Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-21
The New French Government.

Council, is a Ncsior in the public service, being
81 years Of age, and having been more than so
years in public life. Ills inhexiblc integrity and
lofty sense of duty are provcrbial. Elected a
Deputy from Flare at the Restoration, he i'm
mediatcly resigned profitable and highly hon
orable magistracy which he had before enjoyed,
deeming its continued tenure incompatible with
the proper discharge Of the duties of his new
station, aud thus administered a cutting rebuke
10 the crowd Of functionaries that then, as late
| ", crowded the Chambers. lie was the close
friend of Lafayette and through the influence
of the latter, became the First Minister of JUS
tice under Louis Philippe, who was anxious to
secure for his new administration the benefit of
his name and influence. Not long after, Dupont
thought he discovered lfdchidreiisni in the King,
and Indignantly withdrew from the Cabinet
lie repulscd with dsJiain all attempts to concili.
ate him by offering him a scat on the bench of
the High Court oil Appeals Though poor, lie
was no Trojan TO accept presents from the
Greeks, and has ever since opposed the Orleans
government with the most unwaverinq resolution.
In 1912, he was elected a Deputy by three diff.
fcrent colleges. Ills advanced age has prevent.
ed his taking very active part in the late Rev
o'uton, or the acts succeeding it, but yet his
name Is a tower Of confidence
4 Ledru Rollin, the Minister of the Interior.
was formerly an advocate in the Court of Cas-.
in the Chamber Of Deputies. lie is forciblo
public speaker, aud has great boldness of char
aeter. lie never attaches himself to any politi.
cal party, but always advocates his own IN cas-
ures and opinions in perfect Independence. La
Reiorme, one Of the ablest of the smaller Paris
ian journals, is heavily indebted to his pcn and
purse for its talent aud success.
! Cremieux, the Minister of Justice, is jew !;
and has acquired national reputation both as
lawyer and Deputy. lie formerly practiccd
his profession in the South of France, but some
IL or 20 years ago, removed to Paris Hero he
made his debut by defending one Of the Minis
tiers of Charles ", impeached ut the Revolution
IN july, and saved him from death. Cremieux
was a leading hero in the Reform banquets.-
lie IS man Of shining talents his legal supe.
nor can scarcely be found in the nation.
Marie, the Minister of Public Works, has
long been known as one Of the leaders Of the
extreme opposition He is good speaker and
a lawyer of considerable eminence.
Goodchaux, is the Minister of Finance, and
Carnot, the Minister Of Public Instruction, bu,
neither IS member Of the Provisional Govern
ment. The former is Jewish Banker, who has
for number Of years taken an active part in
The ediiorship Of The National where he has
displayed much talent and remarkable knowl-
edge of financial affairs; the latter is a son of
the lllustrious Carnot of the other Republic. and
is ripe scholar, of elevated and firm principles.
To say much of Arago, would be superfluous.
Ills reputation ns man OF science, is world.
wide. As politician, he always maintained
his liberal opinions, with the greatest ability and
iearlessness. No man is more independent of
chques and factions. Francois Arago was new
er slave TO anything mortal but once ; and
then he was made so by stress Of circumstances.
Having been sent to Spain to make some OBJ
q uuN afNaa s.s. l.,aa. .s..1.. ~
"a led fell into the hands Of the Aleerines. and
for months he suffered bondage. II size and
weight are controlling elements in the valuation
OF slave property, Arago must have been deem
ed rich prize by his barbarian masters, for his
stature is llerculean.
but after all, the great head and front Of tho
Administration, is the Minister of FOREIGN AZ
fairs, the gifted, chivalrous Lamartine. Iii,
genius is visible in every measure his hand in
every proclamation. spoke warmly Of him in
my former letter; but he constantly grows in
my admiration. lie, indeed, is a wonderful
man, whom Providence seems to have designed
for this national emergency With heart to feel,
head to plan, tongue 10 persuade, and a will
to execute, he exercises power almost irresis-
tible. He is the man to inspire the heart of
young France with generous enthusiasm and
lofty purpose, that will accomplish triumphs, be-
fore which MarcngO and Austerlitz will sink in
to oblivion. No demagogue, no aatterer of the
crowd-by the magic power Of his eloquence,
he "wields the fierce democracy" at his soyer-
eign will. His words are electric they thrill |
and melt the sternest hearts The day after the |
Revolution, the populace, mad with excitement |
and burning with jealousy and suspicion, lest |
they again should be defraudcd of their rights,
thronged the front of the Hotel de Vile, the |
staircases and the halls, beseiging the Govern
ment with exlortations, demands, circumstances
and complaints. Every act Of the Government
as soon as passed, would have to undergo their
imperious ordeal. All the popular passions ragged
with the fiercest turbulence. Louis Blanc and |
GARNER Pages, in vain tried to quell the tumult.
DE Lamartine was the master spirit that alone
could lay the storm. Five times did he have to
leave the Chamber, and address the raging
crowds as they successfully appeared, and Eve
times did he appease their fury and command
their confidence and admiration. 1t was not
done by honied words, or tame concessions To
the people demanding vengeance upon the re-
cent ministry, he responded by an enactment
aboshing the penalty of death for all political
offences. "There is no more worthy homage"
he cries, ''to offer to free people, than the
spectacle Of its own magnanimiiy." Innumera.
bic braves followed the words To the people,
who had adopted the red flag in the Revolution,
and who chung to their emblem of blood with all
the vain glory Of its being their Oton, he pro-
claimed a decree that the tri-color should be the
banner of the Republic. The populace vocifer-
ated their Indignation, and fercely demanded
the flag of their own choice. Again Lamar tine
announced that the Government had calmly de-
liberated, and that they could not yield. The
multitude heaved with fury. Their blood was
up; they brandished their swords and levelled
their muskets. 1t was fearful moment for the
Government. Had it yielded, its authority was
gone forever. "Citzens," exclaimed Lamartine
with the gravest accents, ''you demand the red
flag for my part will adopt it never; and l
will tell you in two words, why | repel it with
all the energy of my patriotism. The tri-color
has made the tour of the world with our Repub-
lie and our empire, with our liberties and our
glorics; the red flag has only made the tour of
Champs du Mars, soaked in the blood of the
people" The effect was instantaneous; the
Jealousy of the crowd was transformed into en-
thusiasm, their imperious pride into submission,
and Lamartine retired amid blessings and prais-
es. When he went home from that sitting of
more than fifty hours, he was borne upon the
shoulders of men in spite of himself, and was
followed by immense crowds with all their might
shouting, rice de LGmdrtine. No man in the
nation has such hold upon the affections of the
people. 1t is due to his courage, his probity, his
genius. Plato would exclude poets from Repub-
lies; but France could i'll spare Alphonse de