National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-23

z-ss,.--
came to him for defense had to prove that
his motives were honest and his conscience
was clear, before Grevy accepted him as
client.
When the Republic of 1s4s was estsb-
lshed Lcdru Rolln, the leading spirit OF
the time, sent NJ. Grevy as commissioner
into the Jura, among his Old friends and
acquaiDtances, who, in their turn, sent him
to the national assembly by an overwhelm-
ing majority. "IIe at once seated himself
with the left and voted with II for the
banishmcnt Of the Orleans family, for the
abolition Of capital punishment, and varl-
Gus other important measures. Whenever
the left tshowed tendency toward socialism,
NJ. Grevy never followed it, but he was al
ways distinguished by moderation as well
as lrmness in his speeches"
NJ. Grovy owes his principal celebrity to
the noted amendment which bears his name.
A violent discussion arose over the article
Of the constitution delegatlng the execu-
tive power to president elected for four
pears By Wircrsdi suffrage. "At this juno
ture NJ. GrovY offered his amendment,
which authorized the national assembly to
delegate the executive power TO citizen
who should be called the president Of the
council Of minister's This amendment
was offered simply because Grevy severely
mlstrusted both Cavaignac and Louis Ma
poleon. and wished to bind them so that
they could be removed at any time the
chamber saw 1T. The amendment was lost
by six hundred and forty. three votes to one
hundred and flfty.eight. Had It been
adopted Louis Napoleon's game would
have been blocked, and France would have
been spared scores Of years Of shame and
msrule.m
When Louis Napoleon perpetrated the
| coup d'ctdt IN 1851, Grevy went back to his
profession and practiced steadily until
1868, when he was returned to the corps
legislatif Of the empire. Here, as usual,
he was moderate, but full of energy, and
grouped around him all independent men
who had had enough Of Cesarsm.
When the legislators were assembled to
decide the fate Of France, after the war
with Prussia, Grevy was unanimously
chosen president and retained the position
till 1873 lie was president of the
chamber Of deputies from 1876 1879. He
was elected president of the French Repub-
lie Jan. 80, 1870, and was, as we have seen,
reelected in December, 1885.
We may state here parenthetlcally that
the salary Of the president of the French
republic is fixed at $4,000, with an addi-
tional allowance of 100000 for household
expenses.
Personally, Mr.. King says, Grevy is of
medium height, stoutly built, with large
Lead, whose badness shows to excellent ad-
vantage its fine shape. At distance, see
ing him seated in the chair of office, one
might fancy him man Of so. He is in no
sense society man, and, after he has la
bored seven or eight hours intensely, his pet
amusement is party Of dominoes or bill.
lizards with few friends in quiet hotel.
NJ. Jules Grevy's most conspicuous vlr.
tue, as has been pointed out by an eminent
critic, has always been his purity of motive
"Hc is one Of those men who has ,tound char.
dciCr an excellent substitute for genius" His
habits are as simple as those OF farmer
who works his own land. He delights tc
spend his leisure time among his own peo
pie, with a gun or Il fishing rod, dressed III
asuit Of coarse velvetceu aud a soft broad
brlmmed hat. lie is adored by his neigh
bors In the country, "and In the social gay
eties of Paris he Is assisted by q gracious
wife and charming daughter, the latter oi
whom has been educated upon much more
liberal principles than the usual cloistra
French custom permits.n
While France can produce such men al
N. Grevy, prudent, resolute, moderate
progressive, and unselflsh, there is no dan
ger for that great republic, which, for
hundred years, although by somewhat tor
tuous paths, has led all Europe on the wa.
to liberty,