New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
MfRSHAL MacNdHON AND TIE SEP



No more striking illustration could be given
of the anomalous condition of things in France
than the dispatches from Paris this morning
stating that Marshal MacMahOn's message of
Thursday is generally regarded as Il recognl-
ton of the Republic. France has been Re-
public since the 4th of September, 1870.
Marshal MacMahon was elected by the Assem-
bly to the Presidency in May of last year, and
on the Goth of November last the chief ex-
ccutive power was delegated to him irievo-
cably for seven years. His last official
utterance informs the Chamber that he
took these votes in earnest, and
that they must not be wasting
so much time in delaying the permanent or
ganization of the Government over which he
presdes 1t would seem that nothing could
be clearer than this. Yet the French have
been so accustomed by the royaist and impe-
rialist press to an atmosphere of intrigue and
double-meaning that they have ceased to read
official utterances aightforwardly, and after
n day of elaboration the Republican press an
nounces, as if it were a significant discovery,
that Marshal MacMahon has recognized the
Republic of which he has been President the
past year.
The cause Of all this doubt and dstrust is
evident. The defeat of NJ. Theirs and the
election of Marshal MacMahOn was the act
not of Republicans but of Monarcbsts. 1t
was done il the hope of applying an imme-
date check to the progress OF Republican
sentiment in the country by means OF admin
istrative influence and coercion in the cleo
TONS and then of prosecuting, under the
shadow of a not unfriendly authority, the
intrigues already begun for the restoration of
monarchy to France. During the Summer
and Autumn these intrigues were carried on,
and it is now shown by the publication re-
Gently made through the Duke dAudiffret-
pasouier that the President himself was not
wholly ignorant of them. But they failed,
scandalously and absurdly, through the truly
obstinate folly of the Comte de ChambOrd
and in the sudden terror which followed
this disaster to their cause, the Monarchists
united in electing Marshal MlcMahon to the
Presidency for seven years. They feared,
with some reason, that unless they placed him
IN q nosition where he would be safe from
the consequences of any parliamentary re-
verse. the Presidency might any day fall
into the hands of radical Republican and
their plans be indefinitely adjourned. He was
therefore made President of the Republic for
seven ycars-not because those who voted for
him imagined that the Republic would last
ANYTHING near that time. but because they
thought, and many of them openly affirmed,
that Marshal MacMahon was too loyal gen.
tleman to refuse to retire as soon as the
King should make his appearance in France.
Probably no one but the Duchess of Ma
eenta and her confessor know just what the
Marshal intended when he accepted the Presi-
dency of the Septennat. He is called an
honest man, and it is not unlikely that his
motives were of the purest character. But if
he intended to execute in good faith the i'm
nortant functions with which he was charged
it is certain that many of the nobility and
gentry on the Right of the Chamber were
erieyously deceived. If, on the other hand,
he consented to act rs mere stop-gap, to
hold the throne until the owner came for it,
like footman holding seat for his master
at show, his present action is only another
proof of tho power of habit, and the habit of
power. ue has certainly como TO regard his