New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-09

brought to bear upon it, MacNfahon cut his way
into the fort, however, and stubbornly held his
ground against overwhelming odds. Marshal
Pellisser, thinking he and his lnen would be
annihilated, ordered him to retire from what he
deemed an untenable position But with superb
courage MacNIahon disobeyed, sending back his
immortal reply, Il am here. and here l shall
stay' He did stay, and the Russians presently
retrated before him, and Sebastopol was taken
That deed gave him the Grand Cross.
Service in Algeria followed, and he was made
| commander-in-chief Of all the French forces in
that land But Napoleon soon recalled him for
more Important work in the war with Austria. in
| Northern Italy His great achievement there
was on the Ticino near the bridge Of Magenta.
After week of victorious progress, the French
were unexpectedly attacked by superior force
of Austrians. They hel! their ground Tor several
hours and then began to yield But at the
critical moment MacMahOn, who had been detailed
for other duty, threw his plans and instructions
10 the wind and rushed into the battle with his
troops with impetuous force in few moments
took 1000 Austrian prisoners and put til, whole
army t. rout. In recognition of this splendid
| achievement the Emperor. on the very field of
battle, made him Duke of Magenta and Marshal
| Of France
AT the coronation Of William III of Prussia in
1861, Marshal MacNlahon was the representative
of the French Emperor Soon thereafter he sue
ceoded Canrobert as commander of the Third Army
Corps and then went back to Algeria as Governor
General This was in 1894. Six years later he
was third time recalled by Napoleon to lead an
army in n treat war, this time in war OF defeat
and disaster. lie was made commander Of the
Army Of the South, and with CHARACTERISTIC energy
pressed forward TO the German frontier. But me
miserable military administration of the Empire
hopolessly handicapped him. At Woerth he met
with crushing defeat, which is not. however, TO be
charged against either his courage or his skill.
Rctrcating 10 Nancy, nc collected and reorganU"d
his army. and prepared 10 make a defensive stani
against the conQuerng invaders. Napoleon, how
ever, ordered him to 20 TO the relief Of Bazaine at
Metz, which errand he promptly undertook. lie
thus entered upon a campaign which ended al
seriously wounded by n she'll. and for some time
was unable 10 take part in the war. But he re-
covered in season 70 conduct the operations at
Paris against the Commune, and rendered nvalua-
he services in establishing the Republic nnder the
Presidency Of Theirs.
The soldier thenceforward served the Repub,
lie faithfully, as he had served Emperor and
King before it, In May, 1873. after a period Of
agitation, the Monarchical party in the French
Parliament forced President Theirs TO Tcsign,
and Immediately elected MacNlahon to succeed
him By a curious coincidence; the man who
moved his election in the Assembly was General
Changarnier descendant of that lawyer Chan
GARNER who in the preceding century had drawn
the VIII RHtOWJug upon JoHH b'ip'S' ci''-
Mahon the fortune Of the old woman at Autun:
The change in the Presidency was accomplished
without disturbance though when the result in
the Assembly was known. the streets of versailles
and Paris were filled with excited people, who
shouted "Vive Theirs" and "Nive la Repub-
li1ue," The Republicans urged peace ana az
lcrcnce 70 the law. and the Radical journals
discussed the situation with prudence. Marsh1l
MacMahon accepted the Presidency on the follow
ing terms d" will obey the will Of the Assembly,
the depository of the National sovereignty. II
is heavy responsi bilIty: but with Gods all ana
the devotion Of the Army ! will continue the
work Of iberating the territory and restoring
order. and will maintain tranquility and the
principles on which society rests. 10 ms
pledge nv word an honest man and soldlrr
NacNfahonS administration was an honest put
stormy one He made no secret OF ms Nin-
pa,hv with the Monarchica party. and OF his
drtestation of Radicalisn In turn he was made
the object of persistent and relentless ATTACKS
hy the Republican groups under me magne'ic c
leadership of Gambetta. There was Serious
struggle in May 1877, when the Prc,drnt'
against the will Of the Chamber. dismissed the
Cabinet If VI Jules Simon and appointed new
ono under tho Due de Broge. In the conflict
NacNahon trnmphcd. but only for a time, ana
early i'm $40 he was in turn driven 70 resign me
Presidency and was succeeded by jules "IeVN;
since that time the veteran solder mas I,Vei
in happy retirement with his family about hl,n'
apparentlv chorishng animosites, ana de-
ycicd rs a private citizen, 10 the general inter-
oste Of the futherland he loves so well