Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-04-01
THE REVOLT OF PARIS.

views of that which we this day week present
ed TO our readers, of the Revolutionary move
Ynent in Paris the success of which, far as heard
from, has been thought TO presage the overthrow OF
the Governments of France, and the erection upon
Its ruins of better or worse one. But, on second
thought, as the news 10 come will, TO certain e.
tent like the latest upon the beach, oberate the
trace Of that which preceded il, we have determined
to seize the intervening momentior acalm consldera-
non of the late occurrences in France, which have,
during the past week. been the theme of all tongues
and many pens
With all the circumstances of this sudden and
violent commotion in the city of Paris our readers
are as fully and particularly acquainted as we are
ourselves From our columns they have learnt
the history of the quarrel between the leaders of
The Administration and Opposition parties in the
Chamber of Deputies the prohibition of the Re-
form banquet, as it is termed; the resentment and
threats of ODuoN BARRoT and his political friends,
with which the sitting of the Chamber on that occa-
sion broke up the consequent gathering OF greal
numbers of persons in the streets; the popular
cry of down with GUIzoT !" the compliance OF
the KING with this popular call, and the substitu-
non of OpnoN BARRoT himself in the place OF the
obnoxious Minister; with the further demand of
the mob, growing bold and exacting upon conces-
sions made 10 it, (as mobs ever will do, and its
fusal to recognise its own political leader in the
Chamber as the Chief of new Ministry; the inva-
sion of the Chamber of Deputies by the multitude,
and the driving into the streets the Constitutional
Representatives Of the People, except those few
who had more or less sympathy with the objects of
the revolters the abdcation of the King, refused
10 be received by this new selfconstituted Conven-
lion the departure of the King from Paris the de-
struction of the railways and station-houses, the
sacking Of the Tuileries and destruction of its fur
niure and ornaments, &C.. the subsequent organiza-
ton out Of the ascendant populace Of sort of Direc
tora Government, and every thing else that follow
ed, down to the latest dates from Paris.
That such news, at once SO startling and SO ex-
citing should have exercised contagious influence
upon public feeling in our own country, is not to
be wondered at. The power Of sympathy in
such cases is proverbal. On small scale we
have seen, more than once, in our own country,
a mob spirit in one city beget mob spirit in an
other where there existed not the least plausible
pretex for it. But we are free to confess that we
hare been surprised at the expressions of delight
with which this news has been hailed-without
distinction of party, let say-by many Of our
countrymen, who, without waiting for the sequel of
the story, appear TO regard the triumph of the
Mob over the established authority of the Govern
Inents Of both City and Nation, as something won
Tor the principles of free government; when, had
they duly considered the subject they would have
perceived that this installation of Mob Government
in the place of Government of Law and Order is
almost as likely TO end in making the city of Paris
the tomb as the temple of Freedom-in contracting
and restraining, in enlarging, the liberties of
the French.
Unable ourselves 10 recognise in every tumut
some safe and sacred principle-in every nsurrec-
non or pronunciamento something better than the
law and its remedies-we ventured, upon the recep-
tion of the news, to express with diffidence
doubt whether it was of character upon which the
friends OF free government had reason to rejoice.
We could not join in the apparently prevalent SEN
timent of satisfaction al news which announced
great event in Nation with which our own coun-
try Is in perfect amity by which her Chamber OF
Deputies has been driven from it's hall; her Senate
annulled al the first word Of half dozen extern
pore regents; her authorities created by the popu-
lar voice and responsible 10 it, overturned and her
Constitution, the deliberate act of the People-Civen
by Napoleon, adhered 10 under Louis XVIII, sue
cessfully indicated against Charles Y, reformed
and stamped afresh with the, nations sanction by
the Revolution of IS30-this Constitution annihilat-
ed, hardly more than day, by the mob of the most
disorderly city in the world, without debate, with
out known generalization, and at the bidding of God
knows whom, but certainly not of the able popular
leaders who set on foo, the movement, and could
no, stop it when its legitimate object was accom-
plished.
One may not always. however, in this country,
express his public opinions with impunity; and
they who will as little allow US to speak Of foreign
institutions 10 defend our own against domestic
usurpers, take il ILL il seems that do not hail all
commotlon, no matter what its auspices or It's au-
thors, and welcome the blind power Of Sediton, as
# nations could do nothing better than to commit
themselves to is wild and terrible will as if the
true majesty Of public right, irresistible it is
among people who know what that is, has no
choice but that OF subversion and as if convulson,
the agony of life or DEATH were the only way TO