The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31
Election OF n New President i'm France.

ueuiy, quietly, peacefully, without uis-
order, almost without passion. President
MacMahon's resignation, threatened sew
eral times in the years in which he has held
office, was yesterday actually transmitted
to the President of the Chamber of Depu-
ties, and by him read to that body. The
proper steps were forthwith taken to con-
woke the two houses of Parliament in COM
mon session, as the two houses so united
constitute National Assembly, with the
power to fill vacancy, however occasioned,
in the Presidential Office. They SO
meet by constitutional obligation in a
case such as is presented by the
Marshal's act and proceed Immediately
to the choice of his successor. Con-
vened at half-past four o'clock yesterday,
the National Assembly chose M. Grevy
President on the first vote by an overwhelm-
ing majority General Chanzy was the only
other candidate, and received ninety-nine
votes to five hundred and thirty-six for M.
Grevy. In this event there is an ample
realization OF the best that could be hoped
as result Of the recent agitations. NJ.
Grevy is at once a man known to b as hon.
est and as conservative in good sense
as any man in France, and a thorough re-
publican. It is wonderful progress for
the new Republic to be able to pass with
such absolute tranquility through crisis
like this.
In the few words in which the Marshal
states his reasons for the act of retirement
from Office he exhibits clear comprehen-
sion OF the political necessities Of the case,
and presents his views SO frankly and SIM
ply.that neither his own countrymen nor
the people Of any other country will deal
with them ungenerously in comment
Honor, duty and devotion to his country,
he declares, have always been the pri.
mary motives of his conduct, and as
these are elements Of mans in
tentions even the blunders he has made
do not discredit this claim, so fairly
presented by the sturdy old soldier. He
yields his Office now because he cannot act
in it on his own convictions OF the right.
He refuses to violate the dictates Of his
conscience. He desires to take q certain
course on point of public Importance,
and course that he believes is within the
intention Of the law. His views are differ
ent on this point from those of the Chamber,
and the Ministry are united in the opinion,
not merely that the Chamber must be sub
mitted to because it is the ultimate deposit
tory of power, but that the view of the
majority is right and wise on this
point at issue. His persistence would,
therefore, only force the Ministry to resign.
He could not obtain Ministry with which
he would be in any better position; for one
that would sustain his view on this point
could not obtain the support of the major
ity in the House, and one that could obtain
a majority would not support him. Conse-
Iuently he could only repeat the un-
pleasant experiment of Ministry such as |
vas formed in May, 1871 Ministry drawn
rom the reactionary elements and sroup.
f conspirators. France has pronounced
IN that, and he does not wish deliberately
% insult public opinion. He therefore |
gives the last evidence Of his sincerity in |
yielding his place to q successor who can
do what the Assembly re-
duires.
In all this the Marshal has proceeded on
convictions that imply assuredly an honest
purpose. Our common opinion of the
functions OF an executive scarcely leaves
room, it is true, for a mans conscience to be
set up as an element OF opposition against
the will that it is his simple duty to
enforce. With us the Executive is the
agent of the popular will, as that will is
declared by the appropriate organs and
the popular will, like the king in the
common law, "can do no wrong" He
who has sworn 10 execute the will of
the nation as that will is declared
by the competent authorities has
his conscience anchored by that oath.
and to come up and plead his conscience as
q source Of power that may nullify the will
Of the people is to prove recreant to his
obligations. But these views of the simply
ministerial relation Of the Executive cannot
be applied too logically in country that
only the other day was under strictly per-
sonal authority and whose present consti-
tuition has been made while Marshal Mac
Mahon has been in Office Even less can
they be applied to q soldier not clear
in political ethics and badgered on
every side by the diverse views of nm
bilious men and women as to what are
really his obligations to his country. II
him, if in anybody, it is in some degree ex-
cusable to regard an executive as only
king without crown. He even might de-
fend himself in the refusal to displace corps
commanders, his oldscomrades in arms, on
the ground that he has faith in them, and
that the law which makes him responsible
for public order leaves with him the choice
of those with whose aid he must preserve
it. Indeed, the law does not require the
change OF corps commanders once in three
years, but it gives the Executive authority
to change them at the expiration of that
date. He does not, therefore, make o merely