Year: 1873

/ two of the leading statesmen of France
and Germany, and frst we quote an


interview with McAIahon, by a CORE
! spondent of the New York World, part


Of which wehave already given by tele-
graph. It is as follows:


INTERVIEW WITH M'MAHON.


/ Marshal lMcMahOn-ny you thoroughly


understood the nature of the change


which has taken place in the admins
Z tration you would not be at loss to


know in what sense it is a political


change. When NJ. Thiers's resignation


was accepted by the assembly it became
quite clear that the only way of meeting
the objection which he as well as


his adherents continually made to any
change Of ministry-that when Mr.
Thiers ceased to be at the head of the


government there would be an end to


the confidence felt at home and abroad
in the reorganization OF France as a


great power-was to Rllay the fears OF
public opinion by allowing the post OF
chief of the executive TO remain as far


as possible in abeyance by appointing q


purely nominal president, who would


give the conservative majority the salts
faction of possessing president of the


republic who was not virtually a die


tatOr, and the republicans a president


who could not be King in disguise.


The real government Of the country is
now vested in the ministry, and l am
firmly convinced that the only change
which they viii Introduce into the re-


public viii be TO carry out the pro-


gramme which the late government
proved itself incapable of doing.


C--And whst, may ask, mon mar
scyt0t, DO you consider to be that policy
Marshal MeM.-BL Thiers, with
whom, when he was in power, 1 was
frequently In communication, had
drawn up at the very outset of his presi-


dentsnip, when at Bordeaux, an elabO-
rate programme of the modified form in


which he intended to give the republic
fair trial, and by following which, if it


failed, the interests of conservatism


would not be so far com promised as to
preclude the possibility Of establishing q
constitutional monarchy. But in order


to retain the republican form of govern
ment, and to give the large towns a
pledge Of bis wish 20 endOW the country
with republican institutions, NJ. Thiers


was, in spite OF his most strenuous
efforts, driven to accept compromises,


which gradually brought about the in
voluntary but inevitable compromise of
his system. Hence the desperate efforts
which NJ. Theirs made to reconcile him
self with thsse conservatives who, with
less faith in the ultimate success of his
policy, were every day deseTting the


flag Of truce under which they had en-
rolled themselves, without being able to
take up, even if he wished TO do so,
the cause of the purely republican or
radical party, for the reason that any
decided step in this direction would
have evoked the immediate coalition of
the conservative party, and its combined
action, would not so much have been di-
rected against the republic IS against N.
Thiers. This opposition would, how
ever, have been all the more fatal TO NJ.
Thiers's government, for il was not easy
to league the members of the left and
the 4nprejudiced republicans in the
country, whether conservative or liberal,
against a number Of Representatives who
at least numbered half the assembly,
and while loudly protesting their inten-
ton of maintaining the republic, would
listen TO no transaction with the radical
socialists who sought to change the
form Of government


C.-And what name would YOU give
to the form toward which NJ. Thiers
was irresistibly drawn? Is not the large
minority headed by NJ. Thiers justified
in claiming its share IN the establish
ment of the republic?


Marshal McM.-UndOubtedly the ne
cessity of keeping to provisional gov
eminent, generally known as a republic,
- 5ralrr a F1 an Of "a
radical party, who by their constant
agitation in and out of the representa-
tive body, rendered the formation of
less ambiguous denomination, imprscti-
cable, or at least dangerous. But these
republicans were not satisfied with
the concessions made to them
by the different monarchical and
conservative factions; they wished to
weigh down the government scales TO
their own benefit BY dragging into their
camp the chief Of the state and his min
istry, who had st last become the head
Of the exclusively republican party, with
the no longer legitimate privilege of be-
ing considered as the mentor of the con-
servstiye party. rs the radicals became
every day more conscious of their hold
on III. Thiers, they did not scruple to
show that the republic they desired was
a federal system of independent aud
autonomous cOmmunes, well supplied
with soeiaiistie and atheistle institu-
tons.


C.-Now that there is no fear Of any
of these evil institutions, and that the
government Is in Catholic hands, can
you tell nee whether any step will be
taken to help the holy father out Of his
critical position in Romeo Rumors of
an armed Intervention in favor 5i his
holiness are growing rife, and 1 should
like to know whether they originate in
radical, religious, or government quar-
tiers.


Marshal McM.-We are not in a pO-
sition TO take any steps similar to those
taken by the empire; but everything |
that can be done TO insure the pope's |
safety and the necessary liberties Of the
holy see shall be done-of this both his
friends and enemies may rest assured. |
It is directly against the interests
Of Italy to expel the pope from
his dominions, for were he OBJ
liged to take refuge in a foreign
country the Catholics Of all the world
would unite ia crying shame against
Italy, and public opinion would be ex-
cited against the Italian government to
such an extent thai not only would our
interference become compulsory, but it
might also become the signal for Eu-
Topean war, from which Italy has little
TO hope and everything to fear.


C.-BUt you have not given me any
idea, Marshal, Of the way in which you
hope to change this Professionally con-
servative government into a permanent
institution,


Marshal MacM-In the position in
which 1 am situated it would be most
imprudent for me to hazard an opinion,
even if I allowed myself to form one.
But must tell you frankly that in ac-
cepting the presidency did not look in
to the future, but only to the right and
left Of me, where I saw men Of every
shade of political opinion ready TO tear
each other to pieces, and lead a crowd Of
ignorant and Gd59e electors to do as
much. The necessity of saving the
aTmy--onr only hope foT the mainte-
nance of our country in the rank to
which it belongs-out of this hideous
scramble for power aud profit was
the uppermost thought in my
mind when the offer of the pres
idency was made to me. To reorganize
the army and make il the bulwark Of
French liberty ought to be the aim OF
every true Frenchmen. There is no
reason why the present regime, in its
amended constitutional forms-with a
military executive, who should reign


-.-.. ~, -,,y,.f,, ara rnlc ory,, - -