The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-25

epoch. | am not then an absolute repub-
lican, as you, but am statesman. and it
is as statesman thai should consider it
my duty, at this time, to refuse the co-ope-
ration which you are ready to offer me Tor
the purpose Of postponing the Republic.
were it about to come into existence in one
hour. Ii is as statesman that declare to
you that do not conspire, that | do not
overthrow, that DO not desire the reign TO
come to disastrous end, but il the reign
fall Of itself, shall not attempt to raise it
again, and that shall enter only into a
complete movement, that is to say, into the
Republic. ar
There was moment Of silence. Aston
ishmeni, sort OF stupefaction mingled with
doubt, was painted upon their countenar-
ces. Lamartine began again:
Twill tell you why. In great crises. soci-
ETY. requires great forces. If the govern
ment Of the King fall to-day, we shall enter
into one Of the greatest crises that people
ever had to pass through, before finding
another definite form of government. A
reign Of eighteen years by single man,
in the name of single class Of citizens,
has accumulated floods Of ideas, Of revolu-
tionary discontents, of grudges and resent
mens. which will demand Of the new
reign impossible satisfaction. The indef.
mite reform which to-day triumphs in the
street, cannot be defined, cannot be
limited, without throwing into state Of re.
bellion all the classes Of the people which
have been cast beyond the protection Of the
sovereignty. Republicans. legitimists, 50.
cialists. communists, terrorists, distinct n
their aims, will be united by anger for the
purpose Of overthrowing the feeble barrier
which truce government would attemp,
in vain to raise against them. The Cham
Der Of Peers participates in the hatred which
the people cherish against the court; the
Chamber Of Deputies has lost all moral
authority by the twofold action of the cor.
ruption which disgraces it, and of the press
which renders it unpopular. The electors
are only an imperceptible oligarchy in the
State. The army is disconnected, and fears
to commit paTicide by turning its arms
against the citizens. "
The National Guard, that impartial
force, has taken sides with the opposition.
The old respect for the King has received a
shock in the hearts Of the people by bis
obstinacy and defeat With what force
will you surround tomorrow, that throne
erected to place upon it child' Reform!
But that is only banner which conceals
The republic. Universal suffragel But
that is an enigma, and it contains mystery.
With one word and one movement il
will swallow up these remains of monarchy,
this phantom Of opposition, these shades oil
ministers, which shall attempt to control
it. Its second word may be monarchy and
empire, its first word will be republic; you
will have done no more than prepare a
royal prey for it 10 devour. Who will sus.
tain the regency Will it be the great.
property class? But that belongs in heart
to Henri V. The regency will be for il
only battlefield to arrive at legitimacy
Will it be the medium property class! But
1t is personal and mercantile; an agitated
minority, reign in permanent seditions,
Will ruin It's interests, and will lead il 10
demand Immediately a settled state in the
republic. Finally, will it be the people,
But they are conqueror, they are in arms,
they are triumphant everywhere, they have
been learning doctrines, for these fifteen
years, which will seize the opportunity I'd
push their victory over royalty even to the
overturning Of society itself.
The regency will be the Fronde Of the
people, the Fronde with the addition of the
popular, communist. and social element.
Society, defended only by government OF
small number, under form of ROYALTY
which will be neither monarchy nor q
republic, will receive a stroke that will
reach TO its foundations. The people, calm.
ed, perhaps, this evening, by the proclama.
ton OF the regency, will return to the as.
sault tomorrow, to compel a shifting to
some other experiment. Each of these ir.
resistible manifestations will carry of. with
hall concession, a shred of power; the
people will be urged on 10 il by republicans
more implacable than you. You will have
left Of the throne what will suffice to irri,ate
liberty, not enough TO restrain it. The
throne will be the mark against which will
be directed the opposition, the seditions. the
aggressions Of the multitude. You will
proceed from the 29th of June. to the 10th
of August, and on to the unfortunate DAYS
of September. Today, the scaffold will
be asked Of this feeble power, within; to.
morrow, war will be demanded of il. with.
out. Ii will not dare to refuse anything.
else 1t will be forced, You will entice the
people to blood. Misfortune and shame to
the revolution, if they taste OF il. You
would fall into the misery, the fanaticism,
the socialism Of '93. Civil war, set on by.
hunger and by property, that nightmare of
the Utopians, will be ready to break out
every moment. For having wished to stop
the progress Of woman and a child on
their descent TO pacific reinforcement. Won
will cause France, property, and the family
relation To roll into an abyss Of anarchy
and blood.
The countenances Of those present gave
signs Of emotion Lamartine continued
As for myself, ! see too clearly the series
OF consecutive catastrophes which i should
prepare for my country, by undertaking 10
arrest the avalanche of such a revolution
upon decIivity where no dynastic force
can retain II, without ACCOMPLISHING its mass,
its weight, and the ruins Of its fall.
There is, repeat it, but one force capa.
Die OF preserving the people from the dam
gers which revolution in such social