National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-02
PRESIDENT GREvY.


On NJ. Grevy's reelection n may be
well to briefly recall his past record
When in 1879 Marshal MacMahon found
that he could not coerce the country back
TO a monarchcal form OF government he
preferred TO resign, which was the most
sensible thing he had done during his aiN
years. presidency. IL was rare good
fortune for the republican party that u was
then able to unite on so safe man az N,
Jules Greyy TO succeed the marshal Ia
fact NJ. Grevy was then the most prom
inent republican who had sufficient pres
tige by reason OF character aud past SER
vices to reassure the country ON lts change
Of ruler. Born IN 1907 at Mont-s0us Van.
drey, In the Jura, NJ. Grevy was the eldest
Of six children. His father was an ian.
keeper. After finishing his preparatory
studies In his native province, NJ. 0revy
came TO Paris TO study. law. lie took part
in the revolution OF 1850, before he had
been admitted 10 the bar, and his early
sympathies caused him TO afterwafd plead
In several political cases. His public life
really began in 1913, when the provisional
government named him It's commissioner
In the Jura. His wise and moderate con
duct there so pleased his fellow-citlEens
that they elected him their representative
TO the constituent assembly. He became
one Of the vice presidents Of that
body and voted always with the extreme
left. He took part in all the great discus
sions at that epoch-and there were many
Of them-and acquired solid reputation NJ
q keen and logical parliamentary debater.
Louis Bonaparte was then preparing bis
schemes for getting possession OF the
executive power, and NJ. Grevy actively
supported all the measures introduced by
the republicans to prevent coup d'otat.
His radical amendment TO do away with
the Office of president Of the republic and
conlide the executive power to the presl-
dent Of the council Of ministers was defeat
ed, and Louis Bonaparte became president,
with the subsequent results that we all
know.
During the empire NJ. Grevy was almost
wholly occupied with his law practice, and
succeeded in making a great name among
his colleagues as q wise jurist and orator
His election In 1868 as batonnier, or presi-
dent Of the Order Of Barristers, shows the
esteem In which he was held by the mem
bers Of the bar. That same year he was
induced TO again enter political life, q va
cancy In the representation Of the Jura be-
ing offered to him. Notwithstanding the
| efforts of the government to defeat him he
beat the official candidate by one Of the
| largest majorities that had ever been given
outside the great centers. At the general
elections for the corps legislatif the follow
ing year the imperial government did not
even run candidate again him. His
course while In the corps leglslatif was con-
sistent with his past record. lie voted In
favor Of all liberal measures and against
the war with Prussia. One Of his most re-
markable speeches was made against
| the plebiscite on the proposed re.
forms in 1870. After the September re-
volution In 1870, he declined to accept any
Office from the new government, for hts
| opinion was that the electors In all the de-
| g. - Ia IL. ii
| gether. At the elections for the national
assembly, In 1871, NJ. Grevy was chosen In
the Jura and in the Bouches du Rhone, re-
ceiving, besides, n large number OF votes In
Paris. When the assembly was organized
he was almost unanimously elected as It's
presiding officer. His firm, dlgni1ed, and
impartial attitude gave him great influence
with the members, and on the numerous oc-
casions that M. Theirs threatened to resign,
but did not, NJ. Grevy was looked upon as
his successor. The national assembly was
In great part composed of anti-republicaus.
They had been chosen to make peace with
Germany, but once elected they hoped To
bring about monarchical restora
ton. Their intrgues finally caused M.
Grevy to resign his presidential Office In
1873, and he was succeeded by NJ. Buffet,
who was plant instrument in the hands
Of the Duke d'BrOglie. When the new
chamber met in 1876 M. Greyy was made
its president, and he continued to hold the
Office until Marshal MacMahon's dissolution
Of the assembly in 1877. The next cham
Der, which met In October Of the same
year, ut once chose NJ. Grevy as its presi
dent, and when Marshal MacMahon re
signed in 1870, M. Grevy was almost unani
mously elected by the congress as president
Of the republic. Gen. Chanzy, who hat
been coquetting with the right, received 9t
votes, while NJ. Grevy obtained 563 of tn,
$40 votes cast. AS president of the cham
aber he had been a most excellent presiding
officer, and had conducted n notoriously
turbulent body with great judgment ant
| tact