New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-31
arb thu, he Who srasps a, too much 10 likely 70

people W no had raised him to tho throne. the King
sough, his support only In parliamentary majority
made up by bribery in the elections and corruption
ia the Chambers, and in party OF ohice holders
aud oilics seekers among whom the sale OF places
and titles was a thing OF every day occurrence
railing by the parse and not by the sword, the pen
or IN, voice his Government become the most uier-
censry and rotten Of all those which France has
suffered and to protect 1t against the sharp and
honest rebukes OF the Opposition, the King was
obliged to put new restraint upon the liberty OF
speech and the press, and vexatious processes and
false interpretations Of the law were the common
means resorted to to effect his purposes. lfrevou
,ion had not OPPORTUNITY come, such Government
would have fallen soon by its very rottenness' IL
was impossible for it TO endure.
The people finally demanded Reform and as the
one which would secure ell the others the demand
ed Electoral Reform. The Ecgh'h Government
had been obliged in similar case, to pass the he
form bill and the French, taking courage perhaps
from that example began to agitate the most Ell
fectve method Of bringing the matter to an issue
was judged to be the holding of series OF pubic
meetings in all parts Of the country in which the
subject might be discussed and suitable resolutions
adopted These meetings took the form OF public
dinners, and France will long have occasion to re-
member her REFORM BASQrETs.
Seventy one Of these banquets had been held IN
various parts Of France, without the slightest ois
turbance of any description, when it was deter
mined 10 hold 6nal and monster meeting IN Paris
and the Reform Banquet of he l2h Ayrondise@em
was duly notified.
Some four thousand Delegates came up from the
Provinces to attend it. and ample preparations
were made to render il festival worthy OF the
cause and the country but no one had the slightest
idea Of making it an occasion Of any physical de
rnonstration against the Government
The Government, however, alarmed at the rapid
progress of the Reform sentiment, aud fearing that
such an impression might be made as would rem
der change of Ministers necessary, determined
to prevent the banquet from taking place. They
succeeded in preventing the banquet 1t Is true,
bat the price Of their success was the Crown ana
the Throne.
At FIRST the Government prohibition was said to
be merely technical in order to bring the question
of right before the Courts and under these circum
stances the Opposition Deputies held meeting on
the 18th Feb and determined to go to the banquet
in body. The time was positively liked Tor Tue
22d at Noon, and the procession was to form be-
tore the Church of the Madeleine, and to move
thence through the Champs Elysees to the tenn
porary building which had been prepared for the
dinner.
On the goth some attempt vas made at COM
promise, by the Conservative Deputies, and they
bad nearly arranged the terms of an agreement
with the Opposition, by which the banquet would
have been postponed and the Conservatives would
have given their votes to certain Reform meas
ures when the impetuous denunciation OF the Up
position by one of the Conservatives, broke up
the conferences and things left to take their
course.
The Debates went on in the Chamber Of Depo
ties ON the 2lst, and on the same day the Commit
tee of Arrangements for the Banquet issued their
final notice respecting the Festival The terms oil
this notice, and the remarks Of some OF the Oppo'
siton papers, gave great offence 70 the Govern
ment On the night Of the 2lst three procamations
we're posted up in Paris on the part OF the Govern
ment The first forbade the Banquet 10 take place
The second called the attention of the people to
the laws against rotous gatherings in the streets
and cautioned them that all such assemolages
would be dispersed, if necessary, by military orce'
The third was q proclamation to the National
Guard by Jaquemenot, the Commander n-Chief'
in which he endeavored TO inspire that body with
sentiments Of loyalty aud TO induce them to aid in
carving out the Government measures
THE THREE s....Tweuty-second.
Ateoclock On the morning of the 22d l passed
through several Of the streets in the neighoorhood
of the Madeleine and found them unusually full
Crowds in blouses were gathered on the corners
reading the proclametions or were pouring along 10
the Place de la Madeleine where the procession
was appointed to be formed at IL. All however
was quiet and there seemed no probability OF any
emeuts. as it was now understood that on account
of the position taken by the Government the Up
position Deputies with Odillon Barrot at their heao
had determined not TO go to the Banquet NO troops
were at this time TO be seen in the streets though
it was said that not less than 900 had been con
centrated on Paris and were shut up In the Csser
mes ready to strike at moments notice. Aoou'
10 o'clock it was evident that the authorities oegar
to feel some alarm considerable bodies oil troops
began to make their appearance on the Bouleyard'
in the Place de la Madee oe, Rue Royale and Place
de Ia Concorde. Near the same time the people
began to move in various directions, In kine
of irregular professions. One OF them consist
ing Of many hundreds, came from the Pantheon t.
the Madeleine, singing the MarseiIaise. the Depar
aud Afourier pour Ia patrie and crying, "A 6d
| Guisot - " ViCs la Reformei :" &c. but they made
no other demonstration, and soon dispersed
| At 10 o'clock the crowd had greatly Increased
and was becoming more and more dense every mo
ment. In front OF Guizots hotel, on the Boulevsr
des Cspucins mass in blouses shouted " A bd
Gaisot ?" sung the MarseillGise, and threw stone
at the windows The Municipal Guards dispense
them instantly and without iojoriDg any one
As early as o'clock, the principal streets were
crowded that 1t was difficult to pass through then
bat thus far there was no outbreak. The gstes {
the Taileries were however closed vast bodies
troops appeared moving In every direction and
the principal points were strongly occupied Tn
Pont dc Ia Concorde was guarded by strong fore
Of Crirasseurs and Municipal Guards, and only tb
Deputies were allowed to pass The crowd full {
good nature, invariably cheered the Opposite
members as they passed, while the Conservative