New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-18
V1PSUIL M1CNAHON.

France loses by the death OF Marshal Mac
Nobon one Of her bravcst and most priiiian'
soldiers He entered the army ten years ai'er
Waterloo. but it was not until the assault upon
SobastoDol that his reputation was made. ana
,ho, hv IN act of obstinate courage bordering
unon disobcdicnce. He led the way into the
Malakoff under most destructive hre. Inc
French commander gave the order 1or inc IT,
treat of the storming party. MacMahons re-
NV became historic: "J'y suis; jy rcstc.
ITO remained in the Malakoif and drove out The
Russiaps With Il Napolconc watchword Ike
this 10 clcctrify the French people, his promo
ton to the highest rank followed as IL lha''er
Of course Magenta was his victory, won III
defiance Of instructions by sheer force OF cour-
40. and will. when the army had been out
n.nocuyred and defeated Sedan was also ms
battle but his plans had been interiered WIFI
bv n meddlesome Emperor. and defeat Drought
M reproach upon the best soldier on the French
side. Marshal MacMahon as soldier com
bncd the best qualities of the Old ana new
schools He had the NapolcOnic genius OF
action in sudden emergencies. lie had also
mastered the modern science Of war, and had
loft the impress of n broad mind upon the re-
orconizotion Of the French Army and the from
tier dcfenccs.
What Marshal MacMahOn was in war he
was also in poli,ics-as obstinate ana sell
reliant as he was courageous. Elected Pres-
don't Inv q Conservative Assembly he regarded
himself as the only bulwark Of social and moral
ordor His natural bias was against Rcpub-
lean institutions. and he was compelled to wit
ness the development of tendencies when lie
distrustcd He made IL firm stand Tor Con
seryatism at a time when progressive Kcpuh
ucanjsm was an Ovcrmastcrng force Ills us
,,;ss,, If Jules Simon was a blunder. but not
n crime He had the power under the Const'u-
,;on tn change his advisers and to appeal to the
electorate. 1t was the old soldier OF the Mal;i-
koff proudly procamng to the nation :" am
here by the command of the Conservative AS
scmbly and here shall remain The nation
under Gambettas splendid leadership went
against him. but he held his ground so long
os the Senate remained Conservative. When
the last stronghold Of power was captured by
the Gambettists he resigned his ONCE con-
WINGED that everything was going wrong and
unable TO reconcile himself to new ideas, but
faithful always to France.
The er-Presidcnt had his faults. but he
was not a traitor The intrigucrs. who had
placed him in OFFICE. hoped that he would re-
enact the part OF General Monk. who restored
| the Stuarts to the English throne. There were
plots and countcrplots in favor OF the Count OF
| Chambord and against the Count of Paris and
the youthful Bonaparic. Narrow and perverse.
| Marshal MacNlahon was also honest and true.
| His compact with the Conservative leaders was
not stained with treason 10 the Republic The
| worst that can hr said against him IL that he
allowed INSCRIPTIONS Ministers to strain the
laws after the 10th Of May and to coerce the
electors. When the people declared their will
he resisted every reactionary proposal Tor a
second dissolution OF the Chambers and the
use Of military force. He was zoo conscen-
tious TO betray a public trust, profoundly dis
tasteful to him were the tendencies OF
progressive Republication.
France can well afford to overlook the foibles