New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-27
FRENCH POLITICS.
q ". 4.

PRESIDENT MACMAHoNs PLEDGE OF LAST MAY AND
ITS MRANING-REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS oP-
PREssED-THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THEIRS
AND GAMBETTA, AND IT'S SIGNIFICANCE.
lpRon THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRrBUNE.l
PARIS. Oct. s-Wthin a hundred years
France has twice gone the rounds OF Royalty Repub
lie and Empire. None OF the Royalties, Republics, or
Empires was nicely like any one OF the others in its
kind each OF its kind differed from itself between its
rise and its downfall The numerous intercalary crises
have each peculiar character 1t seemed as IL spend
thrift France had exhausted her rich historic variety
and must fall back stale repetitons But to-day she
finds herself entirely novel political situation
France has a Government labeled Republic" with
soldier labeled President, but preferring to sign him
self Marshal and Imperial Duke, FOR its nominal,
and a royallst Duke for its real executive chlef
This Government zealously applies all Its legal
power and other influence, both of which are great
directly and by indrecton in hostility TO the Republic
and Republicans OF all styles and classes and In favor OF
an az vet unsyled royalty and OF all varieties OF roy
a,ists Some few hundreds OF French gentlemen mostly
aged and elderly bald, none Of whom when can
ddates for the National Assembly put forward his mon
archca opinions OF his constituent capacity as claim
70 the votes OF his constituents busy foregatherng
and intriguing among themselves and with middle
aged French gentleman OF the middle ages who has not
lived in France since his early childhood how they can
regect on the ruins Tueries and the Republic
ramshackle throne with him top Of IT, 70 reign and rule
over modern, unconsulted and not 10 De con-
shifted French subjects who for more than twenty years
now have grown In the constitutional habit OF uniyer-
sally voting French citizens
The actual nominal President OF the French Repub-
lie when raised to that Office last May, solenny pro-
claimed TO the Assembly and the dead walls in large
print TO all France. that under his rule " moth
ing would be changed in the existing Institutions
since then all voices, however otherwise dscordant,
have united in singing and less heartily from head
or chest " MacMahon the honest" man. If the dying
fan with some soldier" the deep bass note OF others;
glorious sword the timid hopeful treble and brawng
roar OF others Honest MacMahon began his career
nnder Charles x He has served honoraby under every
successive Government, and probably Royalty MADE
him General, Empire made him Duke and Marshal
Repubic has made him President. He Is soldier, ana
a brave one No competent military judge pronounces
him a great captain. He is not POLITICIAN yet less
statesman II has been a curious, and now is grown to
be an intensely grave question: how far atal, he is
aware OF the peculiar weighty responsibility he under
went when entering on HE Presidential ONCE last May
What did he then mean 20 embrace by his phrase OF
"existng institutions" and his accompanying phrase
guaranteeing them Nothing that he has said snce-he
has said ne 1t TO nohngcass much az the falnest
oam Of nterpretative light on his Presidential views
of the superpaent antirepubcan actions and activity
Of his Vice President. De Broglie's government
This among other things, is noticeable The question
bejnc forced to active discussion between lie Temps
Moderate Republican and, since the disruption last
wear Of the once strong and brilliant editorial corps OF
the Debals the ncomparably abiest OF all French
ournas and Frdneas most prudent best authorized
organ Of NJ de Broglies government Of MacMahon, this
last named organ gnds out editorial notes TO this hnal
effect existing institutions" In the plural mean,
and mean only, the sole and sovereign Assembly.
Nothing in all that legal machinery and all
those legal means. by help OF which and NJ
President Theirs, France made peace with Ger
many and paid her dire debt, and suppressed
formidable nsv ERECTION, brought discipline to the army
credit 10 the finances order 20 society confidence NOW
pfy shaken AGAIN. to capitalists, and solid real az
well as high hopeful prosperity tnow checked again oy
n.tetv) 20 the industry OF the countynothing OF all
that was or is 10 be counted az institution. In his
largely dreamy superficial dread and hate OF the
Repubc in his narrow profound, doctrnaire conct OF
his and classknds divine night and capacity TO control
when he and they get a chance, the VicePresident,
Duke Of Broglie has got but that far
A speech of his speech of Gambetta, and letter OF
NJ Theirs have all print this week. All newspa-
,ars that published certain paragraphs OF Gambettas
discourse have been inflicted with official prohibition
OF public sale the street or In shops Utter the fou
est widest charges against the political moral or pri'
vate character Gambetta Theirs other Republican
individual against honesty morality OF Repub-
cans in genera-the printed sheet they I'LL is sure of ev-
ery privilege OF SALE The Minister. Vice President AGA
demc De Bfoge, sharp swift, and exnltlngy ongen
Tor ..ssr and bs SPOKEN opinions, under any
c,ry,,mpstances N speaker and opinions
never so moderately Republican, has this week madpro
COS Of q new railroad opening, for the hondredtn
time. caught chance to utter his stump orstory HIS
talk wss senographed has been reported aud you may
read n you gaps n leisure The clean drit Oh u
is ard monarchy the general toward which ana
what monarchy, IL is pltifuly INDEFINITE me Duke
would save and open place for himself France
can't get on without him. He Is semiparhanientary
liberal royast needs 10 be prime minister OF mon
archy-of a constitutional monarchy. That 10 what nc
youinnous did not definitely say and briefly meant
The man al FrOhsd0rf did once say. what the bfogie
does not forget: "The Duke de Brogie will never DO
my Minister" Times change aud men-under pressure
nj Chambord eats his words and swallows his nag
which not yet said be would but has begun 70
indicate that he may-why may not Bros,e VINO p, sn
iser the grandchild. ninth In descent irou Henry
w. Ia King OF Frence-why may, snonld.
must not de Broge, play at one now nice party game
discard myself sacrifice honor, trust TO tricks, rup ID
first at any cOstf
There are two politicians In France to-day. ] mean
two nrscass WHY wise. practiced political leaders
Making the distinction between politicians ana states
msp, keeping In view the bearing OF the distncoh ia
tsf and on the lsst hundred Eears Of French history
English American spectator viii fail 10 zee the
importance OF the Agreement for united acuon In mvW
Of republican establishment OF French Government
which 1hiers and Gswbetta have arrived a. Theirs
canoe IN this. II is not a personal pronuncia'
mento; 10 10 and becomes republican man
iesto and sign OF trallying under and up 70 when
all Republicans are now tsndng 70 enres%ens tns
honesty-from honorable Chambord's honor-the eoidsr
guaranteetnx "eIsting institutions'-the Prets9oea
Prince making his family white flag the symbol OF an
Interchangeable political principle and Of fatally con-
trolling sentiment Of personal IL 10 the xsme
partially indicated above which the fusonsts play
Ing against the French people for what they, more OF
less honestly, conceive W be France, VIII