The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-06 00:00:00

EVENTS 1N PARIS.

and to that spirit France owes the EC elcncholy position
which the now holds before the world. She has lest all

ee-
attachment to fixed institutions, all respect for principle,
(From the Times.) all habits of obedience, all notions of legality. Forms
Lis worth while, even in the midst of the catastrophe of governineet have ceased to command her reverence,
now pending in France, to investigate one or two of the
lesser acts of Louis Napoleon's new Government, as a , and constitutions are regarded as only a byword or a
1 myth. Political creeds may be used as rallying cries,
test of its honesty, a pledge of its future intentions, and
a proof of the correctness of our own impression of its , thusias
i es, they inspire ne En
but, except that of the Soci
ma l :-
; and, indeed, it would he strange if they
character. One of his first measures was to announce I did, when we
seee hear the most definite, and (so far
the formation of what ho termed a " Consultative Corn- as it eateries)
the meat deep rooted Legitimacy
mission," wishing, as was stated by the preamble of the 113 S been refined away, for a temporary purpose, iiy the
decree, "to surround himself with men who justly erjey utilitarian glosses of its chief reeefessers. Statesmanship
the esteem and confidence of the country, until the re- in France has heen gradually degenerated into mere in-
organization of the legislative body and the Council of trigue, or has become confounded with downright con-
State." Accordingly the decree named as members of spiracy; whilst national vanity, or the love of military
this commission about 80 persons, many of whom were glory, is the only prevalent feeling which the most par-
members of the majority in the late Assembly, and who tial observer can mistake forpatriotism. The result is,
were thus represented as having consented so serve the that public men of all grades, civil
new Government. Among them were M. Barthe, Ad- been fatally discredited in the and military, have
minds of
miral Cerille, M. Dreuyn de Lhuys, M. de Montalem- when we are told that all that remain
ed of greatness or
mn-t
best, M. de Mercde'
M. Le in Faucher, the Marquis do independence in the ranks of French
politicians has been
Lagrange, the Due de Mouthy, M. Lacrosse, and many driven, like cattle, into a per, by the ~
other gentlemenef character tied station. We observed at ders," who hold supreme authority in ithi
he
warau
once, upon the appearance of this list, that we had no evi- that great nation, we are irresistibly
remind capital cf
ed how mar-
deuce of the acceptance by those persons of the duties vellously small an amount of true greatness or real
thrust upon them, and in fact we discredited the assertion independence really existed in the
of the Moniteur that any such acceptances had taken What, during the last eighteen
ruonthcsounthrys.
Frencha
place, remembering the celebrated proclamation pub- kept the eyes of Europe fixed upon Louis
lished upon the landing of Louis Napoleon at Boulogne as the inevitable ascend President of theN
in 1840, in which M. Thiers was constituted Prime Mi- Republic—assuming that it wound last beyond et"
sister of the new empire. In truth, ti c present object Lew simply the impossibility of finding a candidate'
was simply to mislead the public for twenty-four hours who should be both legal and presentable. What, again,
into the belief that the President was actually sur- has emboldened and enabled him to dissolve a repro:.
