rather than of ending suspense by making the provisional state
We have said that there seems some hope of Marshal Mac- of things final, and as Marshal MacMahon's Government, owing Mahon's discovering for himself that the truest role for French to some mysterious sympathies and antipathies of its own, Conservatism to play is to accept the Republic and build on takes as yet the same line, and regards political suspense itself the lines of a Republic. Not only did Marshal MacMahon, in as the true object of its Conservative protection, the two parties his recent tour to the North, openly appeal for the support of in the Department of the Maine-et-Loire were able to effect " moderate men of all parties,"—a great change in his moral some kind of coalition at the second ballot against the Repub- attitude since the time when he told the Assembly, not many lican candidate, M. Maine The coalition, however, was not months ago, that he could not accept advice from any of the poli- a success. There were too many Imperialists, who saw that to ticians whohad voted against him on the 24th May, 1873,—but it vote for the regime of suspense under Marshal MacMahon is evidently now the cue given to official spokesmen to repeat this was to sacrifice the democratic principles on which utterance of Marshal MacMahon's, and so to recall to the minds alone they can hope to restore the Empire. And pro- of the Republicans the possibility of founding the Republic bably, too, there were not a few electors who had been with the Marshal for its first President. Only the other day, at indifferent before they saw the chance of striking an effec- Etrepagny, at a banquet given to the Duc de Broglie, and there- tive blow for the termination of suspense, but who became fore, of course, in an assembly where the Monarchists greatly interested in the election as soon as the real battle appeared to predominated, M. Passy, the Under-Secretary of State for be between the cause of the Republic and the cause of delay. At Financial Affairs, and a Deputy for the Eure, was in the chair, all events, on the second ballot last Sunday, it turned out that and delivered a short address in proposing Marshal Mac- M. Maine, the Republican candidate, had polled 6,228 votes Mahon's health. He began by using pointedly for the Chief more than he obtained in the first ballot, while the united of the Executive the official title, "Marshal MacMahon, Presi- parties of Imperialism and the Septennate polled 4,334 fewer dent of the Republic," and, in eulogising him, the principal votes than their combined poll on the first ballot, the result point of the speech was this, that Marshal MacMahon had being a triumph of the Republican candidate by 3,390 votes " always served the Government of his country without serving over the union of his opponents. The result seems to us the the party of the Government,"—in fact, that he was a man more satisfactory, that it betrays not merely the strength of the above party, and who could see the good in all parties. " This Republican party, but a growing conviction that it is the true man is in power, or rather, he is the power ; and observe with Conservative party of France,—in other words, that Conserva- what serene impartiality he can and ought to exercise this fives, no less than Liberals, can hope for more successful action power. To one party he says, I am the President of the under the form of a Republic than they can either under Republic ;' to the others, ' I am the representative of Order ambiguous provisional governments, or under dynasties as and of the law ;' to the Army, I am your chief. I planted much hated by great sections of the French people as the tricolor flag on the walls of Sebastopol, and it was the they are loved by small sections thereof. It is most same flag which guided me on the day of Magenta. You probable, if not evident, that the stronger vote polled by know I have not forgotten it ;' to Europe, ' I am your M. Maille at the second ballot was due to the adhesion of friend ; I have conquered your esteem on the field of persons who regarded themselves as Conservatives. They saw battle,—I offer you my hand ;' finally, to France, I the chance of effecting something by a strong demonstration am your servant. My blood has flowed with the blood in favour of a final solution of the question as to the form of of France ; I belong to you.'" Observe, there, the strong government, and they voted for the Republican as the only re- adhesion to the Tricolour, and the implied disavowal of the presentative of a final solution which' had any chance of ulti- White Flag. But after this, M. Passy went on to recall mate success. When the soi-dieant Conservatives joined their more particularly Marshal MacMahon's pledge of his own forces, the true Conservatives went over to the Republican catholicity of feeling towards all parties r--" He appeals candidate, and by their adhesion gave him the victory at to all good citizens, and, quite recently again in that
