The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-10
A FRENCH INAUGURATION.
How the President Is Chosen and In
Quoted Into ONCE.
From the New York Tribune

From the New York Tribune.
frances chief magistrate, unlike the
President of the United States, takes no
public or even private oath to observe the
terms of the national constitution, and his
adhesion to the latter Is expressed, not in
an obligatory but merely in a voluntary
manner in his somewhat informal reply
20 the official notification that he has been
elected to the presidency Of the republic
There is no formal ceremony of inaugura-
ton. for in France the crfef magistrate en-
ters upon the duties of his office from the
very moment OF his election. The latter
invariably takes place at Versailles. The
members Of the electoral body are the SEN
ate and Chamber of Deputies, who assem-
bic for the purpose in congress- in an inn
mense oblong room in the palace OF Yer
sailles. This hall Is furnished with ISL
armchairs, with gilt frames and crimson
silk seats and backs. These face a ros-
,rum and the elevated seats and desks for
the presiding officer, who Is always the
sneaker Of the Senate, and for his secre-
taries and staff. The walls on two sides
are panelled with Gobelin tapestries rep
resenting royal French residences, and on
the third side is Gouder's enormous paint
ing of the Tiers Etat' holding the IA
nous revolutionary sitting In the tennis
court where the states general had first
met. On the fourth side, facing the chair
of the president, 80 colonnade repre-
senting the entrance Of Greek temple ana
forming the gallery for the diplomatic
corps and important personages
The president Of the Senate calls the con-
gress TO order, and after reading either the
letter Of resignation OF the outgoing Pres
don't or e.se the official notification of
his death. recites the articles OF the con-
stitution empowering the congress TO SC
lect his successor No speeches are al
lowed by any OF the members, the ballot
ing being done IN silence. Successive bal
lots take place, the votes gradually con-
centrating themselves upon the iaVorlte
until he receives a majority. As soon as
The latter Is declared, the presiding Off
Ger exclaims:
IN - having obtained the SURFACES Of
the convention. ! herewith proclaim him
President Of the republic"
Then. placing his hat on his head, he
declares the session closed and the con-
gress at an end.
The minutes Of the congress are thereup-
ON written out, and after that the presi-
dent of the Senate, and the prime minister
nrooeded by ushers and guards, proceed
with some ceremony and state to the
APARTMENTS In the north wing Of the pal
ace where the successful candidate awaits
Them. These apartments are among the
,ooet beautiful rooms In the palace, and are
hung with almost priceless paintings by
Roucher. Natter. etc. The candidate
rises 10 receive the officials. Standing at
few PAGES distant from him. tho presi-
dont Of the Senate, WAC Is In full evening
dress. as Is also the prime minister. In
forms him tremendously that he has been
e.ected 10 the chief magistracy Of the re-
nublic. and reads the minutes OF the con-
gross. He terminates with the offer OF his
personal congratulations. and Is followed
by the prime minister, who likewise makes
a short address. The new President
makes n brief reply expressing his sense
OF the great honor conferred upon him by
the national assembly, as well as OF the re-
sponslbllty and duties of his new Office.
A sort OF Informal levee then follows.
during which most OF the senators and
members OF the Chamber Of Deputies who
have taken part I'm the national congress
tender their good wishes. As soon as that
is over, the new president, who has gem