rounded by men who deserve the esteem and confidence seutative body, elected by universal suffrage, and to as-
cf the nation. But the statement was entirely false, and sumo dictatorial power? It is sheer noiseen:e to assert
the use of these names was a political forgery, unsauc- 0. at he Las succeeded thus far by debauching the
tioned by the great majority of the persons who bear soldiery. The troops now forming the army of
them. On the very next day a fresh decree was is- Paris bear a very faint analogy to the Ptretorian
sued, stating that the former edict contained ' a few hands; and one marked effect of the conscript se stem is
inaccuracies," and substituting for it another list not that the French soldier, except at the end of a protracted
containing one of those men of character and eminence, war, can with difficulty forget that he is a ciezen. Tho
who had protested, with more or less indignation, at only rational or plausible explanation of the pending
being thus pressed into the service of the new Govern- crisis is to be found in the obvious discontent, or the un-
ment. It is important to remark thas up to this time no disguised disgust, of the people at the proceedings cf
person of note has tendered his services to Louis Na- the leading parties in the Assembly. History teaches
poleun beyond the origiaal author of the coup deat and us that even the most unscrupulous usurpers, instead of
e .he military commanders, who had been selected making circumstances, are commonly usad by them. In
for their entire devotion to his service, As an- the extraordinary instance under decussion, the cppor-
other example of the character of this Go- tuaity was, indeed, grasped with wonderful decision aid
vernment we may notice the fact, that on Monday, sagacity, but the attempt would never have been made, or
the lit of Decembsr, the Minister of Finance in- it would have been bend in an hoar, had not the ground
duced the Back of France to lend him a million been Lid for it by the Parliamentary leaders,
with which
ety
sterling, alleging that it was a mere affair of temporary that mode of treating established authorities
.w.itr.s.by
i.ccommodation to he provided for by the Treusury bills. all classes, withoet exception, had been. laMottltS
et
_slar,
The use made of these fuuds is now sufficiently apparent, the example of the highest notabilities
.is bld
for the coup d'etat took place next morning, and services Whatever posterity may Net: of Lem Napoleon,,.a
were required and performed for which the most liberal nothing short of success in the fist place, and sun.. 4
donations to the army and the police would hardly seem ' sequel afterwards as that to which he is pledged hy lin
disproportioned. We leave the means by which this first proclamations, will be admitted as a justification by
sum was obtained from the bank for such a purpose to his contemporaries. For he it from us to contend that
be appreciated by our readers. If anything could give one great crime may be committed to prevent another.
en appearance of legal necessity to the military opera- Personal ambition may have been his real motive, and
tions in Paris, and to the tremendous severity of the the urgency of circumstances is but half an excuse for
measures employed to crush the resistance of tho people, indulging it. Still, wedo not shrink from avowing our em-
it is the part which the organized sections of the Red viction that he has simply precipitatel a catastrophe
Republic and the desperate combatants of that faction which, even if it had continued passive, would speedily
are main taking in this struggle. " Non tali auxilio have been brought about by others. Whether M.
ncc defensoribus istis," may well he the answer of the Thiers and his fellow-prisoners at Ram were maturing
people to a cry of independence and a premise of succour a criminal conspiracy, when they were arrested at
conveyed to them in the sinister language of M. Louis General Changarnier's lodgings at four o'clock in
Blanc. Nothing cm be more afflicting than the post- the morning, may be doubted ; but no one can deny
lion of the middle classes and the pacific part of the that MM. Thiers, Berryer, Dupin, lelee6, Changarnier,
population, between a host of fierce revolutionists who Bedeau, Bosse, &c., &o.—including most of the repre-
can only be put down by an immense army, and an army sentatives who met at the Mairie of the 10th Arron-
prepared to dispose absolutely of all political power as a dissement—have been engaged in a succession of plots
recompense for the protection it affords to property to upset the Republic, and, it may be, to proclaim a
and life. For the first time in these terrific street- Convention, and to send the Elect of six millions to Yin-
battles of Parisian history, we hear nothing of the cennes. They were fully resolved to set aside the Con-
National Guard. It is remarkable that no proclamation stitution of 1848—that ridiculous production of M. Mar-
cr appeal has beets addressed to that body by the Go- rest—without ceremony or compunction. Nay, they
vernment. The civic forces have been expressly con- might safely have taken credit for so doing, if they had
signed to inaction, evidently because Louis Napoleon not assailed the President under the influence of wounded
was afraid to rely upon them, and nothing would have self-love or pique; for the Revision clause is the imme-
been more inconvenient than the opposition of legions of diets cause of the civil war now raging, and to suppose
armed citizens. Even now it is not impossible that their that the majority of one National Assembly can legally or
weight may be felt before the termination of this con- morally bind a future one from likewise deciding any
flier, but felt against the executive power. The Go- public question by a majority of votes, is absurd. Whether
yernment has staked its whole success on the army alone, they may not have an opportunity of trying their hands
and the strength of the regular forces engaged is im- at King or Constitution-making before the commence-
mensely greater than on any former occasion. But, be ment of the new year, is still dubious. The Monarchi-
the political opinions and ulterior views of the popular cal party—Legitimist, Orleanist, and Fusionist—has
leaders what they may, it is impossible not to feel for been reduced by them to a very low ebb as regards
the dauntless courage with which they have flung them- public confidence, but everything or anything is possible
selves into open resistance to an unexampled violation of as we write. A Monarchy or an Empire may shine
the rights of the nation. The middle classes, though pro- forth when the storm-clouds clear away—or a Red Re-
bably most aggrieved by the menaces of military des- public may glare out—or some new and nondescript form
potism, would have found neither the means nor the spirit of democracy may emerge from the surging and foam-
to defy such a power. But if the men of the faubourgs are ing whirlpool of civil dissension. Our own opinion, if
as tenacious and as brave in the defence of the laws of we may venture to hazard one, is that France has least
the Republic as they have more than once shown them- to fear from the unequivocal recognition of the Presi-
selves to be when they rose against the laws of the me- dent's authority, and from that appeal to the wishes and
narchy, victory has not even yet declared herself against votes of the entire people to which he stands pledged.
