The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-04 00:00:00

THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE.

We have received our usual correspondence and the
Journals from Paris up to Thursday evening. A sum-
mary of the following appeared in part only of our
impression yesterday :
Whilst the provisional government are thus active
in the performance of their arduous ditty, the press are
querulous on all kinds of subjects.
The Democratic Paciflque, whilst professing de.
votednesa to the provisional government as a body,
shows its pacific tendency by calling for the exclusion
of M. Cremietut as Minister of Justice. It does not
believe that minister animated with such warm
feelings, as circumstances require.
The Rgforme expresses doubts as to the sincerity of
some of the recent converts to republicanism. The
Debate, however, touches on a question which cannot
but be a source of anxiety to the new government,
the question of labour. It says:
The provisional government is saki i great efforts to in-
sure work to the people the idea is an cxc. lye t ens, and
its means of execution seem eatiefactory ; but all this is but
temporary, and coots dear. It is not a reproach on our part,
but it is a necessity which calls to mird thst a part of these
works is only accomplished because men must be employed,
and not because of the utility of the work to be done. And
then it is not only a great expense, but, for a *meet number
of these workmen, this kind of labour is painful, and has
nothing in common with their natal pries-onion. TN+. in
their eyes, is a precarious resource, and men ly a pis.alkr, ,
and they can only work a confre-ecenr. The work which
satisfies a workman is that which he knows best and pl• sees
him in the execution, that, in feet, which springs sponta-
neously from the bosom of society. Such is the work we
should wish to see re-appear with its customary development.
Work will return as soon Os confidence is restored, but
not until then. In order that contidince may be re•esta-
blished, all must concur. it does not dep. net upon the go-
vernment to regenerate itself, though it Ivey contribute to-
wards it, and all that it can do it has done, and will do;
but the citizens, under the present circumstances, can do
much more. They may do so by their unanimous devotion
to public order, by their accordance in wisdom and mode-
ratiou, by their respect for those principles upon which all
-otieties are necessarily founded. At such moments as there
every man is himself an arbiter of the soda stability, and.
can contribute to the restoration of public confidence. Vie,
all exercise a sort of magistracy, since we dispense the
plenitude of our free arbitrement without the prese-4os of
a public power to remind us of the rules. Each mr,st raise
himself to the height of his teleran position, an?. remain
steadily there until the great experiment, which is to re-
construct the constitution, is consummated. .....:onfidence,
and with it work, will return only when eve, y one of the
public shall look around him, and find in all his fellow.
citizens, without exception, a determined end fixed resolu-
tion to perform to the uttermost this part, which is so
worthy of a free people. In the mean Vane, we can in our
hearts say that every thing proves exit% this disposition,
generally exists.
Meanwhile the following proclamation has been
published :
Citizens,—The government corn, nission fur workmen has
entered on its functions. On those benches on which to:merly
sat a privileged class—the peers of France—the people now
in their turn take their sea',,, as it to take possession of
their rights, and mart the place of their sovereignty.
Workmen, your comrade a have discussed before us
and with us the interests, which are dear to you. It has
been done with the esilmness and the dignity which
becomes free men. We have collected their wishes,
and in order that they may be promptly realised, we have de-
cided that each pmfestion shall choose a delegate who shall
be called to form part of the government commis-
sion. In the meantime, and until the commission shall be
complete by the choice of the delegates of the different
branches, we shell occupy ourselves in resolving questions
relative to hours of labour and the abolition of job work. And
sow, citizen., hasten to resume your labours; rifled that an
hour's delay is treasure lost to the country ; you are a part
of its strength, and one of the objet's of the solicitude of the
provisional government of the republic. It loves you ; place
confidence in it, and be assured that it is almost more impa
tient for your happiness than you are yourselves. The people
have just gained a memorable victory by its courage, let it
immortalise its triumph by its wisdom."
(Signed by the members of the provisional government.)
The following manifesto, intended at once to reas-
sure one class and allay the injurious excitement of
another, is put forth in the National;
The programme of the new government should be, on the
one hand, acknowledgment and practical consecration of the
popular rights which victory has just proclaimed; and, on
the other band, respect of those rights anteriorly acquired,
the exercise of which cannot constitute a privilege; and,
above all, let us declare it aloud, respect of those fixed,
eternal rules, upon which every society is founded—respectof
human liberty, respect of that inviolable acquisition of a free
man—property. Amongst the state ragtime which we re-
commended, without being attended to, during the days
the struggle, we must first of all recall this: To govern is to
know and to foresee. A wine government must always ad-
vance, but with a regular step; its duty is to satisfy every
want which arises in the bosom of the state ; to listen to, and I
to satisfy, those wishes manifested by the conscience of the
people, but without losing sight of things established, of in-
terests founded, of necessities of order. Place then full reli-
ance on the government you have proclaimed, an ye comba-
tants of the first hour, artisan citizens, whose rights were de-
nied by en oppressive legislation. Ere loner you will he
called to the primary assemblies, therein to choose for your
representatives to the legislative assembly the men the most
deserving of your votes, the most enlightened defenders of
your holy cause. Ere long the grave questions of work and
wages, which now so justly occupy pour whale thoughts,
will be decided on by your committee, in terms which
will conciliate every interest. We well know you are not i
without your fears you fear that this revolution may have
the same fate as the preceding one, and that our present go-
vernment, under the pretence of sn adjournment, intends to
bury the most necessary reforms. That is a vain terror.
When the provisional government requested a committee to
study the grave problems laid before them, their intention
was to be made acquainted with the true situat on of the
workmen, to listen to their complaints, to compare the rival
interests, in the full persuasion that a more satisfactory solu-
tion would result from discussion. What they had done it
was their duty to do. If they had acted otherwise, they
would have endangered the most important interests, and
would have brought an ineffectual remedy to alleviate out-
' ferings which are but too real. Let all workmen understand
this, let them wait the regulation of their affairs with that
patience which proceeds from the conviction of their rights,
and let them resume their interrupted labours. It is a
counsel we think it our duty to address to them. By remain-
ing out of work for any longer period, they injure their
situation indeed of improving it. But, on the other hand,
let not the representatives of those interests which are already
constituted allow themselves to be overcome by frivolous
anxieties. Most arauredly the new government will make
reforms, and considerable reforms, too. But ought
that consideration to create alarm on that account?
are we authorised to foretel the return of former strug-
gles? No, certainly no! It was necessary to destroy vio-
lently a whole order of things ground. d upon the most re-
volting iniquity—to break a social form which could not
bend itself to the modifications imperiously demanded by
new wants, by new customs and habits. Between the abso-
lute sovereignty of the prince and that of the people no ami-
cable arrangement could practically take place. But
it is not so at present. What is demanded at the
present time ? To enlarge Methadone which are grounded on
a principle long uscontested ; to introduce into the legal
bosom of the country classes which have till now been most
injuriously excluded from it ; and to admit the immense
majority of the citizens to the enjoyment of those guarantees
which were reserved to the few. These reforms could meet
with no opposition but from selfish wills; they can and
must be accomplished without creating the least trnible,
the least agitation. Let that be well understood and
let the capitalists, an instant startled, resume their indus-
trial occupations. If those who were excluded have much
to gain front the new regime, those who were privileged
have, we are sure, nothing to loan. The revolution has not
been effected to destroy, but to re-build. The first acts of
the provisional government have proved that ouch is its pro-
gramme, that such are its principles.
A deputation of gunsmiths and dealers in arms
waited on the government, who listened with great
kindness to their representations on behalf of all of
the trade which suffered such severe losses during the
three days. A commission was to be nominated to
examine into their demands, and they were invited
to draw up an account of their losses as soon as

