The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-31
The Resignation of Marshal MacMahon.

scmbly elected to replace THEIRS in 1873.
Tho substance Of the whole transaction is
explained i'm very few words The major
ity in both branches OF the Legislature had
promised the Cabinet OF NJ. DUFAURE their
support upon the condition Of certain
changes in the high o1lccholdcrs of the Min
istry Of Finance, Justice, and War. The APP
pointmcnt to all of these Offices is vested in
the President but the Cabinet naturally
suggest all changes which may seem de-
Hirable at given moment When the re-
cent Senatorial elections were over, and the
political quandOry had actually terminated
In a compromise between the members OF
the Cabinet and the majority in the AS
scmbly, list Of certain public officers was
made up by the leaders Of the Republican
party and their removal demanded from the
Cabinet.
Broadly taken. all the persons desig-
mated for dismissal had but ono
point OF accusation brought against
thcm-that Of not being sincere Rcpub-
licans. Marshal IMAGINATION opposed for
considerable time the changes demanded
from him. When he saw that resistance
was useless, and that the Cabinet was de-
tcrmncd to carry out the compact, he
signed the decree presented to him by NJ
LEON SAY, as Minister of Finance, and NJ.
DuFAURE, as Minister Of Justice. But
when II came TO the changes in the army
he refused point blank to give his sigma
turc The Paris telegram Of the London
Times sums up in few words the gist of
the transaction: 81 cannot" exclaimed the
Marshal. sign decree superseding brave
Generals, my friends and comrades"
NJ -.
other answer could be expected He was
never Republican himself, BUT he accepted
the Presidency, and hoped that some form
Of II monarchy would be restored For over
five years he struggled against the CONSOLE
dalton of republican institutions and IDEAS.
Instead Of conqucring these however. he
had himself TO stand defeat Tho fatal
clerical and royallst influence Of his wife
was the first to surrender. Next came his
own imperlalstic tendency and from the
time OF the fall Of DE BEoGLIE's Cabi-
net the Marshal seemed TO have made
mp his mind quietly to submit to the
will OF the nation. The moment, however,
his personal friends and comrades became
concerned, the esprit de corps Of the old
soldier awoke in him, and he resolved to
surrender his power rather than to allow
them to be deprived Of the high commands
which he considered they had earned by
their long service II cannot consent to
stay at such cost blush at the thought Of
1t. My children wouldn't forgive me such
MI act" exclaimed he, with the impulsiye-
ness 80 characteristic Of him.
That the world at large will view this act
in the same light as did the Cabinet cannot
be questioned. The President requested
the Ministers 10 countcrsign his letter Of
resignation, but they refused TO do So de-
claring IL 10 be purely personal matter.
The Government was not overthrown; on
the contrary, the Cabinet had n large major
ity at its back But the head OF the cxecu-
tive power chose to withdraw for reasons
which are really Of the nature of military
Bcntimentalism.
Agreat deal could be said in favor OF this
act Of Marshal MAoMAHoN, as that Of Il
gentleman and n soldier. But IL Is utterly
indeiensiblc from the point OF view II a
statesman. Had he been a man Of intelli-
gcnce he would have understood the situa-
ton Of the country and the spirit Of the
day. and he would accordingly not have ac-
copied the office at the time he took 1t. True
Republicans In France always withdrew
from public life when there was crown to
be served In the same way true royalists
sought refuge in their country retreats when
red cap or an imperial eagle represented
the State. But unhappily, MAcMAHoN be-
longs to that mixed breed of Frenchmen
whom the frequent changes in the form Of
government Of the country have rendered
utterly unable TO comprehend what they
themselves are. On his wlfc's side he was a
royalst; on his own he was an impcrialst
in office he had to represent republic
The position became untenable, and the
thing to be wondered at is that he did not
sooner come to grief. He surrendered every
thing except oue-the idea Of comradeship
that belongs to n brave and narrow-minded
soldier.
II should be remarked, however, that the
demands OF the Republican party with refer.
ence TO the changes in the great military
commands had an absurd side To them
There are no true and sincere Republicans
to be found among the superior officers OF
the French army at tho present moment
Every one Of the Generals has had at least
thirty years service and has consequently
been brought up under monarchcal regime
His past distinctions were bestowed upon
him by either LOUIS PHILIPPE or NAPo
LEON III. IL ne Is llulllcu nc IS sure 10 llHNt
partner OF life who either comes from the
ranks Of the royallst aristocracy or i'm
pcr0list bourgeose. Anxious to have q
court and an opportunity 10 shine at its re-
ccptiOns, all that can be asked from mar
under such circumstances is that he shout,
not betray republican institutions cstab
lishcd by the will OF the nation. 70 convert
him to republicanism is next to impossible
and If this be true in regard TO ono man it is
still more so when the question is to fnC
eighteen men 10 command that number %
corps into which the French army Is divided
exclusive Of the Algerian command.
The new President NJ. GREvY, has bcer
brought forward under tho force Of cir
cumstances. With the exception OF Tho
Duke DAUMALE, there could not be found q
General willing to occupy the chair yacatco
by MACNAHoN Every General Of tho
army would have been prevented from
accepting the position by the sense O
comlHdeshp which compelled the Marsha
TO vacate it, The present head Of tho