The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-29
And N. Grevy Is Chosen President of the
the Republic for Second Term-Excit-
ing Incidents Of the Balloting.
English Tories Preparing a Plan of Lo-
Cal Government for the Kingdom.
Rumor that John Bright Will Tender His
Resignation on the Opening of Parlia-
notwithstanding Cable News.
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
M. Grevy Chosen President for Second
Term-Other Political Matters.
PARIS, Dec 28-M. Francois Jules P. Grevy
was reelected President of the French Republic
to-day in the joint vote of the Senate and
Chamber of Deputies, acting as National AS
semhly: The ballotng was carried on amid
great excitement. Only FIVE members of the
Right cast ballots. M. Grevys total majority
was 135. The space reserved for visitors in the
Chamber was crowded long before the hour ap-
pointed for the election. The streets in the vi
cinity were also thronged with people. The
proceedings 10 the Chamber began at Ills p NJ,
amid considerable excitement. The President
OF the National Assembly was unable to restore
silence. The members of the Right became so
turbulent that the President threatened to sus-
pend the sitting. The members of the Right
then asked for time to speak before the vote was
taken, and their request being refused, several
of them tried to gain the tribune. A fight en-
sued between member of the Left and one Of
the Right, and several blows were exchanged
before the combatants could be separated by
their friends. A lull in the demonstration then
the progress of the voting M. Cuneo asserted
that the National Assembly, as at present con-
stituted, was body of usurpers
M. Paul de Cassagnac cried out that the con-
gress was illegal, and the presidential election
farce, as four departments Of France were not
represented at the meeting.
NJ. Clemenceau's recent speech in the French
Chamber of Deputies. during the debate on the
Tonquin credit, in the course of which he took
occasion to charge M. Ferry with having sought
the aid of Prince Bismarck in the settlement of
the Franco Chinese difficulty has caused no
little excitement and indignation throughout
Germany. The German newspapers are furious
at NJ. Clemenceau and denounce his action in
unmeasured terms
Nj. Grevy's Political and Personal Charac-
teristics.
John Stephens in fhics go Times.
Now that NJ Jules Grevy is nearing the term
of his septennate, it may not be considered inap
propriate on my part TO make few observations
in your pages not only on the man personally,
but also on the role he has played in the political
arena since his advent to power Jules Grevy IS
one of those lawyers, ''few and far between"
who are as able at the bar as they are in the Sen
ate house or behind the scenes. In France the
almost general rule is that, whenever a young
barrister fails in his profession. he becomes a
Red Republican, and through the fame he ac-
Quires in defending political culprits of the
Socialist or Communist category, with all the
force of raw head and bloody bones eloQuence
he soon becomes the darling of q Partisan pro-
vincial mob. and is rewarded for his pains with
deputyship. NJ Grevy, however. did not come
to the front through any such questionable
xL@1 H. la Antn I'D
practice when he entered the French Parliament
for tho first time in 1948. M. Grevys action in
that assembly was guided, as every action of his
life has been, by the purest motives, and by re-
publican purity Of thought and enterprise. At
that time he proposed a motion-which, if car
ried, might have saved France from Napoleon
ILL., and the disaster of Sedan-having for its
object the disestablishment of the presidency of
the republic, and vesting the executive powers
in the Cabinet of Minister'S The motion, how
ever. being looked upon as eccentric, was re-
jected by an overwhelming majority. Strange,
is it not, that in after years the
author. of this very proposition should
Is4s he was 80 anxious to abolish for the welfare
of the republic2 It was Victor Hugo who said
that ''the man who has never modified any OF his
opinions is paragon Of absurdity." NJ. Grevy
knew instnctively that. by succeeding MacMa
non in 1879, he was acting as true and devoted
republican, for, if the presidency had at that
time fallen into less scrupulous hands. the reac
tionary parties might have easily succeeded in
their conspiracy to overthrow the established
order of things, while. on the other hand, they
would be comparatively powerless to do mischief
as long as real and unpurchasable Republican
resided as Chief Magistrate Of the state in the
Elysee palace
M Grevy although at heart moderate Re-
publican, would govern France with Clemen-
ceau Ministry with the same equanmty as if he
had M Ribot or M. Simon as Prime Ministers
at his side His chief characteristics as poll
tician are an undisguised respect for the popular
will and a detestation more or less disguised of
republican autocracy. When the late NJ. Gam BETA
was the popular idol Of the day NJ. Grevy
treated him with the greatest favor, although
personally he disiked him. as there was too
much of the dictator in Gambetta, and Nj.
Grevy knew how fatal relationships are to re-
publics in time of peace. When, some years
ago. Gambetta became Prime Minister, the jour
nails that were his avowed organs. such as La
Republique Franchise and LIE Voltaire,
were pleased to give the title of
''chief of the executive power to the
tribune of Gators in defiance OF the Constitution,
according to which the President solely has
claim to such designation. Grevy never for
gave nor forgot Gambettas usurping tendencies
in this and other respects. 1t may be SAID, In
fact that Gambetta, from January, ioI9 was
thorn in Crews side; for there was this anomaly
about the political situation, that while Gambetta
was the real governor of France. Grevy was
only the mere nominal one. Ministers became
Gambetta's puppets, and from his presdental
chair in the Chamber of Deputies the merry orator
swayed the destinies of the republic-cverybody
eager to hear what he had to say, while NJ.
Grevy was left sadly and disconsolately alone In
his palace of the Faubourg Saint Honore AS
an instance of Gambettas prestige. not so
much at home as abroad, l may state that
| remember distinctly Japanese envoy who
called with his papers on Gamoetta, thinking
that the latter was the legal chief OF the state.
although at the time in question he was only
simple deputy. 1t was. therefore, with no feel,
ings of pity or chagrin that Gambetta's downfall
was witnessed by the President. Jules Ferry