The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31


Ii am going to sign this, but leave the re-
sponsbity to xou.' Then he signed it, General
Grcsley, Minister of War, submitted his list ihe
law provides for eighteen high military commands
each intrusted to a general who may DC reviewed
every three years. OF tho eighteen generals
thus appointed nine have held their posts more
than hvo years and next September will have
been six years Marshal MacNlahon's idea is that
not having been removed after three years they
ought by tacit reappointment finish another term OK
three years. The law certainly says nothing of'the
kind. II simply accords the power of removing the
commander after three years. General Grcsey's
decree dealt with the nine generals. or these four
to be transferred and ivc--Bourbaki, De Lar
tiguc. Bataille Du Baraii and Aontaudon-dehni-
lively relieved Marshal MacAIahon declared he
could not sign this decree. L cannot he said. sign
decree superseding brave generals--lny own
friends and eompanions-whosel legal term Of COM
inand only expires in five or six months
There is no danger in my refusal Icannot consent
to stay ut such cost. / blush at the thought as
you, my honor, will not do it. II will have
to be another who docs it, Political categories must
not be created in the army. would prefer to re-
sign. My children would not forgive me for such an
act. cannot. where the army is concerned. for
which am responsible before the nation. obey In
functions Of newspapers like these, and the Marshal
showed two republican newspapers which for some
days back have been publishing lists of officials
classed in political categorics. As usual with him in
such circumstances, his face flushed and he spoke
hurriedly. as il anxious to get what no had to do
soon
MORE DELIBERATIoK.
'rhe Ministers said nothing for after hearing this
it difficult to form immediate resolution. The
Council accordingly adjourned. In the afternoon
the Cabinet met again. After much hesitation the
Ministers to the conclusion that their PROPOSE
lions must be maintained. The law on the great
military commands is full Of dangers bequeathed
by the National Assembly as piece Of anti-repub
can strategy. 1t calls into being eighteen military
powers, the chiefs of which have speedily come to
look upon themselves beyond the governments
reach. whom hitherto done dared to interfere with.
The Ministers said that if they to surrender this
point they would be exposing the country to pos
sibe danger and creating nsurmountable obstacle
to the settlement of the government. The Cabinet
therefore, determined to maintain its resolution
NJ. Dufaure charged to inform Marshal MacMa
hon Of this decision He replied that in view of this
official demand. he asked for Cabinet Council on
Thursday atp O'clock at Versailles. The Ministers
meeting to deliberate this reply resolved unani
mously to abide by the resolution. VI. Marcere
waited on the Marshal to ask him whether he had
instructions to give him. the Minister of the Inte
rior being responsible the public tranquility,
and whether the Marshal did not wish to state his
views the resolutions he had formed and tho
measures they might entail.
PLANS FOR A COUP D'ErAT.
"The interview brief and courteous, but the
Marshal did not in any way manifest final decision.
He confined himself to referring to the fact that he
would preside at the Cabinet Council on Thursday"
Referring to tho probabilities Of the future the Times
correspondent further says:-"Perhaps NJ. Dufaure
will retire. but large part of the Cabinet. strength
yfvvy
by its decided and proper attitude. will remain. The
Bourse will greet the Marshals retirement with
RISE The conduct Of the Cabinet meets with general
approval. 1t is asserted that twenty-five Of the
twenty-nine members Of the Electoral Commission
favor impeachment Of the De Broglie Cabinet.
The Commission met on Wednesday. but it is be-
leved did not come to any decision" The Daily
7eleyraphs Paris despatch says the Commissions
operations may possibly have helped President Mac
Mahon's decision to resign. II is said materials have
been found strongly discriminating not only General
| Grimandet do Rouchebouet. formerly President of
the Council and Minister of War. but Marshal Mac
| Mahon, in attempt to organize coup dttat. II
MacMahon had not resigned attempt would have
been made to bring tho facts before the Chambers.
The Teiegyaphs correspondent surmises that IL the
Congress meets to elect President it will endeayor to
on and remodel the constitution, but thinks such
course would be successfully resisted by the
| modorates.
THE NEW PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.
The vote of yesterday. which called to the Presi-
dency of the French. Republic. the distinguished ad
vocate who few days ago chosen to preside
tho National Assembly is but the ratification Of
programme long since familiar to the leaders of the
majority. Even before the death of NJ. Theirs the
President often mentioned All alternative
candidate for the chief place in the Republic, and
since the death OF that ilustrous statesman he has
had serious rival. NJ Gambetta is certain to fill
that position at some future time he might fill it
now If his ambition equal TO his prudence. but
he has wisely determined that he be of greater
service to France parliamentary leader than as
chief Of the executive power. His support of NJ
Grevy long since announced and is all the
moro crediable to him since the two form COM
p!ec contrasts in many respects and have frequently
differed upon important measures of national policy.
Francois Paul Jules Grevy is q native Of the noun
tain Department of Jura the Swiss frontier and
has in his nature much Of the rugged downrightness
appropriate to his early surroundings. Born at
Montsous-vandrez on the Fete Napoleon August 15)
of the memorable year. 1sl3 his parents being petty
farmers. nothing could well seem more unlikely than
that his destiny would place this peasant babe upon
scat from which the conqueror of Europe on the
verge Of being prccpitatcd Having been enabled to
acquire o good rudmcntary education at the Polie-
ny Lyccum. in his native department, Jules was scot
to Paris when about eighteen years of age study
law Before he could take his degree the three days
OF July" 1880. arrived and young Grevy enrolled
himself among the combatants in the barri-
cadcs. Along with many of his fellow stu
dents he participated in the capture Of
the Babylon" barracks, and declined the
offer of decoration for individual valor on this oc.
casion. Admitted to the Paris Bar in 1891 he soon
acquired enviablc reputation for the sodity Of
his legal attainmcnts and. though constitutionally
averse to noisy defamation frequently retained
counsel for the defence in the political prosccu
tions which formed such conspicuous feature of
the reign of the "Citizcn Ring" Among other SINH
lar he was engaged as counsel for Qugnot and
Philippe. members of the secret political society Dcs
SEASONS. who concerned with Armand Barbes
and Louis Augusta Banqui in the audacious attempt