The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-24

suspended newspapers, and imprisoned
editors on the most trivial grounds. He
prosecuted criminally the prominen
Ispeakers who ventured to criticlse him
self or his ministry before the people.
Under this extraordinary pressure
from the National Executive with all
the machinery he had at command, it
was generally thought that the elections
must result in majority favorable to
his policy, whatever that might be. But
it proved otherwise. A Republican ma-
ljority was returned TO the new Assem-
bly, almost as great as had been in the
former body. Smarting under this dis
appointment, MacM ahon denounced the
leaders in the seVerest terms as turbu-
lent mischief-makers and dangerous to
the peace and good order Of the State !;
and made threats little consistent with
his personal dignity, and quite unwar-
ranted by his official position or prerog-
atives.
On the conyening OF the new Assem-
bly,, the Ministry, finding themselves
condemned by vote of "want of conf
dence," rendered their resignation in a
body. They were, however, induced to
retain their places until a new Ministry
could be formed. That has proved to
be matter Of much difficulty; and has
not yet been accomplished. In the Sc
lections made by MacMahon for his new
Cabinet he has purposely and will!ully
run counter to the majority in the new
Assembly. Among them all he does not
permit single representative of the
Republicans to appear. They are COM
posed entirely of Bonapartists and Lee
gitimists, the representatives of royalty,
and not of Republicanism, in France.
This, of course, uncoYers MacMahon's
policy of turning over the Republic to
Monarchy, of which he had been long
suspected, though he had made denial
thereof. The consequence is, an issue
is made that involves the whole form and
order of government in France. On this
issue no compromise seems possible.
There must be voluntary surrender or
a forcibIe overthrow of one party or the
other. The situation is consequently
most critical and menacng.
Should President MacMahon attempt
coup Qetat, after the manner of "Presi-
denW BOnaparte, there must be bloody
collision. That he is capable OF such an
attempt, should any promise OF success
be seen, no one will doubt who knows
any thing of his oostinacy and vehemen-
oy of character. Equally certain would
be his desire to erect throne on the
ruins OF the Republic could his will have
way. But exactly which Of the two
Royal parties, whether the Bona
parties or the Bourbons, he would favor,
has not been defined. He evidently
aims to conjoin them both to effect the
overthrow OF the Republicans, which
union he could not secure were he TO
publicly espouse the particular cause of
either.
And in this lies MacMahon's weak
VI CuS IsOy dllSb pdTtl6b is
willing to trust him, lest he should de-
celye them alter having used them. On
this account, the more recent manifes-
tations in their Senate, where the Royal
ist influence preponderates, have been
adverse to him; and some have even
threatened to join the Extreme Repub-
licans in order to defeat him, And it |
is in this aspect Of the situation that
Gambetta's ayerment, saying that "he
must either submit or res gn," receives
Should he do either, there
might be peaceful solution Of the d.
lemma. But that he will do either
seems in the highest degree improbable.
The danger ofserious trouble therefore
remains threatening.