New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-10
DEATH OF NJ. GREvY.
AN ATTACK OF CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS
PROVES FATAL TO HIM.
CAREER OF TIE VENERABLE Ex-PREsIDENT OF

Mont-sous-V audrey in the Department oil Jurd'
NJ Grevy had for four days been suffering from
a severe attack Of congestion OF the lungs WHICH
was the immediate cause Of his death.
The death Of NJ Grevy was unexpected M
alarming symptoms were noticed, and no anxiety
was felt when he was taken i'll. The funeral
will take place on Monday at Mont-Sous- Vaudley,
unless the Cabinet decides for funerai WIN
public honors, 10 which NJ. Grevy Is enueie" 90
a former President. No precedent nOnv b,vind
refused 10 permit State ceremony on the occas
of the death of the first President OF the ~
President Carnot has sent tee arsssinS pro.
brother Of the dead statesman, expressing p par
found regrets and coincidence. Inc heWsPaP ~
give the warmest praise 10 Grevys SERVICES !" '"e
Republic.
The late ex-Presldent of the French Republic was
born on August 10. 1913, at Mon'-sous-' a"ui0''
small town in the Department of the Jura. Inc peopi0
Of that section which borders on Switzeranu' are TO
,,ed 70 have retained the principal characteristics f
The ancient Gauls namely, strict honesty, economy
,ommon-sense and an entire absence OF temper UT
passion In fact, they are the most uhemoNoh"i ~,
dividuals In the world and as OBSTINATE ana
as the granite of their Jura mountains All '"1o
Qualities and defects were apparent in NJ. Grevy' lie
was educated at the College Of Polgny' IN the I'M
mediate neehborhood OF the birthplace OF P1chegru the
famous general OF the Revolution OF 1T93' Who as
professor of the military school Of Brenhe taue"'
Fmperor Napoleon the rudiments OF strategy fas'e
too the famous scientist, was born III the VoinVS'
Young Grevy was in Paris In 1890 when the Revou'
finn broke out which drove King Charles anu 'ho
elder branch of the BOurbons into exile During inc
three glorious days" of July 81, % and 20 the Da'e
ragged I'm the Streets and mob took advantage theeo
TO invade the palace of the Archbishop OF fars, no"
seigneur de Quelen. who was suspected OF uIaceiiV
monarchical tendencies. The building was sacked
from attic cellar and every article OF iuhtue' VI
nament and artistic treasure destroyed NJ
Grevy himself helped throw into the Seine, which was
flowing by the walls Of the archiepiscopal residence
the armchairs, paintings books, mattresses anu an
kinds of furniture belonging to the palace inns boy
sh freak frequently, in after life ana wheh rTes
dent of the Republic cast in the teeth OF NJ Ue'S w
the reactonary press. But this was about the ouiy
illegal act which his enemies succeeded IN raklhG
up against him for he soon became imbued WIN lne
ideas OF legality which were taught him III the
Law School of Paris, where he gained high acedenhc
honor and which he left to embrace the professor VI
a lawyer.
His political career began with the Revolution OF
February ls4s soon after the overthrow of King Louis
Philippe The Provisional Government OF the RepuD-
uc with such Lamartine, Ledru-hol-
lin Arago and Louis Plane at its head, fastened 10
send commissares 10 secure control OF every depart
ment and take the place of Louis Phllppes projects
The Minister of the Interior who was intIusted WIN
the appointment of those political agents. sent NJ jules
Greyy TO assume charge of his native Department
of the Jua Universal suffrage had been established
and the Jura electors pleased with the manner
In which he had performed HIS duties as commissary
that they elected him by 65,15O votes to represent
hem in the National Assembly. His sterling qualities
became quickly known and appreciated by his legs
lative colleagues who chose him first TO be member
of the Judicial Copntee and subsequently TO I'll the
Office of Vlce-President of the National Assembly.