the liberties of France. These men are not, at least on In the anxious interval, we can only express an earnest
this occasion, insurgents, if by an insurgent is meant hope that whatever ruler, chief, leader, faction, or party
the man who conspires against the legal order of the may gain the upper hand, he or they will, at least, have
country, and seeks to change by force the constitution learnt some sound and useful lesson from the past.
and the government. The barricades first thrown up on
(From the Daily .News.)
Wednesday evening were speedily carried by the sole
diets; but the night was spent in further preparations Never were the antagonist elements of brute force and
for war. A large column of troops were silently moved moral opinion more clearly and universally arrayed
against ouch other, than in the struggle which Louis
along the Boulevard towards the Faubourg St. Antoine,
and the positions between the Canal and the Porte St. Napoleon has had the rashness to enter upon. Each
Martin were strongly occupied. Shots were seta-
hour brings testimony of his bayonets prevailing in the
sionally fired from houses on the line of march, but
streets, and his cause being condemned and denounced
these acts of hostility were instantly punished by the by every man of sense and character ; the citizens and
summary seizure or slaughther of the inhabitants. A the masses, who were well inclined to side with him in
permanent court-martial was sitting, by whose orders his first quarrel with the Assembly, all turning the more
fiercely against him, since the selfish insolence and in-
set:lle, and we are told a large number, of the prisoners
taken between the barricades were shot. Yet these sane ravings of his ambition have been promulgated.
operations and this rigour did not prevent the popular There seems, indeed, to exist but one anxiety in the
movement from increasing in extent and in violence.
breasts of all, who have a name or a standing, and that
An immense body of troops, or rather an entire army,
is, to purge themselves at once from all complicity
rho criminal acts of the President. Even the most timid
inin
described to consist of 50,000 men, poured towards the
scene of action. Yet we find by the latest accounts that
barricades had been raised as far to the west as the Ru©
the midst of a revolution, when© issue was uncertain—
Grange-Bateliere ; the upper Boulevards were continually
even these men come forth, each eager to east his de-
claimer in the face of Louis Napoleon. Count Mole
swept by charges of Lancers; and the cannonade had
why
almost reached the fashionable quarter just beyond the
asks with indignation
the he was not arrested ?
Rue Vivienne. It is, of course, impossible to answer And M. Leon Faucher,only politician of heart
for the accuracy of intelligence dispatched under such and principle who was attached to Louis Napoleon
circumstances, but, if these facts are correct, the struggle whilst ho kept within constitutional limits, has
has extended far beyond the limits of the Marais and written to ask what crime ho has committed, that
the faubourgs, and the popular forces can hardly be he should be thought worthy of being included in the
confined to the revolutionary sections of those districts. president's State Council and list of notables. Amidst
Hitherto we had beheld in France contests between such a unanimity of sentiments prevailing through the
civic class, it is utterly impossible that the soldiers can
Governments armed to defend the laws of society and
remainl s unmoved and estranged from the teat of
insurgents armed to overthrow them. But now, as if to
their countrymen.og T. he officers cannot close their breasts
make this chaos of anarchy worse confounded, men
against the suggestions and convictions of their rela-
thehave to take a part between a Government attacking
tives and acquaintances amongst _ has
the middle classes. We
law and an insurrection to defend it; though it
is but too probable that the triumph of either file- need not speak of generals, since Louis Napoleoonneo_
tion will inflict a ghastly wound on the freedom and found it necessary to repress and seclu.de. every one
we
welfare of the nation. Such aro the results of those al- that rank who was of known politeicrall otpninlon.
