The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-16
4 DEFENCE OF MARSHAL M'MARON.

A correspondent of the Pail Mall Garette
writes the following well considered de-
fence of Marshal MacMahon:
am very far indeed from asserting the
wisdom of the course followed by March al
MacMahon and his advisers since May of
this year. But those who have condemned
the French Cabinet with most ferocity have
evidently never taken the pains to under
stand IL Q extremely delicate problem which
Governments. France is republic having
President intrukted with the whole ex-
ecutive power, and Chamber of Deputies
ard a Senate, both elected by universal
su uffrage, though in different ways. The
question IS whether a French President
should be guided by the constitutional pre-
cedents of England, or by thoee of the
United States. If he follows those of Eng
land he will give preponderant weight to
the opinion of the Lower Chamber, and
will abstain with the utmost scrupulousuess
from interference with the elections by
which it is chosen. Now, say at once
that believe this course would have been
most for the ultimate advantage of France.
The effect would no doubt havoSbeen to
bring the political opponents of the Presi-
dent into power; but the very prospect OF
| accession to Office was visibly teaching
them moderation-theo one lessOn which it
was important for France that they should
heap every term of abuse on Marshal Mac
Mahon if he followed, as he did follow, the
American rule rather than the English
practice. No line of the French Constitu-
tion tells the President to select such Min
listers as may be palatable to the Chamber
of Deputies; aud the very notion of such
selection is foreign to American constitu
tional ideas. An American President is a
functioDary permitted to do what he chooses
during bis term of office, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution. If the
Senate and House of Representatives dis
like his administration they are perfectly
helpless, except 80 far as their own constl-
tutional powers enable them to interfere.
When, under very extraordinary circnm-
stances, the American Congress was in
violent conflict with President Andrew
johnson, it could only control him by pass
ing q law which greatly strained the
American Constitution, and virtually taking
the executive patronage ont OF his hands:
No American President would dream OF
modifying or Diminishing his Cabinet simply
because the opposite party had majority
in both Houses of Congress and IN Marshal
MacMahon's caee it 30 happens that he has
majority in the Senate and very large
majority in the elective portion OF it, since
the life Senators, chosen by an ext1aordi
nary coalition in the Constituent Assembly
consist chiefly of politicians belonging to
| the 80 called Left Centre. The fact is that
American constitutional practices go very
far indeed to justify the course taken by
Marshal MacMahon, even in particulars
which eeem most indefeneible to an Eue-
lishman. nquestionably, NJ. de FOortou
put great pressure on the constituencies
during the late election; he dlsniesed
many public officers, ard he all but decfar-
ed that the support of the Government
should be a condition of office. But all
this is q mere trihe to the practices per-
mitted to himself by an American Presi-
dent when he wishes to secure his own re-
election or the election of successor OF
his own party-in other words, to keep IN
Office a Government on his own side. Un-
less the example of President Hayes (whO
will not seek re. election) should create
new departure in the United States, an
American President will not tolerate, nor
has never tolerated, the continuance in
off ice of q single public servant belonging
to the Opposition, from the Secretary of
State to the humblest tide-Waiter. Nor
does he simply give his own party q
monopoly of the public service. He actu"
ally taxes that service, from one end to
another, for contributions to the cost of
the general election. The truth is, the
unmeasured language used about MaFshal
MacMahon comes simply from the custom
ary national delnsion that English consti-
tutional ideas, which really do modify
every constitutional experiment more or
less, can have effect given to them every
where without reserve or qualification.
Preserves and jeIlies at Twomey's.