Year: 1877


believe the Marshal likely to take violent
course except as the victim Of deluslons ID
regard to the will Of the country and his
moral obligations under the law but he
was surrounded by men more likely to
delude him in their interests than to ad-
wise him honestly in his own; and
he was known not to be possessed OF the
clear-headed sagacity that sees through the
devices OF dishonest politicians. In the
practical operation Of politics it is the same
whether man is dishonest himself or IS
deceived into dishonest practices, and the
world therefore had little faith ia the Mar
shal's good intentions. An honest mans
hand may be on thsvhe Of the ship OF
state. but If he is to steer her Ms informed
by the voices of officers in league with
wreckers on the shore the CULTS will wash
her down. But the dangerous advisers have
proved too faint-hearted to complete their
bad purposes, and that course is taken
which was natural in the absence OF evil
designs.


It was Gambetta's formula that the Presi-
dent must 'se so,,nettre on Sc demettre. he
has chosen the first alternative, and sub
mits. But it is not an absolute surrender
He does not come down fully to the actual
ground Of the principle OF parliamentary
system in virtue of which the formation of
Ministry is dictated by the party of the
majority. He gives way enough, however,
to yield the main point in issue the recog-
milton chat France will not endure personal
government in an individual nor the more
insidious form of the same abomina-
ton in virtue. of which Ministry
is chosen in defiance of the known will
Of the country in order that the executive
machinery, framed to enforce the laws, may
be perverted to defeat their operation. De
Broglie's administration was n ministerial
insurrection. Its vital principle was that
of revolt against the existing form Of
government, and against the consolidation
and perpetuation of that form by the con-
tinued predominance OF wise and discreet
republican majority in the Chamber of
Deputies, and by constant change in the
Senate toward republican politics, similar
to that which entirely changed the charac-





through the return Of a republican
whenever seat became vacant for any rea-
son whatever. De Broglie's associates and
their party saw the Republic growing
stronger day by day in virtue of the rising
confidence of the country, not simply in the
republican party. They saw the Republic
constantly strengthened by the accession to
the number of it's supporters Of the best
men in the country, and saw the monarchi-
cal parties and tho imperial party falling
into ever deeper discredit, and therefore they
made the infamous intrigue which resulted
in the usurpation Of the ministerial author
ity by group Of men who had no shadow
Of right to Office under constitution which
declares the principle Of ministerial re-
sponsibility.


These conspirators had overrated the mere
influence Of ministerial authority to put
down adverse opinions, and equally over
rated the effect Of official pressure and
manipulation in the determination of
elections. Opinion held it's own against
the assault, and despite a shameless use Of
authority they were badly beaten at the
polls. They had hoped to change the whole
tide Of political progress in France by noisy
rhodomontade against radcalism and un-
scrupulous perversion Of the power Of their
offices, and found Mt last what they had
scarcely believed could ever exist in
France-a people sufficiently instructed in
it's rights and determined. in its purposes
not to be turned aside by fustian nor fooled
by shallow devices In the presence of
representative assembly elected on on issue
made by themselves and with an enormous
majority against them they seem to have
felt like so many cleualiers d'm.iustrie closely
pursued by the police with the stolen prop
erty still in their possession. Their great
recent anxiety has been to get out of office,
to get the stolen property off their hands.
But how could it be done? They have
proposed over and over again TO
resign, but the President Of the
Republic, inveigled into bad scrape
by them, was determined not to be aban-
doned, and held them to their many frothy
declarations. AT last, however, they have
simply determined to run for it, but with
out the stolen property. They do not come
up and formally surrender il; they do
not even creep around in the night and
leave it stealthily on the owners doorstep.
But they put it in some one else's posses
sion; they foist it upon innocent persons,
Indifferent to the trouble it will cost these
porsons--likea rogue giving his plunder to
boy, with the certainty that the boy will
fall into the hands Of the police at the next
corner.


As we have said the Marshal submits.
Rather than fight or resign he yields, but
not frankly and fully. He yields with an
i'll grace, as if determined that it shall bc
understood that what he does is against his
will. For De Brogie's retirement is n con-
cession to the principle of the supremacy of
- %1a nj ION, ,a,,t,