command who
ternations between an excessive impatience of legal au- may be certain that there ar
thority and a servile deference to arbitrary power, which
are so strangely united in the French character; and,soldiers themselves, however
fully partake either
Thethe opinionsreaevof several
or those
o f Changarnier. 'r_
whatever be the deplorable condition of such a people,l' contentedly the permanent task of act-
depending animatedt eargoarininst the Socyialists of Paris, are still nut
its trials and its struggles are solely attributable to acts
on its own will. The decisive turn of events ' likelyas to perform
police and the executioners of their fellow-
will, however, be given by the conduct of the army in cliitgizens. It will, however, take some time for the
kkle provinces. It is in the power of any of the Generals upper classes and inluential men to recover the
commanding in Lyons, Strasburg, or other head-quay- stunning effect of the President's coup d'itat. These
tors of the military districts, to arrest, or at least to sus-
men have neither the confidence of the people nor of
pend, the fate of the nation. The first blow has so far the soldiers. They destroyed their popularity by
their rigour and reaction in the Assembly, and
miscarried that it has not been followed by any popular
flung away all the natural supports of a constitutional
manifestation in favour of Louis Napoleon; and, though
party. Such men as Changarnier disgusted even the
supported by the army, it has inaugurated his power by
commercial classes by their evident intrigues in favour
torrents of blood shed by that people to whose misplaced
of a legitimist restoration. Although the mad conduct
confidence he owes whatever he possesses in the world.
of Louis Napoleon has now flung right on the side of
The intelligence of the resistance in Paris, though
his opponents, still these upper classes and notabilities
disguised by the Government as far as possible, will
will probably require some time to concert and organise
kindle the same spirit in every important city in
either an opposition or a rebellion. The people alone
France. Evan the army can hardly look forward with
and any portion of the army can attempt this. And
unshaken resolution to a war with the civil and popular
what is to be feared, is that the Red Republicans will
forces of the nation; and the undisguised military atm-
attempt it alone, and give the soldiers an opportunity
lutism of Louis Napoleon's proclamations has at once
of fleshing their sabres with victory. Any triumph of
exasperated his enemies and alienated his friends.
In the kind would be vaunted as having been gained over
such an attempt not to gain strength rapidly and uni-
anarchy. And the generals of the successes might give
vernally is to lose it. Surprise and
d skilful preparation
themselves the airs of having saved France and society,
have, aided by overwhelming foree, h one their partl to
i
—that old humbug, in which, unfortunately the Guizots
perfection, but on the third day of t e
rho
Louis
and the Thierses have traded. There is one class by
Napoleon was disputing, step by step,.. e barricades o
whom the scheme of Louis Napoleon might be very
Paris, and consigning hundreds of victims to death and
misery, instead of receiving the incense and the homage favourably received, provided they could have faith in
zits stability.. This is the functionary class. The new
of an enthusiastic people. Such are the facts, as far as
we aro acquam • ted with them; and we must infer eitherin fact, an immense heirarohy of
imperial schema is,
is .
placemen. There a Council of State, a Senate, a
that this enterprise will meet with the fate it deserves,
or that, if it succeed, success will be obtained by means Lower Chamber, and, it would appear, an Upper
which must widen the breach between the people and
Chamber besides
each receiving salaries every member of all and
Government. laries and fulfilling functions. The
(From the Morning Chronicle.)
number of civil employes in France is already conside-
Louis Napoleon maintains his position with his oha-
rabic, but this would swell them to an army, and make
racteristio courage and coolness, but the news of another
imperial politics a very thriving trade. But this plan of
day has not diminished its danger. He still seems to taking a majority of the educated classes into government
stand on the verge of a precipice, with his feet planted pay, is a desperately expensive one. The military ens-
upon ground which in some parts is trembling under the p
Pretorians must have their gratuity, the generals
will expect a share even larger of emolument.