possible.
The agens de change, through the president of the
syndical chamber, and a deputation, on Wednesday,
waited on the provisional government, and assured it
of their co-operation. M. Garnier-Pages replied as
ollows
Gentlemen—lf the present state of affairs is critical, it g
not desperate; the government is capable of fulfilling al
the engagements entered into by the fallen regime; this is
so true, that the minister of finance has to-day provided for
the payment on the Greek loan. In order, however, to get
over, as promptly as possible, the present crisis, the inevita-
ble consequence of political commotion, we require the
sincere, loyal, and complete co-operation of all citizens.
With your ce.operation, we shall be strong, for confidence
will revive, and credit will be re-established on immovable
bases. Immovable, gentlemen, for we shall no longer have
budgets of from 15,000 to 1,800 millions ; for if the receipts
should be slightly diminished by the change' in certain
taxes, the expenses will be diminished in a much larger pro-
portion by the suppression of all the shameful contracts
which been entered into by the old government.
The deputation retired in testifying their satisfac-
tion in the most expressive manner.
On Wednesday evening a meeting of journalists
was held in the offices of the Courrier Franois, for
the purpose of deliberating on the measures to be taken
relative to the decree of the provisional government
concerning the stamp duties on newspapers. The
RClorme, the Courrier Francais, the Union. the Ei•
publique, the Estafette, the Prem., the Ndional, the
Conetitutionnel, the V; dratic, the Charieari, the
Representant du People, the Petrie, the Commerce,
the Drat, the People Constiluant. the Recite Ind&
pendante, and the Populaire were represented at this
meeting. After a discussion it was unanimously de-
cided, Leasate voice, that the journalists should