The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-08


struggles by which, instead Of carrying out
this programme, he succeeded in chang
ing his own title TO that OF Prcs-
dent. lie alleged, in justification Of
an act which the Orlcanists considered
the bascst trcachcry, that though the
Chamber was for the moment monarchcal,
tho majority was due to the unnatural re-
action against NJ. GAMBErTA's republic
that the country was really moderate
republican, and that IL this was hereto
fore party unknown in France, il was only
because no man had ever risen to give Il
form and consistency. lie maintained that
he alone was that man, and that although
the Moderate Republicans were an unknown
quantity, he could make them "a power, by
playing them off against the other no
lltlcal parties into which France was di-
Vldcd-the lmpcrialsts, Lcgitimists, Orlean-
lists, aud Radicals. His motto was: d" Di-
RUE et Hpcrd; - and his cardinal principle
"Apr6s moi l. dciuJe" In other words. he
preserved chaos, because he desired Franco
to be rcrpctually trembling ON its brink,
and looking to him as It's only savior
The virulcnt animosty rcgning be-
tween the political parties which We have
lively simple For two years he played upon
their passions from day TO day, always Sc
curing for the Moderate Republican party,
which was gradually crystallizing out of
the Right and Left Centres. majority. by
bringing about bitter party fights between
the EXtrcmc Right and Right Centres and
the Extreme Lett and Left Centres. respect
lively. The result was that the country was
without any definite policy, as any attempt
To adopt broad and consistent course
would have united all his enemies against
him. THEIRS was, in fact, throughout his
Presidency political acrobat, balancing
himself upon six stools and never knowing
what his next jump was TO Ice, until one fine
day in May, 1919 he made false step aud
fell between them all.
But hc had accomplished great work
He had rcconcilcl France 10 the name Of re-
public; lac had called INTO existence the Mod
crate Republican party comprising within
its ranks men of high rank, old fam
lily, large possessions, and great emf
hence; and he had tanned large
section of Radicals, headed by GAM
BLrfA, who saw that their only chance of
success was to identify themselves with the
republic Of TnlrHs. no matter how distaste-
ful its conservatism might be. because il
bore the magic name Of republic. Whether
on not this result was the consequence Of a
purely selfish policy ON the part Of THEIRS.
a. his enemies affirm, the tact remains that
1t tidcd France through very pcrilOus pc-
Rod. At the same time it is question
whether, had he been moro of statesman
and less of II iugglcr, he might not have re-
tanned the Presidential chair to the day of
his death.
His fall from his high position was the
result OF an inordinate vanity which led him
to suppose that he could find mode of
escape from every crisis; that his presence
ia the tribune would suffice either to con
vince or tcrriy or divide his advcrsarics
that hencedcd no help from his Ministers
or advice from his friends. The consequence
was That his Cabinet councils were "A farce
and the principal function Of his advisers
was to Listen to the Witty and cpigrammatic
descriptions with which he favored them, If
his tactics for the ensuing day or week
Beyond that he trusted to new cnmhina-
tons which might turn up. His inycterate
habit of attending every sitting Of the
Chamber, and jumping into the tribune ON
every occasion when he thought he could
make a better speech than one Of his Minis
terS, lowered "a dignity of his Office, dis
gusted his Ministers, and unnecessarily
fatigucd and agitated himself. Had he re-
signed his seat in the Chamber, and made
his Ministers and not himself responsible to
it, it is evident that the loss Of Il parlia-
mentary majority would not have involved
his own downfall.
The fact that the stupid soldier who sue
ccedcd him has governed France SUCCESS
fully for four years, and has now prccipi-
tated crisis, because he has a Chamber
which he considers too republican, only
shows how easy it would have been for
NJ. THEIRS to remain President till the dav
OF his death if he had governed France
through his Minister'S instead OF through
the tribune Of the Chamber, and in how fa-
vorahle a position he would have left tho
country with its government bcqueathed to
a successor as liberal as he was himself
As it is, there can be no doubt that his death
will have n far more important influence
than it should have upon French politics
In point OF fact, NJ. GREvY would make far
better President than NJ. THEIRS; or if
soldier be desired to rcassure the more
tmid Of the conservative Republicans, Gen
CHASzY, formerly President OF the Left
Centre, ana now Governor Of Algeria, has
Won his spurs as a politician, a. well as
soldier, and would certainly be Il very eli
gible choice. But obscrvationof French pol
it.cs would lead Us to believe that this
is just the reason why he will not be chosen.
However, II yet remains to Ice secn whether