The daily union., 1852-05-15


to H. IL embraced in It's ranks many men OF talents, Of
good intentions. but visionary and mpactlcabe ~ their
views OF government But while 10 this party belonged
many good and upright intentioned men, numbered IN
its ranks Others who aimed At the overthrow OF every
organized form Of government. IL not of society itself
Al the period Of which am speaking-,he autumn Of
l647-disconent was widely spread in France The
foreign policy OF Louis Philippe, whose aim, il al
legged. was the aggrandzement Of hls own family at the
expense OF the interests and hcdor Of France, was
fags TO less than three hundred thousand electors out OF
population nearly approaching thrysix millions was
the subject OF great and just complaint Corruption ex-
Chamber Of Deputies, was boldly charged and openly
denounced, and finally became the ground OF the de-
mand for electoral reform" the aa ralyng cry OF all
tbs elements Of opposition previous to the revolution OF
At the close Of the session Of the Chsmbers. previous
% Their meeting in December, ls47, which proved to bs
opposition concerted plan OF agitation to be carried into
effect during the recess This the origin OF the reform
banques. and the immediate occasion OF the revolution
Banquets OF this kind took place at Auun, ChAons, D
jon, and elsewhere and furnished opportunity Tor COM
bination Of the elements Of opposition, and nammatory
and exciting harangues. The ministry was asssed in
cape share Of the nvectve lavshed upon his ministers
But. although sedon was boldly preached at some OF
these banquets, notice taken of them by the gov
the violence Of their authorsand il this orbearance
the part OF the government had been continued, the
luton OF February ls4s would never have taken place
last session, of these banquets announced to
take place in Paris the Goth OF February AT first the
government manifested no disposition to nterfee but
learning that the National Guard had been invited and
fearing that its fidelity might not be proof against The
dtious enthusiasm which certain 10 prevail it forbade
the demonstration. and announced its determination TO
suppress by force, ii force should be necessary This
the of the revolution and the suppression of
this banquet the proximate cause Of II.
Mr. President, have detained the Senate by this dull
detail Of historical facts for the purpose of bringing into
n
ment. and the immediate Of its overthrow This
opposition embraced in i egmiss Bonapartists disaf
fected monarchsts. republicans socialissa shades OF
political opnionhe advocates Of every system Of gov
ernmen from those who maintain the divine right of
kings. to those who regard every form of government
as an unjust restraint upon natural liberty Thus II
will be seen that repubcanism was but one element in
the combination organized in the first place for the over
throw Of the ministry but which afterwards taking ad
vantage OF opportunity aimed at and accomplished the
overthrow OF the monarchy.
From what have shown, it must be apparent that the
revolution of February. ls4s, not revolution Of
IDEAS pervading the mass Of The people Of France-not
science OF moral and political government; OF
wide spread, prevailing convictoa OF the necessity OF
republican institutions 10 meet the wants of advancing
civilization to maintain social order and protect indi
viduals in the enjoyment OF life, liberty and property
No, MIR President; il was effected by combination Of
inconguous and dscordant elements bound together for
ment Of hostility to the government Of Louis Philippe
and aided in the end by accidents and blunders
assembled large Of discontened persons in
Paris The order OF the government for the suppression
ot The banquet by force gsys rise TO exciting and violent
dru Ron espoused the popular cause and defended it
with eloquent energy. Theirs, Odion Barro and other
orators, assaed the ministry. denouncng its corrupons,
exposing the selfish and degrading character OF its for
eign policy, and insisting upon its dismissal Meetings
Of the people were held. The clubs were in session.
The mob mustered its motley bands in the faubourgs.
This was the evening OF the 22d OF February On the
morning OF the 23d the government its ar
angements for the defence OF the city and the suppress
sion OF the insurrection The troops OF the line
brought up from their cantonments and stationed in the
city TO command the positions OF most importance
The National Guard was summoned 10 arms and, obe
dent TO the CALL battalion after battalion advanced 10
take the position assigned 10 it. The night OF the 23a
the troops slept on their arms in the streets.
On the morning OF the oath the crisis was at hand
All night the people had been abonng the barricades
preparing for the contest which all felt be impending
EARLY in the morning the deputies assembled in their
Chamber, which was surrounded by vast concourse Of
people As yet, nobody supposed the throne in danger
Dismissal Of Guiro, and his Colleagues and cabinet head
ed by NJ Mole,a man not unacceptable to Louis Phil
ppe, would have satisfied the people. But the King hes
iated, and declined 10 concede anything Later in the
day he would have conceded what he had refused in The
mornings but the mob, having increased IN numbers and
audacity. would not accept ministry. unless the mem.
bers composing i were selected by the popular leaders OF
the Chamber But even then ministry with Oion
Barrot at its head would have satisfied the people and
prevented revolution. The King again hesated, and
by hesitang lost all An unfortunate accident preclp-
iaed the crisis disorderly crowd, pressing upon .
battalion OF troops, were fired upon by through mis-
take OF orders From that moment reconciliation was
hopeless The people believed that blood had been
wantonly and deliberately shed and the National Guard
wavering before now ranged itself on the side OF the
people.
resolute use OF the military force composed OF the
troops OF the line which occupied all the commanding
positions OF Paris, might still have queed the insurrec.
ton and saved the monarchy But IL would have been at
The expense of thousand OF lives The troops OF the line
still faithful 10 their duty. and obedicnt to their
generals; but the King refused TO them, although
Marshal Bugeaad kne at his feet and begged perms.
the troops from the city, where their presence only served
10 niame the popular resentment and hatred But the
demon OF irreeouon seemed have taken possession o
the King and he hestaied still the brink OF the preci
pice down which he was 30 soon TO plunge
The troops standing at their posts with orders TO dc
all sides with solicitations, and threats to induce
them to unite with the people in vndicstion OF the
rights The mob forced itself into the ranks took hold
of the muskets OF the infantry and the matches OF The
arlllerymen, and wrested them from their hands, willis
the soldiers obedient TO their orders TO do nothing
asperaie the people, Obliged to stand still and sne
themselves 10 be disarmed
Abont this time the King was sformed that nothing
short of HE abdication would satisfy the people, Mem
be OF the popular parity wishing well 10 his person
anxious for his safety, communicated to him the sat
alternative OF abdcaon death at the hands OF the mob
nouncing his abdicalion and declaring the Duchess
Orleans Regent, He hesilaed to put bis name to il
though informed by his intimate and confidential rend
that the mob in possession oil all the prominen
posts the city, and that the Dragons in the very
OF the Tulleries suendering their swords 10 h,
rot and appointed him minister ith power to form cab
net But IL Ras then too late Neither Oillon Bafrot