice President Of tho Assembly, when Buffet,
who was the Government candidate, was de-
fcatcd by Martel, In vote Of $50 to 523-a
bare majority Of reyen. Notwithstanding
this reverse, 1t was hoped that when the
Interpolation" come TO bo voted upon
Theirs would have a majority, not large, but
stll sufficient TO show the confidence Of the
Assembly in his administration. The news
which We print this morning shows how un.
founded was the expectation. The following
day being a holiday, the contending parties
rested on their arms. On the sd the contest
sagain renewed, In the presence Of crowded
galleries and Of an excited populacc outside
the walls Of the chamber. President Thier,
.snIa 10 all Aaa hnN Nfa,
repeated efforts he was compelled 10 leave the
tribunal, his voice being drowned In the
uproar." One Of his ministers succeeded In
obtaining the hearing which had been denied
him, and asked for an adjournment, which
was granted, and which brings US TO the
closing scene in q national drama, the conse'
quences Of which 1t Is impossible to foressc OF
TO predict. At this writing we only know
that VI. Theirs has resigned, and that Paris
which is Francois quiet The interpella.
tlon motion was carried against VI. Their
whereupon the Ministers handed In theiI
rcsignatiOns which were accepted, and In q
short time afterwards the President himself
restored TO the Assembly intact and unhurt
the republic which had been intrusted to hi,
keeping.
The whole movement Is fraught with tho
gravcst peril to France. VI. Thiers com
mtted great and grave blunders In his ad
ninistratlon. lie failed to give France
positive policy. lie seemed to tribe with tn,
republic and to be conspiriRg In the interest
Of the monarchy aud Of Imperialism, whlcl
inccnsed the radical faction. But at the sam
time II cannot be denied that so far as result
20 he was laying broad and deep the founda
tions Of republlcanism. Every step that b
took was planted on firm, solid ground, an
In the two years Of the provisions
government he has accomplished "a
more than the most sanguino frien
Of republlcanism dared TO hope b
could have accomplished. Under his admir-
istration France has achieved magnincef
UOnqucsts over herself. She has won victC
rics, moral and physical, that were deeme
to be impossible. VI. Theirs, coming int
power, suppressed civil war upon the mo-
stupendous scale-the war Of the commune.
aud at the same time faithfully fulfilled the o.
legations which France bound herself to fulf
toward Germany. The financial achiev
ncnts Of the Theirs administration will Il,
through all time, and rank only second
that which we In the United States have wol
Whsn the bond became due the German WI
paid his pound of flesh, and the German Sc
dlor steadily retired, step by step, to h
frontier beyond the Rhine. Under him r
publicanism In France has set an example
fidelity TO principle and OF self-sacrifcln
hcroism that Is raro In the history Of th
world.
The lovers Of liberty and the believers
republcanism everywhere will hope thi
Mcmahon, who has been called TO the suprem
control, will succeed as well as Thlors SUI
cceded; that he will carry France nearer TO th
ideal republic which Theirs seemed so anxiot
topostpone. But the outside world will NJ
fail TO sec In 1t legitimate monarchicl
movement. Mcmahon was the trusted soldiC
and friend Of the late empire. II he ha
bceuremarkable for anything beyond his mel
sOldierly qualities 1t is for devotion TO II
NapOleoniC idea In his accession to pow,
VIC sec only the upas tree Of the empire
some form or another, Meanwhile we q
ccpt his promise that he ''wIll obey the vi
Of the Assembly"