The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-27
For the National Era
Sketch of the Political History of Europe
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE PRESENT TIME.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.
CHAPTER XVIII.

q! There are several writer's that have express
: ed the opinion that the overthrow of the throne
i OF Louis Philippe might have been prevented
even as late as when the premiership was trans
! terred to M. Theirs, but that that statesman,
either from want of energy or from some SIMS
| ter motives, neglected to take the proper meas
ures for Suppressing the rebellion and main
tanning the royal authority. But, while the
personal imputations against NJ. Theirs must
be set aside as altogether unsubstantiated and
unfounded, it cannot be denied that the de-
thronement of the King might perhaps even
then have been averted, had NJ. Theirs and his
colleagues employed the disposable military
force in an attack upon the armed multitude
Still, it is neither certain that the troops, see
ing that the revolt had assumed the character
of revolution, would have permitted them
| selves to have become the instruments in an
attempt at subduing their fellow citizens; nor
can it be taken for granted that they would
| have succeeded in such an enterprise, because
during the interval which had elapsed since the
resignation of NJ. Guizot, the opponents of the
King had acquired immense strength, by gain
ing over to their cause the great majority of the
Parisians, including almost the whole of the
National Guard. In this state of affairs, M.
Theirs and his colleagues acted as good pa
triots, in not attempting by main force to sus.
tain the throne of the King, who had to blame
himself and NJ. Guizot alone for the unpopular
ity of his Government, and whose own con-
science seems to have told him that he would
commit a great crime in sacrificing thousands
of human lives in attempting retaining his
power in opposition to the popular will.
Consequently, we think that NJ. Theirs acted
honorably in advising the King to abdicate the
crown, but We cannot conceal that he miscalcu-
lated both his own influence among the mem
bers of the Chambers, and the then state of
public feelings, in attempting at preserving ii
in behalf of the Count of Paris. Still, being the
prime minister of the abdicating King, and the
intimate friend of the Duchess of Orleans, he
could not act otherwise, in that respect, than he
did. Besides, though friendly to republican in
stitutions, he deemed these not suitable to the
genius of the French nation, nor to the position
of France, relative to the other European States.
He was, therefore, anxious to preserve the
monarchy; and even if this wish was not alto
gether dIslnterested, because he would proba-
bly,, in the case that his attempt had succeed
ed have become the soul of the regency, still
he cannot be blamed, on that account, for ad-
vocating a measure which he, at the same time.
looked upon as agreeable to the best interests
of his beloved country.
The Republican party, meeting with no form
liable resistance, acquired thus an easy victo-
ry over Government which had generally been
viewed as very strong, on account of the almost
proverbial wisdom of Louis Philippe and of the
talents and sagacity as well as firm character
of the eminent man who, since l84l, had been
the leading member of his Cabinet.
1t was rather surprising sight, that of seeing
the legittmGtist NJ. de Lamartine unite with the
Socialist NJ. Louis Blanc in aiding the natural
ly despotic, though confessedy republican, NJ.
Ledru Rollin in pulling down the monarchy of
1890, in order to erect upon its ruins a Social
istic Democratic Republic. Lamartine in act
ing thus, showed undoubtedly much inconsist-
ency; still, he played not the part of hypo-
critic; but, endowed with an impressive nature,
and sensible to the charms of freedom, he was
carried along by the most lofty aspirations and
the most noble sentiments, hoping to become
instrumental in alleviating the condition of the
great majority of the French nation, and in
rendering France truly great and prosperous.