Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-05-26

known to be monarchial, and both
legitimists and imperialists both
hoped to have his influence in final
ly establishing royalty in some form.
Theirs disappointed them by carry
ing out faithfully the provisions of
the constitution under which he
came into power, and thereby pro-
voked their implacable animosity.
1t might have been supposed that
the Republicans in the French par
lament would have furnished an
efficient support to the new govern
ment, but the Republicans them
selves were not united; there were
those among them, who supported
the constitutional republican gov
eminent as it was and many others
who wanted something more radi-
cally democratic, and some who
partOOk more or less in the views
and aspirations of the dreaded COM
munists.
1t was not only on the right or the
mOnarchial side of the legislature
that obstacles were raised. M.
Theirs had quite as much trouble
with the left or republican side.
Gambetta, the greatest living orator
in France could have united the
republicans in solid phalanx if he
had so acted as to secure the conf
dence of the moderate or constitu-
tiOnal republicans unfortunately
he showed himself more disposed
to fraternize with the extreme left
or red republicans, many of whom
Weree even tainted with communism:
this set the whole weight of the ma
ton against him except the lowest
/ class in the great cities.
So that NJ. Theirs found himself
driving the chariot of State with its
four horses pulling four different
ways and the only thing which kept
them together was the universal
dread of the anarchy and civil strife
which must follow if the existing
government should be broken up
when things came to the worst
therefore his only power to check
the distracted factions was to threat
en- to resign which he did, regularly
about every two months during the
parliamentary session. Early in
1873, however, the indemnity was
paid to Prussia considerably before
it was due-this removed the pres
sure in one direction (that of Prus-
sia) which had kept the political
system from explosion and the right
or mOnarchial side of the legisla-
ture took courage and by a well con-
certed man9uvre procured the ac-
ceptance of one,Of NJ. Theirs offers
of resignation and elected Gen. Nc
Mahon in his place.
NJ. Theirs had been elected for no
definite term. Gen. Mcmahon was
elected for a term of seven years
and an understanding was estab-
lished that, during those seven years
none of the conflicting factions
should press the adoption of that
dynasty or that form ofgOvernment
which the severally favored.
So that the Sepennate or seven
years term was to be a sort of truce
during which the different sections
of the body polite were to prepare
for the great struggle which should
determine the permanent govern
ment of France when McMahOn's
time was out. The Septennate ter
inmates in 1880, just about the time
when we shall be in the thick of
our next presidential election.
Gen. Mcmahon was well known
as the eager opponent of the move
ment which had displaced the Ma
poleOn dynasty and established the
republic, and he had managed to
make both Iegitimists and imperial
its believe that he was seVerally of
their way of thinking. All this
was of course very discOuraging to
the republicans but it had a most
salutary effect upon them. They
now saw that union among them
selves was essential and that, unless
the republican party could act en-
nlaSse, a restoration either of the
BOurbons or the BOnaparte, must
result. Gambetta now awOke to his
true position as leader of the united
Republican party, and exerted his
mastery elOquence as powerfully in
preserving its unity as he had before
done in distracting it's counsels.
The result was soon apparent,
every election that took place in
creased the republican quota in par
Lament, and many even of the
right centre, being moderate men,
voted with them. Gen. McMahOn
found it every day more and more
impossible to rule the nation in the
interests of eXpectant aaInchy. Cab
inets taken from the right and the
right centre fell before increasing
republican majorities, and sort ola
mixed administration was tried,
several members of the left centre
being admitted-this too fell and
ut last a few months ago, NJ. ST.
mon a well known member of the
left was entrusted with the fOrma-
ton of a cabinet which was taken,
we believe exclusively from the
same side.
All this went very much against
the grain with McAIahOn. He en-
/ dured Simon and his republican
cabinet so long as it was unsafe to
/ get rid of him.
Meantime a great war broke out
and the elections were approaching;
the clerical party desired to enlist
France as a combatant, and the poll
ticians of the right wanted cabi-
/ not which NUOuld maOiDulata the