The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-03
President MacMahOn's Opportuni-
ties and Dangers.
"The Government Is Already
Constituted"
PROSPECTS OF THE FUTURE.
Bloomerism in Paris-Accident to
Victor Hugo.

from the people OF Catholic and conservative Brit
tany. At st. Malo, in reply to an address OF the
municipality expressing hope tnat the govern
ment might be definitely constituted under him,
he replied. little testify. that the government
was ''already constituted" and added that com.
merce was suffering as much In England and
Germany as In France, though no one could deny
an established character TO the governments OF
the two former countries. The plain truth is that
the Presideu. has disappoin ted many, both friends
and foes, who once believed in the sincerity and
loyalty OF his Intentions. He was placed at the
head OF affairs to keep order till the will OF the ma
ton as to the constitution under which 1t would
choose live should have been clearly ascertained.
Instead OF this MacMahOn refuses now to let the
nation discuss its AFFAIRS at all. He affects to
believe that he is king for the next six years.
after that the nation may return to anarchy or
continue him IN his powers. How different Is
SUCH selfish and sh0rtsighted conduct from the
noble disinterestedness shown by Washington,
who was very similarly situated between 1888 and
1887. He firmly upheld the authority of Congress
and respect for the laws in force till the founda
tions OF the Republic had been laid on solid
basis He asked nothing for himself and received
all. Can Que fancy Washington petulantly de-
manding new Press law to enable him to sup
port the dignity OF his administration, or insisting
on a term OF five years instead OF four Tor the
Presidency, or allowing his Ministers TO propose
huge additional vote Tor table money The found
er OF the Union knew better means OF being re-
spected. Perhaps it is hardly fair to institute
COMPARISON BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND MAC
MAHON;
but tried even by lower standard, that Of mere
enlightened sei-interest. the Marshal-President
does not appear to advantage. The most exact
parallel that history offers to the position
of MacMahon In France at the present day is the
position OF General Monk IN England after the fall
Of Richard Cromwell. There was the same strife
of parties in the England Of 1860 as In the France
o, 1874; the same absence Of settled government;
the "Rump" Parliament was as much desplsed as
the Versailles Assembly; there was the same cry
on all sides Tor a frank appeal to the country.
Monk, like MacMahon, was mere soldier IN COM
mand OF a large armed force. Under these cir
cumstances it was perfectly possible for him to
assume q Dictatorate over the kingdom, but he
had the good sense to reject so poor makesniit.
In a few weeks he had ascertained beyond doubt
the wish OF the people for
FREE PARLIAMENT,
and he fastened to give effect to their desires. He
knew his reward would be far more substantial
and secure than a temporary residence at White
hall, possibly terminating. like the residence Of the
last monarch Oy public appearance in front OF
the banqueting hall Tor other purposes than those
OF ieasting. 1t is written in the memory Uf living
men that famous Marshal. who never lost a
battle Of Sedan and who was by common consent
OF his cOuntrymen ''the bravest OF the Brave"
found there no forgiveness for the betrayal of
a trust. Marshal Ney only betrayed one party;
MacMahon has, to say the least OF it. trifed with
all.
THE PROSPECT OF THE FUTURE.
The lookout is gloomy enough. with so much
childishness among all classes and so much i'll
acknowledgement under windy defamation
among the masses. 1t may be thought that the
simple explanation Of these phenomena is that
France IS at the core aristocratic and monarchic,
and that q brilliant and strong.handed despotism
iS the best cure for the national Ills. Unf0rtu-
nately. this remedy has been tried and found want
ing II free institutions unsuited to France 1t
is diflcut to know what institutions are suited to
her. The old Monarchy persisted; SO did the re-
stored and the parliamentary monarchies perish.
The two Empires fell, and great was their fall.
The Republic only shared the common lot in 1899
and 1851
WHAT FRANCE WANTS
is Christianity neither more nor less. Till the
great body of the people accept the moral teach
ing and the sanctions OF ST. Paul ana Thomas
Kempis in preference to those OF Eugene Sue and
Paul de Kock there can be no proper spirit OF
subordination or contentment or sObriety of
LuOuBHJ. ludb cuuucHIy piolouuu OUoClVCi vi
the signs OF the times, Mr.. W. r. Greig, IN his
warnings OF Cassandra" seems to consider the
rejection Of Christian morality by the lower classes
as threatening the very dissolution Of society In
other countries besides France. The result of dis
belief in the existence OF future state will be, he
thinks to rouse in the uncducated an intense de.
sire to "immedatize" all possible pleasures for
which they can hope; in Scripture phrase, to ''eat
and drink, for tomorrow they may de-" This
warning is all the more emphatic as Mr..
Greig entirely rejects dogmatic Christianity.
After such testimony the emphatic concur
renee in this opinion of orthodox writers
like the conservative Duke OF Brogie. or the re-
publican M. de Pressense, is scarcely needed.
M. Guizot throws the weight Of his experience
into the same scale, and, though strict PrOtes
tant is only coo ready to give the Catholic Church
in France every means OF organizing itself more
perfectly for the arduous task Of converting the
masses. This must be the work OF time; for the
present the comfortable classes will probably
GIVE THE EMPIRE ANOTHER TRIAL.
have Just breakfasted with a member OF the
late government and he assured me that the
Sntrt had fho