THE FRENCH POLITICAL CRISIS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5092, 19 July 1877, Page 3

THE FRENCH POLITICAL CRISIS.

In the eagerness with which news concerning the Russo-Turkish war is read those telegrams referring to a political crisis in France of a most serious nature have been almost disregarded. The Home News furnishes the following synopsis of events in French politics up to the date the English mail left London, and a perusal of it will show that France is walking over the customary volcano : An event has taken place iu France which is spoken of, and really almost amounts to, a coup d'itat. M. Jules Simon, the Premier, has been dismissed by President MacMahon, and all the members of the Cabinet have resigned. The ostensible ground on which the Marshal wrote a letter couched in conspicuously discourteous and peremptory language to M. Simon, was his absence on one occasion from the debate iu which the repeal of the Press Laws was voted, and his failure in another to adduce facts and arguments which might possibly have prevented such a vote being taken. M. Simon’s explanations on beth these- points were, the Marshal wrote, “ indispensable.” The Prime Minister understood the meaning of the letter, and anticipated deposition by resignation. “ I expected your resignation,” said Marshal M acMahon, “and I accept it.’ ’ The real reason of what has occurred is to be sought elsewhere. Marshal MacMahon is in the hands of the Royalists, the Due de Broglie, M. Buffet, and M. Fourtou. M. Jules Simon has allowed himself to be influenced at every turn by the extreme Republicans. Thus, only a few weeks ago, he virtually accepted a resolution of the Radicals condemning the conduct of the Catholic clergy. At last Marshal MacMahon, a staunch Royalist at heart and with all the prejudices of his order, discovered that it was impossible to work with M. Jules Simon any longer, and yielded to the pressure long placed upon him by the Royalist cabal. The sequel proved tb be what was anticipated. The President summoned the Due de Broglie to form.a Cabinet, and the Republican Ministry of M. Jules Simon is succeeded by a Government, Conservative and Royalist. Such is the eminous response of Marshal MacMahon to M. Gambetta, who made a fierce speech in the Chamber of Deputies, May 16, denouncing tbe nightmare of Reactionists who display their blind fury in times of uncertainty, and brought forward a motion, carried by a majority of 353 to 154, in which it was declared that the confidence of the Deputies could only be accorded to a Cabinet resolved to govern according to Republican principles. This motion was anti-Constitutional, as violating the freedom of the Executive power. None the less it is fatally significant of the coming sto'rim What will occur a month hence is a dissolution, and after that it may be the deluge. , Marshal MacMahon, and his new Prime Minister, M. de Broglie, are doing their utmost to. reassure the minds of their countrymen on the subject of- the dismissal of M. Jules Simon. At an agricultural show at Compifegne, on March 26, the President, who has executed a coup - d’Mat which has a'armed rather than surprised Europe, made a great effort to represent it as “ a political act which ought to reassure and •* tranquillise the people of France.” Republicanism, he said, was becoming offensive and dangerous to public tranquility ; therefore it was his plain duty to adopt what he considered a course, conducive to stability in internal affairs and peace in exterior relations. To much the same effect is the language used in the circular addressed by M. de Broglie to the Public Prosecutors throughout France, Radical theories, he says, are incompatible with the peace of society'and the quietness of France. Therefore, he tells the prosecutors that the coarseness and insults of the Press, which exceed all limits, must be repressed. Meanwhile, what is the prospect in the country ? Under a regime of what pretends to be constitutional government and parliamentary representation, only one thing can justify the chief magistrate in changing his Prime Minister when the latter has a majority of the representatives of the people, i.e., the belief that he has a minority iu the country. In France there is nothing to justify this belief. The present Chamber fairly represents France, and the result of an election will only be to return a Chamber of much the same kind, official influences notwithstanding. There will then be no alternative but resignation to Marshal MacMahon or an appeal to arms. As for the Marshal's successor, he may be the veteran M. Thiers or M. Gambetta, or perhaps some less eminent personage, such as M. Grevy.