MARSHAL MACMAHON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 182, 22 September 1876, Page 15

MARSHAL MACMAHON.

t -f--4-Hitherto all parties in France have vied with each other in praising Marshal MacMahon. The Monarchists, although they consider that he only keeps the way clear for the King, express full confidence in him ; the Bonapartists, in denouncing the Republic, are always careful to say that they do not include its President in their ; and even the Republicans have been in the habit of f ither noisily asserting their belief in his loyalty. The two first parties continue in this way of thinking ; but there are signs that the third are beginning to feel some discontent. It is noted that in the debate on the Municipal Bill M. Gambetta declared, somewhat mysteriously, "We are not free to act ; " and the Republican journals have strongly commented on this hint. One of them points out that the pressure alluded to by M. Gambetta " comes from a higher and more distant source than the Ministry, which is only a passive agent in transmitting that pressure ; " and M. Gambetta's own paper openly says " it is impossible not to perceive an attempt at personal government, to which the country will not lend itself." There can be no doubt that Marshal MacMahon feels himself in an unpleasant position. All his personal sympathies are with the Consersatives, yet he is compelled to govern by means of a Ministry which is accepted by a Democratic Chamber of Deputies. It is improbable that he incites the Cabinet to act in opposition to the serious wishes of the Chamber in so far as the latter may be supposed to be in accord with the nation; but it would be strange if he did not prevent it conceding too much to the extreme section of the Republicans. He could not, indeed, hold his position if the wilder members of the Left were to control the Administration. We do not know that M. Gambetta has any particular reason to regret that the Marshal hesitates to sanction too rapid progress. France would easily take alarm, and the Republic may be expected to advance all the more smoothly and safely for having a strong and cautious hand at the helm.