The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-08

crates in the National Assembly; his subequeni
| imprisonment under martial law, and the TEN
| porary suppression of his journal, by command
Of the Dictator of the Republic, whilst Paris
was in state of siege, had completely won
over to him the confidence Of the brethren OF
the Red Republic, who now looked up to him
| as one of their leading men, whilst he regard.
ed them as convenient instrumentalities fer the
fur.herapce Of his own ends. He was address.
ed az Emile dc Beauyoisin.
Around those, at long table, covered with
the remnants of an elegant repast, were seated
some twenty or thirty other notable individuals
many of whom wore the scarf which indicated
their position as representatives of the people
in the National Assembly. But they all be-
longed to the extreme party the prospects Of
which in the coming election they were now
discussing.
al repeat it to you, emphatically,D said Fou-
riey, Eve must fall back upon the traditions
of cur party, which haveoofne down to us frorn
the days Of tho old Mountain and the old revo-
luton. Up to this time the Republic is scarce
ly a fact; it is only an accident. 1t is our re-
prosch that we are disunited and timid-yes,
above all, timid. In the streets, with weapons
in our hand and barbados to fight behind,
we are heroes In the Assembly, we are cow
ards; for We want the moral courage to stand
by one another and defend our principles
What, ask you, secured to tho old Mountain
its ascendency In the Constituent? Not its
numbers, no. but its union, its resolution, its
fidelity to itself, its unbounded confidence in its
chiefs and its stern stoicism, in sacrificing
friends as well as opponents when the safety
and the welfare Of the republic demanded IT'D
The extreme penalty for political offences
was abolished when freedom of political opin-
ion was declared in France" remarked Victor ::
thou forgettest that Citizen Fourier. Times
are changed Opinion has made progress,
and 1t will never again tolerate such a tyranny
as that of the guillosine Thy doctrine is a
monstrous one"
"And tell me, pray" retorted Fourier,
whether the jsuissaries of our republican
Dictator are likely to stand true if the order
should be issued for US to be sacrificed! l
am not particular about the mode; only care
for the thing. Whether you NOW down your
political opponents with grape-shot, or get rid
of them By the guillotine, is of very little con-
sequence, think, so they be got rid Of | ar
que for the principle, no mercy to those who
will not show mercy to you. | tell you we
must have a new Reign of Terror in France,
until we have secured supreme power. Once
We have gained that we may become as mod
crate our friend, Citizen Victor, here"
{ Sand |, in turn, repeat to YOU" Citizen Fou-
rier," retorted Victor, that your traditions of
blood and carnage, of pillage and burning are
atYocious, abominable, and insane. We have
enjoyed, as nation, though under numerous
disadvantages, will allow, a considerable share
Of liberty; and the aim of republican legisla-
ton should be, to consolidate our free institu-
tions and introduce even larger measures.
But, your republicanism is tyranny of might
against right; it is war against hearth and
home, and tamily--a sanguinary crusade
against property
"Ahl ah ! Property Property is robbery
a dead robbery !" shouted O singular looking
man, seated at the lower end of the table
"Bcayo, Baudoin," exclaimed Fourier, exult-
jngly
"What farce" resumed the individual
called Baudoin, shouting at the very top OF his
voice; "What q farce for Citizen Victor to
stand up in the midst Of a company of socialist
and republican philosophers, to defend the
rights Of property! Property is robbery, / re-
peat unless all share in it equally Social re-
publicanism, or, if you like it better, republican
socialism, assumes perfect equality, and there
fore ali property must be in common, or a
social republic is impossible"
IL will not stay 10 discuss that mad theory
! of thine, Citizsn Beudoip," replied Victor,
which will only gain converts amongst those
who have nothing and who seek everything.
1t is the enunciation of such doctrines these,
as part Of the policy of the Red Republic,
that raises enemies against it even in the ranks
of those who would be Its friends. will VEN
ture upon prophecy so far as to predict that
| France will never tolerate a system of govern
mont founded on a deliberate Disregard Of all
those ties which bind the body polite together.
Nay, if France durst-yes, durst-avow her
self convert to SO wild system Europe would
lcsgue against her in .eltdefenco for her civil
lied nations would have just cause to regard US
as people Of brigands. Thou and Citizen Fou-
rier may haTanguc clubs Of desperate men, liv-
ing in defiance OF the laws and of order, and
may excite them to frenzy against the middle
ciasses-nay, against all classes; but you will
become the Ishmaelites of civilized society
the Gains of true republicsnism; and every
lover of order will raise his hand against you.
What bat the insane barbarities of the terror
lists to whose traditions you seem to cling with
| the tenacity of lunatic enthusiasm, what but
these involved the old republic in destruction
| The nations we're horror stricken, and shrank
| back from the hand, all bedabbled with the
blood of her best citizens, which the France OF
| '93, in her Phrygian cap, extended to them to
| grasp. But for the spectacle che presented, Of
unbridled license taking the place of popular
| liberty; of incarnate Atheism, under the guise
of the Goddess of Reason, set up above the affairs
of our holy faith for the bewldered nation to
worship; of the despotism of faction and the
guillotine usurping the seats of justice and Of
national law; but for those, alas-and alas
| that we should have to record it-Republican.
| ism might now have been the ruling power in
] Europe! And yet such scenes as these you
would again behold enacted, and call that state
| of things Republic. No, no! France Will
have no more of this"
| & nj nh fad ON
rier, "may not the old republicans say of the
state of things that led to these barbsrities, as
you esteem them? Did not the privileged
| classes set the example, in their day of pros
perity? You speak of Atheism, and the God
| dess Of Reason but who brought religion into
| disrepute amongst US! Was it not the obscene
| debaucheries and rank excuses of the priest
hood Who engendered a contempt for law
and order, if not those very classes who, hav.
| ing the power, first made the law, and then
boldly outraged it, Who brought Royalty into
contempt, if not Royalty itself by its own con-
tempt Of public deoency and morality. Did il
not live IN daylight concubinage and adultery
Did it not outrage the sacred ties of family
and of private honor Did it not stoop to
clandestino transactions to rob the public ex.
ohequer, go that it might get gold to squander
upon its favorites and parasites? Did it not
oyer-tax the nation to procure the means Of
ministering to its own profigacy! Did it not
plunge headlong into inglorious wars, which
crippled the country's resources, exhausted its
energies, and left it at the mercy of the for
eignera Did it respect property Consult the
records of the informal Bastile Go read the
ordinances of the Bulps-eye Chamber, and then
answer me whether property has rights where
| high-handed despotism-the despotism of Roy.
slty-is turned against it. If Republican