The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-19 00:00:00

REGICIDAL ATTEMPT.

OPINIONS OF THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE
LATE HORRID ATTEMPT TO ASSASSI-
NATE THE KING OF THE FRENCH.
(From the Journal des Debats.)
The enemies of order and public peace may be satis-
fied! The proceedings of Republicanism have pro-
duced their fruit. The party of insurrection and anarchy
have just had their fifth regicide. We do not know
whilst we are writing whether our grief or our indigna-
tion be the strongest, We are indignant, as subjects
and defenders of constitutional monarchy, that the
arm of an assassin should have been raised against the
sacred head on which repose the dearest interests of the
country ; but we are profoundly afflicted as Frenei
citizens, when we reflect on the circumstances in the
midst of which this crime was committed, What ! is
it at the moment when France is isolated from the rest
of Europe, and menaced in her dignity and influence,
when she is in need of all her strength, and a com-
mon interest demands the union of all parties, is it
such a moment that the passions of anarchy have
chosen for an attack upon the august chief in whom are
concentrated in the eyes of Foreign Powers all the great-
ness, all the power, all the strength of the country ?
Yes ; France will shudder at the crime which has just
been committed, for this crime weakens her. Her ene-
mies abroad, whilst they will curse crime in the name of
humanity and morality, will rejoice at it, for it brings
them profit. The attempt of the 15th October will,
perhaps, surprise Europe, which might have thought
that the patriotic declamations which have been uttered
for the last two months covered in reality sonic true
patriotism. But those who at home have watched the
progress of political passions will not be deceived. What
have been the invariable tactics of the Republican fac-
tion for the last two months ? Under pretence of pre-
serving the national dignity, and defending the honour
of the country, what are the factions doing ? They
excite every bad passion, and rouse every stupid preju-
dice, and every savage hatred which is fermenting in
the heart of our unhappy country. They excite them
less against Foreign Powers than against the national
authority of Royalty and of the Chambers, which alone
has the mission and the power to protect France against
foreign menaces' or violence. Such is the plan of the
campaign of the factions. They triumph in the midst of
our alarm, and chaunt • the midst of our suf-
ferings. victory in

This attempt tills us with despair,
(From the Presse.)
us, but it does not surprise us
fury of parties, How could it be other-
and humiliates
wise, when the King was ;very day held up to the
taken upon them to destroy what was established by
which support.
the Cha.rter of 1830, but also in those
How could. it
the Ministry with the greatest ardour ?
be otherwise, when we see for instance, the Sierle
Bugeron among
defending AI. Thiers, and reckoning
prove
.a salutary
its writers? May this new attempt
"t only in the Journals which have
and final warning to those honest but weak minds, which
rush blindly upon war and anarchy. whilst they think
they are
only
I obeying Unfortunate)
the inspirations of liberty and
nat!onality: unfortunately and we say it with all sin-
cerity, we rather express our desire than our expcta-
non, for public opinion,iinisteial Journals, is not yet its
r deceived by the Republican,
Legitimist, and A
height, although it is at the brink of an abyss : it no
longer obeys the dictates of reason
and listens only to
the voice of those who urge it forward. Will it. then,
never comprehend what is presaged by such acts as
.
this, or dread that Providence may become weary of
protecting their country ?
(From the Sleek.)
We had hoped that this frightful monomania of re-
gicide had disappeared. We are again condemned to
hear Foreign Powers, who assail the honour of France.
and revolution; make a weapon of this abominable fury
of a few assassins to calumniate an entire nation. 1,.r e
know, however, that the contempt of the world will vin-
dicate us for this calumny. England has not been de-
nounced in France as a nation of regicides because the
murderer Oxford fired upon the Queen ; but the de-
pravity of such attempts, even in fanaticism, must deeply
afflict every heart. May the horror which they inspire
at least prevent the recurrence of them !
(From the Constitution/2a.)
Fanatical demagoguism has again armed ono of