Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-05-06
Ihe provisional GoEegnment 10 the French PeonIe.

II
to make lts voice be heard by the nation.
You are about to accomplish the greatest act
OF the life of a people; to choose the representa-
tves OF the country; TO produce from your con.
sciences and your sulfages not mere govern
ment, bat an entire constitution. You are going
! TO organize the Republic.
For our part, we have only proclaimed it.
Carried by accIamaton to power during the in
tcrregnum of the people, did not wish. and
we do not now wish, for any other dictatorship
but that OF absolute necessity. If we had refused
! The post O. peril, we should have been cowards
/ II we should remain in it one hour more than
! necessity commands, we should be usurpators
You alone are strong. We count the days. We
hasten to give back the republic TO the nation.
! The provisional election law which we have
made IS the widest that in any nation of the earth
| has ever convoked people to the exercise of the
supreme right of man, his own sovereignty. The
elections belong to all, without exception. From
the date Of this law there are no more subjects in
France. Every Frenchman of virile ace 10 n
political citizen. Every citizen is an elector.
| Every eector is sovereign. The law is cruaI
and absolute for all. There is no citizen who
can say 10 another, ''You are more sovereign
than l." Contemplate your power. Prepare to
exercise It, and be worthy Of entering into pos
session Of your reign. The reign of the people
is called the republic.
elf you ask US what republic we understand bv
tins word, and what principles, what politics,
| what virtues, we desire in the republicans whom
ye are going 10 elective answer. "Regard the
people OF Paris and of France since the DroccIa-
nation Of the republic" The people have
fought with heroism. The people has ,riumDhed
with humanity. The people has suppressed
anarchy from the first hour. The people has
itself, Immediately after the combat, broken
the weapon Of its just anger; it has burnt the
scaHoid. 1t has proclaimed the abolition of The
punishment Of death against its enemies. Il has
respected Individual hOcrty by not prescribing
any one. 1t has respected conscience in religion.
which II wishes TO be free, but which it wishes to
be without inequality and without privilege. 1t
has respected property, has pushed probity TO
those instances Of sublime disuterestedness which
are the admiration and the charm of history. Ii
has chosen everywhere, in order 10 place them at
It's head, the names Of the most honest and the
foremost men who have fallen under its band.
1t has not uttered a cry Of hatred or Of envy
against fortunes. Not 4 cry of vengeance against
persons. 1t has made, in one word Of the name
OF the people, the name Of courage, Of cIemency,
and Of virtue. We have not Il single instruction
to give you. Inspire yourselves with the people:
initiate It. Think, feel, vote, act like it. For
It's own part, the provisional government will not
initiate the governments which are usurpers Of
the sovereignty Of the people, which would cor
rupt the electors, and which would buy at an
immoral price the conscience Of the country.
What would be the good Of succeeding TO those
Governments, if it we're only to initiate them2-
What would be the good of having created and
adored the Republic, if the Republic were TO en-
ter from the first day Of its existence into the
track Of the abolished rOyaIty2 1t considers it as
one Of its duties TO throw over the operations of
the election that light which enlightens conscience
without expressing them 1t limits itself to the
neutraizing Of the hostile influence of the old ad-
minIstrations which has perverted and DESTROYED
the right of election. The Provisional Govern
ment wishes that tho conscience of the public
should reign. 1t does not disquet itself with the
old parties. The old parties have grown older
by an age in three daysl The republic Will con-
vince them, If 1t be sure and Just 10 them. Me-
cessity is great master. The republic know il
well has the happiness 10 be a government of ne
cessity. Reflection is for US. 1t is impossible to
return 10 the impossible royalties. No one wish-|
es 10 descend 10 unknown anarchy. We SHALL
be republican by reason. Give only security,
liberty and respect for all; insure to others the
independence Of suiirages which you wish for !
yourselves. DO not notice what names those
whom you believe to be your enemies write upon
the bulletins, and be sure beforehand that they
will write the only name that can save them
that IS 10 say, that Of capable and honest repub-
ican Security, liberty, respect for the con-
sciences of all citizens no are electors; that is
the intention of Il republican government, that is
lis duLy lnlt IS yours! nat Is the safety OF the
people! Have confidence in the good sense of the
country. 1t will have confidence in you. Give
i liberty and it will give you back the Republic
'Citlzens, France is attempting, at this moment
in the midst Of some financial difficulties, be.
queathed TO her by royaIty--but, under provi-
Dental auspices, the greatest work Of modern
times, the foundation Of the government of the
entire people-the organization of the entire
Democracy--the Republic of all rights, Of all in
teress. of all the interests, of all the intelligence
and of all tho virtue! Circumstances are pro-
pitious. Peace is possible. The idea may
be able to take its place in Europe, without any
perturbation but that of the prejudces which
people have against it. There is no anger in the
minds OF the people. IF the fugitive royalty has
not carried away with II all the enemies of the
Republic, it has left them powerless; and although
they are invested with all the rights which the
Republic guarantees to minorites; their interest
and their prudence insure 10 that they will not
themselves trouble the peaceabte foundation of
the popular constitution.
''ln three days, that work which it was thought
postponed TO distant times. had been accom-
pIished without drop of blood being spill! in
France, without any other cry but that of admir-
alton being heard in our departments or on our
frontiers. Let not lose this unique occasion in