Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-06-19
MacMahOn.

1t is now almost fifty years since there
was entered at the Military School of
st. Cyr young man of II, who to other
merits added that of being the son of a
Peer of France. st. Cyr was at that
date well stocked with the progeny of
noblemen. Its catalogue bristled with
Montmorencys, Harcourts, Luynes and
Rohans, who amused themselves of a
Sunday in going to Paris and making a
rout at the Theater Fraincais or giving
Liberal journalists, such as then was
M. Theirs, reason enough for duel.
The former was generally compassed by
kissing Mile. Mars, who had taint of
Bonapartism the latter in any of those
ways which young men know how to use
when disposed to be riotous and no
doubt but that young MacMahon, the
son of Peer of France, then a fierce
Legitihnist, later the Lieatenant of Louis
Napoleon, still later the right hand of
M. Theirs, but to succeed him at last,
may have lain awake many a night
specializing on whom he might fix q
quarrel Young gentleman at st. Cyr
were prone in those days to conspiring
against the peace in a small way, and to
them a Liberal Journalist was yermin to
Of Everybody remembers-for it was
the talk of salons-how M. Constant de
Rebecque, editor of the MS,aer-ue, hay
ing had a dozen duels, at last salaried a
fencing master to attend-to that depart
ment, and how, the fencing master
having been cut down one day as sub
stitute for his master, the latter on the
spot offered the vacant post to the victor,
who at once accepted, and entered on
his duties. The riot when Talma acted
CHINA, made up as Napoleon, and all St.
Cyr was present in a body, illustrates
the explosive condition of the atmos-
phere in which MacMahon formed his
opinions. Gravely remarked the Quot
diesne the next morning: "There
were a hundred duels on that memorable
night, but [regretfullyl only seven
proved fatal.
MacMahon set out in life as Legiti-
mist fire-eater of the fiercest type-a
tape dessats sort of person, the con-
seryatives style men who thoroughly
mean what they say. The Revolution of
1880 found him battling with the Arabs
in Agiers. In 1S4S, when the crisis
was, he was Colonel, an officer of the
Legion of Honor, Conservative-three
things different in terms, but standing
for the same idea. Louis Philippe
went down. Men like MacMahon looked
on in silent contempt, and then called
Tor regime OF order. Had they and
theirs cast their lot with the Republic
then and there, Louis Napoleon would
never have made his eoua, d'etdt. When
the late prisoner at Ham ascended the
throne, MacMahon swore a fourth fealty
and took what Providence had in store
for him, which proved to be very lib
eral dole of honors. 1t was at this stage
of his career that he learned to say
nothing, but having saved his master at
Magenta, he had at least earned the
right to be silent although, being the
idol of the people, the Emperor, tolerat-
ing no worship of idols, got him out OF
the way by sending him to govern the
Arabs and get killed if possible.
Since then MacMahon's opinions have
been sealed book to France. He has
obeyed all orders silently. What his
opinion may have been of M. Thiers-
little dada" as he is styled by Con
servatives half in contempt, by the Re.
publcans half in admiration-nobody
knows. What his policy will be it is
therefore idle to predict. Born in 1908
at Sully, near Autun, he will be 65 years
old July I3, 1873. Descended from ar
ancient family of Irish Catholics, who
followed the Stuarts, he is not probably
an enthusiastic Republican.