Litchfield enquirer., 1877-10-25
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1ARlH. OCtOU0f OO.-W00u lb UCOo40 knossa that France had lost M. oThiers, thatthe Republicans would of a necessity Hasa to select an acknpwledg leafar. some marked personality, all eyes turned towards M. Jules Grevy, who for many years . has presided stovnr the French Chamber of Deputies. Of course the active, the influential. the real leader of the republicans is Leon Gambetta, but even he feels the necessity of having os- tensibly at the head of the party 8. re- sponsible, influential man, against whom the. organs of the R0yalists and Bona partists would vainly seek to excite the fears of the people of the provinces. M. Gambetta is yet a young man-the fact IS often cited against him-and be is we'll aware that torrent of vile abuse would be ceaselessly poured upon him by the enemies of the republic were he to as- sume tooapparentiy, the leadership.
 So by common. consent M. Jules GreyY was looked upon as the mnst a s1,d powerful person 10 Piace ueiore tue peg pIe of France as the successor of M. complaint; they sought to convince their unknown and would have no kind of 'in.
 
 lieved otherwise. however. was betrayed by their angry accusations and vitnpera- tions, and it soon became, evident that in making choice of M. Grevy the Republi- cahs had done a wise thinQ. g snrral sa
 The spfevineial papers acclaimed his as- of the leadership. The Euro pean journals .dwelt with respectful ap- preciation upon their. choice, and now the successor of M. Thiers comes before the people of France with increased pow CT and influence. This being the case, and as M. Jules Grevy is certain to be- come Q very important parsonage in El- rope. it is not ia0pportune to briefly re reT view his Career mp to the present. time Francois -Paul-J Jules Grevy was born at Mont-sous.Vaudrez,s in the Department of the Jura, in 1913. His pa-euts were we'll to-do-farners. He began his studies at the College of Poligny, where he was much noticed on account of his quick perception and ardorLin study. Having terminated his collegiate course. young Grevy came to Paris to prepare himself for the practice of she law when the ordi- nances of 1880 appeared. Strongly i'm bned with republican ideas. the student took part in the struggles of July. and was among the aseailants who captured tue Babylon barracks Several of his as- sociates in this feat were decorated by the Provisional Government. Young GreYy refused all distinction of the kind, himself with having done his duty and assisted in the triumph of the democratic cause. .-s
 Having been admitted to the bar young Grevy became very successful. and soon occupied g most honorable position. He was always, however. very averse to ta- king mp any of thG causes brayGates, and was ever remarkable as a qnlet. austere and very dignifed person. When the Royaiists succeeded in overthrowing the Grevy very faithfully and boldly defended the parties brought before the tribunals, and his eloquent pleadlngs were often successful, 80 much so as to attract universal attention. In 1S48, when the Revolution again triumphed. M. Grevy was appointed Commissary of the Republic for the Department of the Jura, and f1lfed the post in manner which reflected great credit upon his mind and zheart He was always scru- pulously just, and ever treated the oppo- nents of the Government he represented with kindly moderation. ''I do wish, D he often repeated ''that the republic should only be feared" al
 Such a course gained for M. Grevy many friends and admirers, and when the elections for the '.Assemblee Constit- uante" took place he was almost unani- mously elected Representative. From the moment he entered the Chamber of Deputies he was chosen as @ member of the committee serving as Council of State and elected one of the Vice-Pres idents of the Assembly, in which ca- pacitv he gave constant proofs of the prudence, dignity. and impartiali- ty which have ever since so eminently distinguished him. His tact and lntelli- gence in directing and controlling discus sion were so evident, so marked as to, in- sure him the esteem and respect of even those who were his political opponents, and soon M. Grevy became renos ned as a most determined, most honest, most fair director of the legislative debates. At all times he evinced sincere de- sire that the deliberations Tn the Cham Der might be free and untrammelled. Against the ''state of siege" on all occa- sions he never failed to deplore the pres- sure laid upon the press; in fact, he has
 
 dom in all its phases, and was always de- sirous that the journals of every political shade might be allowed to freely discuss the act of the chambers. From the first M. Grevy foresaw the danger of allowing the people to elect a PresIdent. France was not prepared for such an expression of will. There were too many people who were totally nneducated-to many prej- ndiced, ignorant parties who would be led astray. He proposed to the Cham Der the following enactment:
 The National Assembly delegates the executive power to citizen, who shall receive the title of President of the
 Council of Ministers. .. .-s g The President of the Council of Minis ters shall be elected by the Assembly by an absolute majority of votes. 1 e |
 The President of the Council of Minis ters may be revoked by vote of the As sembly.
 Had these propositions been accepted it is easy to understand how different might have been the fate of France ar
 The Republic would doubtless have been preserved, and the second Empire would never have brought upon the country. after years of fictitious pros perity, the shame of defeat, dismember- ment. and the payment of an enormous, crushing war indemnity. The enemies of the republic were, however, on the watch, and the efforts of all sincere advocates of that form of government were met with steady opposition, with what effect we all know. H& I'M @4 s -@ :, Among those most strenuously opposed to the expedition to Rome was M. IGreyy, and il. was only when the coup d'etat of the 2d December came that his constant efforts m the cause of liberty were mo- mentarily paralyzed. yi At the Marie oi the Tenth Arrondissement N. Greyy pub7 licly protested against that odious Gtten- tGt, and was arrested and imprisoned in Mazas. When liberated some time after the Deputy from the Jnra gave up public life and resumed his professional career. Unhappily affected by having seen the success of maneuyersivh which he had sus- pected and denounced beforehand. M. Grevy kept aloof from politics and stern. ly refnseh all the advances made him by the Imperial Government. 5.s4.sl l If was 0n1v in 1QcQ khok ha uovo yvav k0