The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-05-30
THE TROUBLE IN FRANCE.


IS MARSHALL MacMahon, who, by
the terms of the "Septennat," was
declared President of the French
Republic for seven years, does not
believe in republican institutions.
He is avowedIy in sympathy with
what is known in French politics as
the Right, or Conservative party.
favoring a establishment OF a
monarchial form of government.
MacMahon was not chosen Presi-
dent because of any known fitness
for civil life, but because the waves
of the Franco-German war threw
him to the surface as a soldier who
had fought bravely, who was not
extreme in political views, and up
on whom the conflicting elements
could for a time unite.
The present quarrel between the
President and the Left, or Republi-
can party as represented in the
Chamber of Deputies. has grown out
of this antagonism of views. The
Republicans have resisted every en-
eroachment by the Executive on
their rights. as they understand
them; the Executive has constantly
labored to fetter and obstruct the
Left, and TO encourage the Right,
the better to prepare for the ultimate
success Of the cause he has at heart.
In forcing change of the Minis
try because NJ. Simon did not OPP
pose a movement in the Deputies to
repeal the severe press law, Marshal
MacMahon showed that he desired
only a pretext to strike at the Re-
publican majority in the popular
branch of the Legislature. The
Cabinet did not suit him, for at its
head was Jules Simon, q Republican
and this meant giving q large pro-
portion of the public offices to sup
porters of Republican institutions.
| So in striking down the Cabinet, and
having a new one formed from the
Right by de Broglie, the French
President has placed the administra-
ton of the Republic in the hands of
the enemies ofthe Republic formed
after the collapse of the second EN-
uire at Sedan. To complete the
work the Chamber of Deputies has
been prorogued for one month, and
unouestionably it is MacMahon's in
tention to at the end of that period
dissolve it and order a new election.
The English system ny which the
Crown can prorogue or dissolve Par
lament, was Incorporated in the
French Constitution, thus giving the
President a power unknown in the
United States, and which President
MacMahon has evidently determin.
ed to use to replace the present Re
publican majority in the Chamber Of
Deputies with one belonging to the
Right. The selection of nj, -Four
tou, the new Minister Of the Inter
ior, and an adroit manipulation, i!
understood to have special reference
to obtaining an anti-Republican ma
iority in another election.
) 1t will be borne in mind that, fol
lowing the dismissal of the Simon
: Cabinet the other day, the Chambe
p of Deputies, by the Overwhelming
/ vote of 355 to 154. directly declared
a that the deposed Cabinet possessed
: the confidence of the country. ''Ih
Cabinet which has not lost its major
= ity has been dismissed without OF
: position said Gambetta, the leade
: of the majority. 1t was fact, az
! curately stated. There can be n
: doubt that the French masses favo
= the republican form of Governmen
= as represented in the Deputies an
in the late Cabinet. and to over thro'
i which all the elements of oppositio
d have combined. IF an election shout
q show a majority for the Right,
e will have been obtained against th
, known wishes of the people, and b
y resort to the arts of intrigue aud CO..
y ruption so often found potent o
/ this side Of the Atlantic. Wha
J. then? Gambetta has predicted tina
s such a coup d. etat would plung
IS France into war. The crisis is eel
b tainly grave one.-Menaphis AgC
IS ldnche.