Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-29
French Revolution.


The following letter, extracted from the
New York Courier and Enquirer, presents
a remarkably clear and vivid account of the
causes and incidents of the recent revolu-
tion in France. Like the revolution of
1850, this was accomplished in three days
'trois jours."
PARIS, February "a, 1s4s.
All France, and Paris especially, is in a
state of intense political excitement, the con-
sequence of the bold stand taken by the
Ministry in the suppression Of popular po-
ltical banquets. These banquets common
ced last summer and fall, and were held in
accordance with preconcerted plan ofope-
rationS. France has for wears felt an ur-
gent necessity for electoral reform. Under
the electoral law of 1891, only 100000 pos
sess the right of suffrage out of a national
population of $4,000 600. The progress
i've party, impatient at the slow action, OF
rather the inaction of Government on the
subject, resolved 10 try the effect popular
agitation, and to that end organized CEN
trail committee at Paris. and sub-commit-
tees in every section of the country, whose
business it was TO make arrangements for
popular reunions throughout the kingdom.
By this means sixty-six banquets were sue
cessively held; all of which were very nu-
merously attended, and were addressed by
the most effective speakers. They were
patronized by Lamartine, Barrot, Arago,
Cremieux, Marie and other distinguished
deputies; and, though full of fervency and
zeal, they were conducted in peaceable
and orderly manner.
The people grew excited, ''ViUe Ia Re-
forme'' was fast becoming the national ~.
The Ministry took alarm, and pr dpon
these manifestations its law of IN .diction.
Not content with this, in the ann .al address
to the king, presented by them for the adop-
ton of the Chambers, they stigmatized the
actors in these scenes as blind and hostile
to the institutions of the country. The
hundred deputies who were implicated took
fire at the indgnity. After a furious debate,
a motion was made to strike out the obnox-
ious words. The Central Left, the Elk
IRENE Left, and the Extreme Right all raj
lied to the support of the accused. And
even twenty or thirty members of the Cen
ire itself went over TO their help. A few
of the moderate friends of the Ministry pro-
posed TO compromise the matter by substi-
tuting a new section, free from all personal
allusions, and expressing hope that some
measure of electoral reform would he con-
,summated the present session. Guizot
promptly repealed the proposition, and de-
clared that the adoption ofthe original par
Iagraph was a vital question that decided
the political fate of the cabinet. All felt
that it was a perilous time for the Ministry.
The sick and the cripple were taken from
their firesldes and brought TO the rescue
The President of the Chambers himself
gave his vote, thing which never before
happened on party question. The result
was Ministerial triumph by the meagre
majority of thirty-three. The amendment
rejected, the question required on the adop-
ton of the paragraph a tempest of pas
sion ragged in the Chambers
The opposition alleged that the suppress
sion of the banquets was a high-handed
violation of the birth right of Frenchmen,
and that Charles \. and his satellites never
practised a greater stretch of arbitrary pow
Ter. The Ministry replied that those assoc
Citations were clubs which assumed the pre-
rogatve of overriding the Legislation of the
country-that a law of 1890, passed by the
National Assembly, armed them with the
power to suppress them-that they had for
borne to exercise the power until regard
for the public peace and safety imperously
required it, and that they now should reso-
lutely maintain the position they had taken.
The opposition answered by defiance: and
to demonstrate that their language was not
mere brayado, they Immediately made pre-
parations for a banquet on a most magnif-
cent scale in the Champs Elysees. The
22d was the day designated; and every ar
rangement was made for an imposing dis
play. An immense procession, made up of
the opposition deputies, the thousands of
the students of the University and schools,
and the public at large, was to be formed
at the church Madeleine, and march to the
place of meeting. The National Guards
sympathizing with the movement, rendered
their services, and were to act as a cortege.
Neither was the Government idle. Sixty
thousand troops were concentrated within
thirty miles of Paris, ready to march upon
the city at moments warning. Thirty
batteries were mounted at Vincennes, halt
league from the city. Fifty rounds OF
cartridge were distributed to each soldier
10 the garrison and all kinds of munitions
of war were put in readiness for immedi-
ate use.
Marshal Bugeaud was appointed Gov
ernment General ofParis. The walls were
covered with proclamations by the authori-
ties, enjoining the preservation ofpnblic or
der. The project of the police, not willing
to accept the responsibility of the violence
that might ensue, offered his resignation
The public became alarmed. Fifteen thou
sand individuals precipitately left Paris
Gold greatly rose in value, and all com
mercIal transactions were almost entirely
suspended. In this state Of general dismay,
the opposition suddenly changed their plans
On the Inorning of the 22d, its committee
proclaimed to the public that the measures
taken by the military authorities would
produce certain and bloody collisions,
and that the uuhlic peace demanded an adj