The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26
Opinions In England OF the Attempted Revo-
luton In France on the 18th Of May.
[From the London Times. May 1871


luton In France on the 18th Of May.
From the London Times. May 1871
Great and sudden as was the fall OF the French
nation from the treacherous grandeur of the late
formidable difficulties of their present state, we
have never entertained doubt that this revo-
luton was but the commencement OF frequent
commissions, and that the abyss into which France
has preciptated her desinies will prove, for con-
siderable period of time, not only deep but unfa.
thomable. Nevertheless, the compassion and
regret which so mournfu spectacle as the
ruin of fourishing kingdom, the reverses
Of civilization, and the misery of a, vast popu-
press the gloomy forebodings which the aspect of
such times could not but suggest. 1t was due to
the men who had stood between Europe and the
anarchy of France in the first dreadful moment OF
unbridled popular power, to give them all the sup,
port to which their motives entitled them, and
even to afford them the benefit of confidence we
could not unreservedly feel. Nothing but the
most superficial acquaintance with the revolution
airy principles which had been let loose upon socle-
ty, and with the state of France in particular,
could induce any man to delude himself with the
notion that the French republic had already ar
rived at the condition OF permanent and uncon.
tested power. From day to day the approach of
another explosion became more evident and more
certain. Before ever parties had been formed In
the Assembly, a faction of the most daring charac-
ter rose in the streets. The scheme was evidently
planned by some of those who had taken part in the
last coup de main which decided the fate of France:
At one moment it was successful that the hall
of the Assembly, the Hotel de Vile, and even the
Ministry of the Interior, were IN the possession Of
the mob, and terrorist provisional government
was actually formed. Happily the National Guard
and the government were sufficiently on the alert,
in spite OF the treachery of many of those whom
the command of the civil forces devolved An inn
mense demonstration was made in support of the
Assembly and the Executive. This frightful con-
spiracy was sti1ed. Paris was saved, and, for
little time, at least, the horde Of erocious in
surgents who had all but seized upon the govern
ment and who actually did renew some OF the
most terrible scenes of the Convention, has been
put down. The cause OF order is strengthened !;
the resistance has begun but the certainty of the
danger and the vindictive spirit of defeated anar
chy have been augmented also.
suit oil the general elections had given decided
majority to the moderate republican section, and
had even brought back to the Legislature the lead
ing members of the liberal monarchical party in
tain that the minority, allied to the communists and
Clubbsts of Paris, of whom had failed in their
own elections altogether, would make violent
effort to coerce the Assembly It was seen that
patriots, excited to the highest pitch the disgust
and horror of his legislative colleagues by the au-
daclty of his language and HIS gestures. Louis
Blanc had been not only laughed at and hooted
down by the Assembly, but confuted by sturdy
member of that class of operatives which he him
sell atectedto represent, and he bitterly resented
his failure Some of the other ultra members Of
the provisional government, had been appeased,
hut not satisfied, by concession. All these pas
sons were eagerly seeking. vent. To attack the
National Assembly was their first object. The
revolution of the oath OF February was great les
son IN that species of popular warfare. The at
tack was renewed In the same manner; and before
The National Assembly had safe for one week in
that hall, an Eruption of the popuace outraged its
dignity, contested its power forced its delibera-
tons, and, finally, with the grossest insults Of
II,I
our prediction verified to the letter, when we re-
marked several weeks ago that no such Legislative
body could at this time deliberate with safety In
Paris.
The first act of the scarcely constituted Assem-
bly, had been to provide for its own defence, by
giving the President direct authority over all the
military officers whose services might be required
for the protection of the palace in which the le..
Ilslature IS convened. II seems that General
Courais, the commandant of the National Guard
of Paris betrayed his trust and was afraid to act
against the peoples for on the approach of the mob,
he ordered the detachment of the Garde Mobile on
measures were taken to prevent the escalade of the
building Elsewhere, however, more vIgor was
displayed, especially by NJ. Duclerc, the Minister
Vt Finance; and, for the first time since the
making its power felt, in opposition to the anar-
chical part of the population of Paris. M. La
MARITIME recovered all his energy; Ledru Rollin
certainly exerted himself in defence of order, and
|
night closed on decided victory of the establish
ed authorities of the republic.
But can anything efface the recollection of such
l scene as that OF the 10th of Mayl The French
nation had been called upon to intrus the sovereign
power of the people to an Assembly which held in
its hands the very existence of the commonwealth.
In the midst Gifts deliberations already sufficiently
gtaed by the conflicting elements within its hall
# meeting, tumult arose which has been COM
pared by of those who heard it to the roar of
-.
Bedlam broken loose usurped the powers of the
great conclave of the nation A frantic and SAN
culinary cry for war was the pretext of this extra
VACANT demonstration, and in this efervescence of
the passions OF the lowest rabble in Paris, guided
by the worst of men, the name of Poland was
used to complete the humiliation Of France. In that
frighfu exhibition of lawess power the spoliation
of the rich-by which term all those possessed of
property are of course deslgnated-and an armed
invasion of Europe were the two propositions carri-
ed by the insane applause of the multitude To a
certain extent some members of the Assembly, and
even OF the government, lent themselves to these
absurd and aatrocious schemes, and promised the
people obedience to their demands and the imme-
date qualification of their guilty passions. 1t was
fortunate that even these concessions failed to APP
pease the tumult and the temporary dispersal
of the Assembly was less evil than the prostitu-
on OF Its authority to those who had outraged the
dignity and menaced the persons of the national
representatives. But the consequences of such an
event are momenous and indelible 1t has put an
end to the delusion that the proclamation of the
republic had rallied all classes of Frenchmen round
enc principle and one standard. We are told, and
| truly told, that these bands of ignorant and mis-
guided men are the very dregs Of the capital. No
doubt they are, but what becomes then of the doc
trne of complete equality and universal fraternity
According to the extravagant formula of the pure
democratic creed, these very men, who are at wal
with the first principles of society, the political
equals of the wlsest citizens Of France, and the fra
ternty of indivisible republic includes the dead
Hest enemies of its own laws, and those who ram
pie on it, own institutions. II is now at least too
late TO speak as if such lass existed in the ranks
OF the people and such is the eternal inequality OF
human conditions that in the land of equality this
struggle took place between two great orders of the
| population. The republic itself has been assaulted
in its most sacred reccsses; the principle of the
| by those who pretended to invoke its authori-
ty. There is no remedy for such calamitics but
forcible repression. There is no sccurity against
| them but armed resistance. The government and
the Assembly are ther efnre nnmnel LED nndcr min