pressure. Although, for the moment, the insurrectionary The
movement in Paris appears to have been suppressed, their batons of marshal. And who is to pay? M.
events, and rumours little less pregnant with cense- Fould himself, all Bonapartist as he may be, shrinks
Exchequer
quenees than events, succeed each other with startling
from the task. The Chancellor of the
po er-
rapidity. The President's first check was the refusal of
of ,the new empire will bo a bold man. One w
some of the most eminent persons named in the original ful mode of conciliating the French rural popula-
list of the Consultative Commission to serve on it.:That lion. They would understand that. And an imperial
senate that decreed it, in however arbitrary a manner,
documents has since appeared in a corrected shape,
would be far preferred to the most constitutional and
though with a dimished number of names; and
liberal assembly leaving the contributions, directes and in-
M. Barocha—a man of no inconsiderable weightc
directes, either as it found them, or augmented. But M.
De Persigny, the destined prime minister of Lou'
—has consented to act as Vice-Prosident.
and Ae
Napoleon, will not become a Sully. Neither be noris
cording to the general tenor of rho private pub-the
his master will edit a new edition of the (Economies
lished correspondence received in this country,
Royalcs. And the playing with the public purse, will
pations of the
reports from some of the provinces are regarded as,
infallibly be one of the most favourite o
that the coup d'itat
on the whole, unfavourable—although such is not the
powers that are to Ise. Some will s ee"
was made for nothing else. And asYcandal, we may be
character of the accounts circulated. by the Governmehnti
It has been rumoured, for example, not onleystdte
nat
army ' sure, will be busy with the doings of the Treasury.
General Magnan wavered in his fidelity to the Pr
There is one other consideration, more serious than all,
ooufisthNisapnoelevvonsy.
system
is
but that General Castellano, who commands an of
and more menacing to L •
40,000 or 50,000 men at Lyons, had. declared. for the
t the entire
Assembly, the majority of whom might, in that case, re- and
fact that pair thither, and meet under his protection. Yet, as if him,
such a contingency had been overlooked or disregarded.
depends upon him - ' e
personally, and is bound up with
—or, perhaps, for fear of the effect on public opinion of his life. That there is no Bonapartist principle or party
ec wholesale a detention, if prolonged—the greater in the country, 1815 showed. All this mighty pyramid,
number of the representatives arrested on Tuesday last, therefore, of military power and civil plaeeZ32"hiP rests
centres ill;
and confined at St. Valerien, have been set free. We upon the small apex of ono head. Louis Napoleon has
of
do not regard the erection of barricades, unless the work- no family, no successor. Ile has not
evenathis offers
men en masse proceed to man them, as absolutely ad- station and respectability. What a premium
success,
verse to Louis Napoleon's chances of success; because the to assassination plots, in case of the Presidents
and reek-
real party of order might, by so violent a proceeding, be may be conceived. And that exasperatedthedwould have recourse
induced to rally round him, rather than allow the Red less faction whom he has crhusrhee
is but too much reason
Republicans to obtain the mastery; and we find that to that criminal alternative
ltf eesoa
Fed this chance by the
several members of the Club of the Rue des P-
to expect. Napoleon himself
b his military absences
ramidos have already resolved to aid him againstshort time he spent in Par s; Y
‘,
b the ms ti t• and glory
this section of his opponents. Whatever and achievements; and y
may be which he was wont to re-enter his
the true elements for calculating its surrounded by
course, the crisis is
invested more than ever with the deepest and most pain- , capital.
ful interest. A few hours after Louis Napoleon had
struck his coup d' (tat, an English gentleman asked a
French mechanic on the boulevards what ho thought of
the state of things. " Mais, Monsieur, c'est un four de
Jae," was the reply. There spoke the true spirit of the
people—careless, reckless, tend thirsting for excitement;

q pcirEeTY.—We understand
thatside at the ensuing anni-
versarysociety ; and that he will be
isr.
dinner ET
Dnost.:
golfa rst Eh
jirrsesrviraoollN valuable
bwl SOCIETY: l
supported by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, and
iilA i
many of the principal master printers.