the poll. journey to the North which was a popular success, to the The same lesson is taught, not for the first time, in M. moderate men of all parties.' But to make appeal to the Thiers' remarkable speech to the Grenoble Deputation at moderate men of all parties, is to condemn the spirit of party." Vixille on Sunday, and we cannot help hoping that the M. Passy made this speech before the second ballot in the Maine- lant, for the devotion of the heart. —' How could I have put down the Paris Commune, except in the name of the Republic V Had I attempted to do so in the name of any of the various partisans of a throne, I should THE REPUBLICANS AND FRENCH CONSERVATISM. have had all the great cities of France organising an attempt 11111E victory in the Department of the Maine-et-Loire has to defeat me, and leaguing themselves with the Revolutionary more than reversed the unfavourable augury to be derived party of Paris.' And he adds that there is even better proof
from the great Imperialist, victory in the Department of Cal- of the impossibility of inducing France again to accept a vados. The Maine-et-Loire was believed to be a stronghold throne than even this. He left office because he would not both of the Monarchists and of official influence. In the accept a Pro-Monarchical Ministry, and a successor assumed elections of February, 1871, while Paris was still besieged, the office who was even eager to accept, and did accept, a. Legitimist candidates polled 100,000 of the 150,000 votes on Pro-Monarchical Ministry. But with a President friendly the register, while the party of the Republic did not obtain to a Monarchy, a Ministry ardent for it, and an Assembly, more than 20,000. It was believed that nothing but the so it was said, favourable to it, the thing could not be division between the voters favourable to the Government done. The attempt failed. France recoiled on her side, and the voters favourable to an Imperial restoration prevented the intended monarch recoiled on his side, from the only the so-called " Conservatives " from gaining another, though conditions on which the restoration might, as it was sup- less brilliant victory, three weeks ago. To call the Imperialists posed, have been effected. The temporary conditions were " Conservatives " was, no doubt, to give them a very awkward all exceptionally,—indeed, accidentally,—favourable to the and ill-fitting title. They who begin by proposing an appeal to project, but the permanent conditions were all so much the the people under universal suffrage, and who hope to end by reverse, that the conspiracy collapsed almost at the moment at changing once more the form of the Government of France, which it was published. The pro-Monarchical President and and getting rid of the only great power which the country the pro-Monarchical Ministry were forced to take refuge in a at present contains, that of the National Assembly, are about dilatory excuse. The regime of suspense was the nearest thing as much Conservatives as the English Republicans who advo- possible to the regime of monarchy. It was not very near, for, cate overturning the Throne by an appeal to the people, as it has proved, every day's delay has been a delay not favour- and substituting for it, in the people's name, a sovereign able, but unfavourable to the intended scheme, and the cora- Republic. But the reason the Imperialists have ventured on bination then so nearly completed is now almost as Moon- this occasion to call themselves Conservatives is simply this,— ceivable as a proposal to found a new dynasty out of a private that they would prefer prolonging the existing regime of sus- French family. The Monarchy has been drifting rapidly pense, to putting an end to it by declaring the existing away ever since the delay began, and though, on the other form of government final. They prefer Marshal Mac- hand, the idea of an Imperial restoration, then totally impos- Mahon as a nondescript ruler and with six years' delay, sible, has considerably gained in favour, yet the real strength to Marshal MacMahon as President of an avowed Republic of that scheme is democratic, and all the genuine democracy of with no delay at all. Thus they are conservative of suspense France adheres, not to the Empire, but to the Republic. rather than of ending suspense by making the provisional state We have said that there seems some hope of Marshal Mac- of things final, and as Marshal MacMahon's Government, owing Mahon's discovering for himself that the truest role for French to some mysterious sympathies and antipathies of its own, Conservatism to play is to accept the Republic and build on takes as yet the same line, and regards political suspense itself the lines of a Republic. Not only did Marshal MacMahon, in as the true object of its Conservative protection, the two parties his recent tour to the North, openly appeal for the support of in the Department of the Maine-et-Loire were able to effect " moderate men of all parties,"—a great change in his moral some