Year: 1874

THE CRISIS IN FRANCE


Tho Duke de Broglic has met decisive
defeat at the hands OF coalition OF
precisely the same character as that when
raised him to power just year ago. "hen,
on the oath OF last May, portion OF the Lett
Center joined hands with the conservatives
of the Right, and, assisted by the Legitlmists
and Bonapartists, overthrow the Government
OF NJ. Theirs, and placed the Marshal-Duke OF
Magenta in the Presidency as stop-gap
against the radical Republic, there was no
more real agreement or harmony among them
than there is now among the motley majority
which has Just put an end to the Broghe
Cabinet The ducal Academician. at least, has
no right to complain of the immortality oil
such combination. He holds office by virtue
of one equally questionable. There must have
been great many reserves ana prevarica-
tiOns in the prelimnaIies OF the coalition
which brought together in demonstration
against NJ. Thiers pronounced conservative
Republicans. advocates of the eXiled Empire
fanatical adherents Of the Comte dc Cham
bord and Divine Right and bashful conspir-
ators for fusion between Orleanlsts and
Bourbons, which should place the Comtc de
Paris on the throne. There was but one point
upon which all these parti-colOred spirits could
meet and mngle, and that was an assumed
danger. which none of them believed in very
heartily, that NJ. Theirs, if he were let alone,
would bring in the Red Specter of Commun-
ism as the ruling principle in government, and
would then proceed to baste with petroleum
and roast society, religion, and property. All
these cherished interests were saved for the


g h.r ,hn1M
and when it was found that the Republicans,
undeterred by Government opposition, still
persisted in eecting their candidates at
every vacancy, and that the scheme Tor
the restoration of the King was foled by his
own obstinate and incredible folly, the same
coalition, with few exceptions, united to alllrm
still further the salvation of moral order by
putting it ont of the power OF any contingency
to remove Marshal MacMahOn from his Presi-
dency for seven years. The motives Tor THIS
were various: the conservative RepuDilcahs
who did not believe in the Republic Thought
he was better than an immediate restoration;
the Legitmists feared that their scandaious
failure with the Comtc de Chambord might
result in the definite establishment OF
genuine Republic if no steps were taken to
prevent it, and the Imperialists were glad to
gain little time for Napoleon ". to come OF
age and organize his party.


But neither of these latter factions had the
least intention of observing the Septennate in
good faith. Each expected to use the respite
allowed by working in the interest of its own
pretender. For while the Duke de BrOge
was skiful enough to retain the support OF
LegItimists and Bonapartists, by doing moth
ing to interfere with their plans. But so hol-
low and fraudulent partnership as this could
not last forever. The BOnapartists really re-
volted in March last, on the occasion OF the
majority Of the Prince Imperial, and the Gov
crnment, unable to endure such an atfrOnt, was
forced to take measures against the particl-
pants in that demonstration who held office
under the MacMahon Cabinet. The turn of
the Legitmists came later. Their organs
and mouthpieces were open in their express
ions Of contempt for the Septennate, con-
siderng it not binding in the least de-
gree against the paramount claim OF
Henri ", when occasion should come for him
to assume the throne of his ancestors. The
Government, which had been busily engaged
in suppressing Republican newspapers for
much less significant utteTances, was in danger
of becoming ridiculous by permitting this
defiant attitude of the Legitimists to go
unnoticed. A circular was therefore prepared
and issued by Minister Dupeyre of the Depart
ment of Justice, defining the meaning of the
law of the Septennate, and declaring it illegal
TO call in question the absolute right of
Marshal MacMahon to hold the Presidency, as
against all comers, for seven years. Even this
was not received by the extreme monarchical





followed the Minister'S circular with another,
saying IN substance that the law meant
nothing of the kind, and intimating that
Marshal MacMahon would step out of the way
the moment His Majesty should appear.


1t was evident, before the Assembly re-
turned from its vacation, that it would be
difficult for the Government to hold its ma
iority together. 1t was clearly divided into
three sections having virtually nothing in
common, one large division of over three
hundred agreeing with the Government and
honestly aiming to sustain the Septennate,
and two little ones numbering less than a
hundred altogether, and devoted merely to
the fortunes of two different pretenders to
the Crown. Contemplate as these were in
numbers, they were nevertheless strong
enough 10 ueIeat Jne uO'eTnmcnt IOr which
they had voted; and when NJ. de Broglie last
week announced his intention to make the
motion for taking up the Electoral law a
Cabinet question: it was for the extreme Right
to decide whether they would destroy his Gov
ernment or not. 1t seems that at the last
moment they were inclined to give NJ de
Broglie a lesson rather than to defeat him.
NJ. Lucien Brun proposed that their vote
against giving priority to tho Electoral law