Year: 1874




one point is definite MacMahon is in power
and win remain there. 1t is impossible to
misunderstood his intimation to this effect,
made to the Assembly in his recent message;
and even less susceptible of misconstructlon
is the general order by which he formally
placed his seven years tenure OF office under
the protection of the army. In this course
there was touch of contempt for the Assem-
bly, and scorn of its opinions and doings that
need 90 only very little further to lead to the
expulsion of all these babblers Of political
theory and party hate. Discussion was Keen
in the Assembly over the law that put Mac
Mahon in power. Not only the Assembly, but
oil France, was deeply interested in the topic,
nd sides were energetically taken on the issue
whether the Assembly could displace Mac
Mahon from power during the term named in
the law. or whether they could organize any
system of government ignoring his position.
In its usual vociferous spirit the Assembly
was declaring to ITSELF over Ind over again, that
it could vote MacMahon out Of power just as
it had voted Theirs out of power, and that
there was no authority to make Law which
|
peal At this interesting point out came the
Marshals order, which informed the army
what the law really meant as the Marshal
understood it. Soldiers have no occasion to
know the laws. They must obey ORDERS and
must therefore, accept that Interpretation OF
the laws that their commander may put upon
them; and MacMahon, as President and Com
mander, has officially given the army his in
terpretation; and, if his view OF the law
should be disputed, he will call upon the
army to sustain him, and the army will do it.


MacMahons order is essentially o coup
a. etql There is no violence, of course be-
cause none is necessary. No one is shot in
the streets, because no one assumes an attitude
of resistance. But the declaration thus nom
chalantly made to the Assembly and to the
country over the head of the army covers the
assumption of irresponsible power. 1t Is an
adroit stroke, too. 1t pretends to call the at
tention of the army to law of the Assembly
and to bespeak respect for that august body
and its DEGREES, while in reality it is protest
against the exercise on the part of the Assem-
bly of mooted power to limit the authority
they had already given. 1t is q call upon the
army for support against any law of the As
sembly opposed to the law made by the same
body in November last and it thus, while
ostensibly accepting authority from the As
sembly, proposes to hold authority in defiance
of the delegates who are supposed to represent
the country.


Between the position assumed by the man
who, as Commander-in-Chiet,i informs the army
that be counts upon it to support him agalust
any law of the Assembly, and the position Of
the man who takes security against such q law
by dissolving the Assembly, the difference is
one of circumstances and not OF essential
character NacNlahon is in harmony with
the mind of the nation when he assumes a
positive attitude toward the Assembly and
hectors it little, for the country is disguised
with it's vacillations and small plques but he
might startle the country very unpleasantly
if he marched up reg iment and locked the
doors. And it is only worth while to startle
the country in a case of necessity. 1t is better
to have the nation on ones side in the diver
pence of views It would, therefore, be su-
preme folly for the Marshal to 60 further just
now Not only is the Assembly harmless to
him where 1t is since the army accepts his
order with good will, and he is therefore Sc
cure of the future; but the Assembly, left
alone, may yet lock the doors upon itself and
so save him disagreeable labor. Should the
Assembly merely go on as it is going every
hour will increase its unpopularity. Should
it continue its puerile votes tor one Ministry
and against another-votes that seem to have
behind them no political views or party prin-
ciples, but the mere piques and perversites OF
children-it may end in making the steady,
patient, simple-minded Marshal seem to tower
above it like sort of political Teneriffe; but
should the party strife reach the point
that it now seems to threaten-should
the opposition of the Right to Casimir-
Periers bill succeed in gaining q
vote for the postponement Of the report
of the committee that has it in charge-disso-
luton viii apparently be precipitated without
staining the Marshals hands for it will then
be obvious to many OF the moderate Left that
the Right would rather have despotism thar
an organized government not of their OWL
making, and TINS perception Will COMBINE
enough voices to vote the dissolution Of the
Chamber, for which the most resolute mem
bers are now ready.


Dissolution is the imminent fact, whether i
shall come thus by the act Of the Assembly o.
whether MacMahon shall one OF these day
seem to be urged forward by popular indigna
ton to the painful duty of sending the Depu
ties home; and however it may come it is fo
the country the most desirable event that il
now on the cards. With this Assembly ther,
: is no hope of permanent organized tranquil
> lity for the country as is shown by the futil
endeavors of its three years and more of ex
9 istence. With MacMahon there will be tran