kind of coalition at the second ballot against the Repub- attitude since the time when he told the Assembly, not many lican candidate, M. Maine The coalition, however, was not months ago, that he could not accept advice from any of the poli- a success. There were too many Imperialists, who saw that to ticians whohad voted against him on the 24th May, 1873,—but it vote for the regime of suspense under Marshal MacMahon is evidently now the cue given to official spokesmen to repeat this was to sacrifice the democratic principles on which utterance of Marshal MacMahon's, and so to recall to the minds alone they can hope to restore the Empire. And pro- of the Republicans the possibility of founding the Republic bably, too, there were not a few electors who had been with the Marshal for its first President. Only the other day, at indifferent before they saw the chance of striking an effec- Etrepagny, at a banquet given to the Duc de Broglie, and there- tive blow for the termination of suspense, but who became fore, of course, in an assembly where the Monarchists greatly interested in the election as soon as the real battle appeared to predominated, M. Passy, the Under-Secretary of State for be between the cause of the Republic and the cause of delay. At Financial Affairs, and a Deputy for the Eure, was in the chair, all events, on the second ballot last Sunday, it turned out that and delivered a short address in proposing Marshal Mac- M. Maine, the Republican candidate, had polled 6,228 votes Mahon's health. He began by using pointedly for the Chief more than he obtained in the first ballot, while the united of the Executive the official title, "Marshal MacMahon, Presi- parties of Imperialism and the Septennate polled 4,334 fewer dent of the Republic," and, in eulogising him, the principal votes than their combined poll on the first ballot, the result point of the speech was this, that Marshal MacMahon had being a triumph of the Republican candidate by 3,390 votes " always served the Government of his country without serving over the union of his opponents. The result seems to us the the party of the Government,"—in fact, that he was a man more satisfactory, that it betrays not merely the strength of the above party, and who could see the good in all parties. " This Republican party, but a growing conviction that it is the true man is in power, or rather, he is the power ; and observe with Conservative party of France,—in other words, that Conserva- what serene impartiality he can and ought to exercise this fives, no less than Liberals, can hope for more successful action power. To one party he says, I am the President of the under the form of a Republic than they can either under Republic ;' to the others, ' I am the representative of Order ambiguous provisional governments, or under dynasties as and of the law ;' to the Army, I am your chief. I planted much hated by great sections of the French people as the tricolor flag on the walls of Sebastopol, and it was the they are loved by small sections thereof. It is most same flag which guided me on the day of Magenta. You probable, if not evident, that the stronger vote polled by know I have not forgotten it ;' to Europe, ' I am your M. Maille at the second ballot was due to the adhesion of friend ; I have conquered your esteem on the field of persons who regarded themselves as Conservatives. They saw battle,—I offer you my hand ;' finally, to France, I the chance of effecting something by a strong demonstration am your servant. My blood has flowed with the blood in favour of a final solution of the question as to the form of of France ; I belong to you.'" Observe, there, the strong government, and they voted for the Republican as the only re- adhesion to the Tricolour, and the implied disavowal of the presentative of a final solution which' had any chance of ulti- White Flag. But after this, M. Passy went on to recall mate success. When the soi-dieant Conservatives joined their more particularly Marshal MacMahon's pledge of his own forces, the true Conservatives went over to the Republican catholicity of feeling towards all parties r--" He appeals candidate, and by their adhesion gave him the victory at to all good citizens, and, quite recently again in that et-Loire took place, and if this may be taken as expressing the tendency of the Government before that election, we hope that tendency may become much more marked after it. Marshal MacMahon must have learned by this time that he cannot get a majority in the present Assembly, that he certainly will not have a chance of a working majority in any future Assembly, without accepting help from the Conservative Re- publicans, and giving up the foolish policy of a six years' suspense and uncertainty. Under a Republic, a very Con- servative policy may be pursued safely. Under a regime of suspense, every attempt at seeming reaction will be touching with a lighted match the explosive passions of France.
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