The New York herald., 1874-07-09
FRENCH POLITICS.
Aims and Intrigues OF tho
Political Parties.
REPUBLIC OR NO REPUBLIC7
A New Storm in the Air-Prospects of
Dissolution.
PARIS, June 25. IS,

i take up my pen to explain to the readers OF
the New YORK HERALD what is the political situa-
tion OF France at the present moment. We are
once more, as we all believe on the OF crisis
That crisis may lead to nothing or it may bring
about important events which will seal the fate OF
France for some years to come. There is abso-
lutely no predicting at this moment whether the
crisis will burst upon in day, week or
month; we cannot see how 1t will come nor how
II win terminate. All we know is that the air
around us Is heavy with storm; and lest some
tempest should break out and be reported
TO you BY telegraph before these lines can
De read In New York purpose here to give you
summary account OF the condition OF parties their
recent doings ahd future hopes. II the constitu-
tonal battle shall have been fought before my let
ter is printed the summary will at least serve as
light by which to read the significance OF the events
that will have happened.
The reader knows that when NJ. Theirs was over
thrown on the cath OF May, 1873,
MARSHAL MACNAHON
was appointed Chief OF the Executive in his stead
The Marshals electors we're the three monarchical
acknowledgement Orleanist and Bonapartist.
They had dismissed M. Theirs because the latter
wished to fount the Republic; and, having thus
stalled
REAcrIoNARY CABINET,
which pledged Itself, under the Duke de Broglies
guidance, to rule on conservative principles In
few weeks all worked prOsperousiy. Republican
projects, ambassadors, collegiate professors, pub
no prosecutors and garrison commanders were
turned away and their posts given to monarchists.
The Cabinet introduced and passed bill with
drawing from the municipalities the right to elect
their mayors, the said right bein transferred
to the government; ana to the end that these
nrhtp no vfn %
publican newspapers were either suppressed or
threatened so pointedly that they apsed cautious.
When the summer session OF 1873 closed the mo-
narchlcal factions separated nO Opeful!y, each men,
ber being convinced that liberalism had been
checkmated. But soon this conviction got damped
and
TROUBLES BEGAN.
The three monarchical factions had been united
enough so tar as concerned the question OF up
setting M. Theirs and establishing provisional
government to keep republicans in subjecton; but
they were by no means agreed as to what should
be done next. The legitimists, some $50 strong,
were for getting the Count de Chambord restored
absolute monarch, either By vote of the Assem-
bly, or by coup Getdt on the part Of MacMahon.
whose wife was notoriously legtlmist, and would
so they reckOned use her influence on their be-
half The Orleanists, 200 in number, wanted TO
restore the Count OF Paris, or they were prepared
to vote for Henri ", provided the latter would be
reconciicd to his cousin, accept the tricoor nag
and swear to govern constitutionally. The OBJECT
OF the Bonapartists Ia batch OF thirty in the Assem-
bly,, very active and powerful out OF doors) was
TO keep MacMahon in office until the majority OF
the Prince Imperial on the 10th March, 1874. and
then to induce the Marshal to decree p1ebisoi.uns
Considering that great many OF the new projects
and mayors were imperialists the BonapartIsts
mad every confidence that the influence OF these
officials over their constituencies would be strong
enough TO get Napoleon lv. restored BY q hand
some majority. Accordingly
THE RECESS WAS SPENT IN AGITATION AND IN
TRIGUES.
Each party set to work, the Marshal standing by
indifferently the while, and soon rumor got
about that fusion had taken place between the
Houses OF Orleans and BOURBON. This was to q
certain extent true. The Count OF Paris had paid
a visit to the Count OF Chambord and done homage
to him AS chief of the blouse Of France,n at the
same time waving all his own claims to succeed
to the throne except as Henry VS. heir. The Count
of Chambord, on his side was understood to prom
ise that he would govern constitutonally and re-
nounce the white nag-declaratiOns which assured
him some $50 votes In the Assembly and made his
restoration pretty nearly safe. But just as the
"iused" royalists we're rejoicing over this happy
anc une xpected obliteration Of differences the
Count of Chambord launched sensational mani.
festo, averrng that he hal been misunders TODD,
that he would never renounce the white flag, aud
that ne considered himself king by divine right,
whether the Assembly accepted him or not.
Hereat
THE RoYALIsr HOPES COLLAPSED
BY mastering every royalst vote and corrupting
some wavering Centrists, who were as wiling to
acclaim a constitutional royalty as conservative
republic, it would have been possible to get Henri
v. elected a national sovereign; but TO get him
elected as bearer OF the white nag and revver of
despotism was out OF the question. On the other
hand, the moderate royalists Orleanists, who
were faithful to the tricolor were unable TO re-
store the Count OF Paris as they would have liked
TO do In the first place, the count Of Paris, hav-
ing done homage TO the Count OF Chambord, re-
fused to let himself be nomnated and In the
next place, even had he come forward as pre-
tender, the $50 legitimists would have declined TO
vote for him during Henri VS. lifetime. So bv
common consent 1t was resolved among the
monarchists to prolong Marshal MacMahon,s
powers The Bonapartsts, who had broken away
from the royslists during the intrigues OF the
recess, entered into the alliance again to uphold
MacMahon, and consequently on the 2Otn OF De-
cemoer. 1879 the Marshal was appointed
PRESIDENT or TIE REPUBLIC FOR sEvRN YEARS.
Now, In thus appointing him, each Of the mou-
archist factions mad their own ends In view
The legitmsts appear to have trusted to the
chapter of accidents Being numerically strong
In the Assembly they hoped to control legislation
In such wise that the hands of the clergy would be
aud that the republicans would be
able to achieve no electoral trumphs In country
districts where the influence Of bishops and
priests preponuerates In the meantime they
would so work on the Marshal BY occult social in
nuence that he might incline to the notion of
suddenly resigntng his powers and wink At the
restoration OF Henry V. oy a coup de main. The
Bonapartists had a plan more simple. They
would. by alying themselves now with the repub-
licans now with the royasts obstruct all legisla-
tion OF too clerical or TOO radical character;
they would Keep up violent plebiscitary agita-
ton out OF DOORS and some DAY, when parties had
come to deadlock, they would get a cohort OF
old imperial renarala To wainh nnan thu