Shortly afterWard NJ Grevy made In the Legislature
his famous motion for an amendment to the Con-
stltution abolshing the Office Of President OF the
haA iOnCni
cepted the Presidency Of the third French Republic
his monarcIcal adversaries once reproached him
with Inconsistency and fOrgetfuness Of his former
opinons They refused take into consideration the
fact that the situation in 194S was entirely dl1eeht
from that in 1870, when NJ Grevy was called either
10 assume the Presidency of the Republic IN lieu
of Marshal MacMahon else to abandon France 10 the
throcs of another revolution. His motion in the
Assembly of 1915 claimed that the country should
be governed by President, not of the Republic but
merely of the Council of Ministers, and who could
be turned out of Office by any adverse vote OF the
majority of the Legislature Had this motion been
accepted instead of being rejected, was by 643
votes against 49, the Of Louis Napoleon would
have been cut short forever, and France might have
avoided the Third Empire and the horrors of the
German and invasion.
Another Instance of NJ. Grevy's political sagacty,
In regard the international as well as the national
or internal affairs of the country his vote against
Napoleon TO send TO Rome in 1549 the OudinOt eX-
petition destined to crush the new Roman Republic,
and to re-establish the authority Of Pope Plus IN In
the Eternal City. The expedition however took place
with the consent of the National Assembly; French
soldiers mounted guard at the Vatican; and twenty
years later they st there. Indeed, the refusal
of Napoleon III 10 withdraw them at King victor
Emmanuel's request deprived France in 1870 Of the
assistance of tho 5000 bayOuets offered by the
Italian Ambassador, Count Menaorea, in return for
The Jura electors approaching better than his
fellow Deputies the foresight, the political sagaety
and the republican qualities of NJ Grevy reelected him
to represent them When the Legislative Assembly was
constituted to succeed the National Assembly. But
ooIItcS for time, and during the following nftoen
Years devoted himself exclusively 20 his practice
of the Paris Corporation aud became known as the
successful pleader of the day His eloquence was
very remarkable, being that OF socrates rather tnah
of a DenOsthenes; quiet, strongly argumentatlVe ana
full of force, logic, clearness ana persuasion.
1870 a National Assembly elected February
S. 1871. NJ GrevyIwas returned by bgin the Depart
ment of the .Jura and also by that Of the BOuchcS
du-RhOne. lie likewise obtained 5l,499 votes at Paris.
Declining the Marseiies nomination, he took hs scat
representative of his Old constituency IN the Juti
lie was chosen speaker OF President of the Assembly
at It's t b s 6Sb oce n August % in March
and June, 1872, and finally In 1879 on January 80,
1879 he was elected by Inc wC ~ p
the Republic. His term of office was for seven years,
which lie completed and was then reelected Tor a
The failure to complete the latter and the resignG-
ton almost tOrceu upon ZOO NoIc hOt
due TO any fault OF his as to the almost crina'a IN
discretion of his son-ln-aw NJ. Wilson. The latter,
although occupying scat in abe Legislature and IRE
0uentIy voting against the Ministers OF his fathef-i
iaT resided With the latter at the Elysee Palace and
gradually usurped influence and power, which ne used
Tor the benefit of his personal ana business ehus ana
for the purposes OF bolsterne up numerous unfortunate
and dscredtable enterprises and persons Inc scan
Jal eliminated in his indictment for criminal com
nIicity in The Legion of Honor frauds which caused
such a public outcry against the whole EEsee estab-
Ishmenf that his fathern-law compelled 10 resign
tbe presidency. From that time forth NJ. Grevy Sc
Guided himself much possible from pnonc vle%,
spending his winters in his magnificent mansion ~ the
Avenue d'Jena at Paris and his summers on nus es'
tates az Mont -Vaudrev In the Jura Mynh' M
Until the unfortunate circumstances whyn tra "
his withdrawal from Office NJ GTevy was RpoWn a. ~
the most respected but least popular OF tIduC1
unblic men His talents were not OF the ODunslVe
or conspicuous character which sway crowd nv
was an admirable speaker. according TO american ~,
tlons-neat precise. pointed and effective, Dut ms