The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-04

io.', !" pau hau been adopted Tor O general
agitation OF Paris and the Departments, by the
means of political banquets. The beg;nn;ng
OF this movement was made by the Dynastic
Opposition, the leaders of which looked upon
themselves as destined to be the chief gamers
/ by the victory to be achieved.
Nj. Theirs himself took, however. personally.
no part In this agitation, which was brought
1 about by friend of his-the courage ma.
triotic, and disinterested M. Duverpier de
I Hsuranne, who carried along with him the
1 other friends OF NJ. Theirs, as we'll as NJ. Odilon
| Barrot and his adherents, all animated with the
| ardent desire of promoting the extension of the
elective franchise, and preventing the corrup
| tions to which the elections under the then exist
ing system, were liable. But, with their eyes in
| tensely fixed on the point in view, they did not
perceive the danger of being involved by the
I Republicans, who fastened to Join them in a
movement which might carry them long be-
J yond their proposed aim.
! The banquet which took place in Paris was
/ but the beginning of series of similar feasts,
I; arranged by the opposition, in the principal
! cities of the kingdom. At some of these, the
+ friends of the Orleans Dynasty, and its enemies,
! the protested Republicans, acted in seeming
| union. But at other banquets-as, for in
stonce, at those at Lille, Antrim, Chalons, and
DUon-these discordant elements separated,
| that did not exist. NJ. Barrot declared that he
would not participate at the banquet at Lille.
unless pledge of adherence to the constitu.
tonal monarchy was given in toast for the
King. At Dion and Chalons, on the other
hand, Messrs. Rollin and Flacon made speeches
| that may be said to have foreshadowed the i'm
pending revolution.
Among the eminent men of the opposition
who kept aloof from these banquets, the most
noticeable were Theirs, Dufaure, and de La
MARITIME. Of these, the last had about the time
| in question, acquired additional resources, by
4 the publication of his spirited "Histoire des
, Grondines )" and at the public dinner which
was given in his honor, at Macon, on account
of his election as member of the Chamber of
Deputies he made brilliant speech, develop
ing in full his liberal and patriotic sentiments
Thus he was unconsciously paving the way
| which was to lead him to the conspicuous part
be was destined soon to play in the affairs of
his country.
The political banquets, already alluded to-,
had meanwhile been the means of exciting gen
eral fermentation throughout France; and the
friends of Theirs and Barot began to appre.
I bend that the desire of recruiting their forces,
in order VIGOROUSLY to carry on their struggle
against the Cabinet, might have the effect of
increasing the ranks of the Republican party :;
hence they attempted, though in vain, to allay
| the general excitement
Such was the state of public sentiment in
France, at the end of the year 1917, when the
4 Chambers met. The King and his Ministers
appeared rather surprised than alarmed at the
demonstrations which they had lately witness
ed, imagining that these were got up for the
purpose OF producing the semblance Of gen
eral discomfort, which did not in reality exist
| Deceived by self conceit and by the batteries
OF courtiers and parasites, they overrated their
own powers and popularity, while despising the
abilities and influence of their adversaries. In
their eyes, Duvergier de Hauranne was a hyp-
ocrite, who, in advocating the electoral reform,
had in view only the elevation to power again
of his friend, NJ. Theirs Odilon Barrot was a
fine orator and honest man, without firmness of
will; and Ledru Rollin, demagogue, who had
IN reality no attachment to the Republican
principles which he so loudly advocated, but
| who was DESTROYS of becoming the idol of the
populace, while, in fact weakening the strength
! of the opposition.
Entertaining these views the King commit
ted the imprudence, in his address to the Cham.
bers, to stgmatize as false and hostile those
who had been present at the reform banquets.
This imprudence was the greater, as many of
the members of the Chamber of Deputies, and
even some Of the Peers, had participated in
these feasts. Hence this expression of the
King became the principal subject of the dis
cussions which took place in the Chambers, rel
alive to the address, and gave occasion to in
crease the ill feelings which existed against the
Government. Odilon Barrot, Duvergier de Hau-
ranne, and even Lamartne-though he had
taken no part in the reform banquets-vindica-
ted the proprety of the people thus making
known their sentiments relative to the important
measure proposed. Nj. Theirs condemned, in
the most energetic terms, the course which the
Cabinet were pursuing.against Switzerland and
ltaly-showing that it was altogether in Oppo-
sition to the principles which France had loud
ly proclaimed in 1880, and upon which the
throne of Louis Philippe was founded
NJ Guizot defended the measures of the Gov
eminent, and commented upon the conduct of
the opposition in very naughty language, but
with usual energy. M. Herbert, the keeper of
the great seal, showed, in an able speech, the
dangers of public meetings without legal con-
troll, and proposed the renewal of the laws of
1871. Bat, by thus evincing the desire of ex.
tending the arbitrary power of the Government,
he increased the irritation, and gave M. Ledru
Rollin the opportunity of returning so eloquent
and forcibe reply, as to elevate himself to
one of the foremost ranks among the orators of
the opposition.
/: The Baltimore Patriot, in an article on Mod
dern Journalism, says, Sin spite of awless and
disreputable politicians, the condition of jour-
nasm throughout the whole length and breadth
of our land is rapidly improving. That i'm
i pudence and ignorance, reckless assertion and
publishing turpitude, are no longer allowed to
sway the minds of the vulgar; that he who
swearS the biggest, tells the greatest lies, rivals
Munchausen in incidents of travel, or Trenck
in feats of strength, is becoming, OF late years,
a very ordinary hero, deriving his support from
a very small circle of admirers, and is popularity
regarded as partaking much more largely of
the character of "Billy Bottom" than of
Samson Agonstes' With the progress of
education among the people, and the still more
general diffusion of knowledge, we shall find
the intellectual area of journalism gradually
expand. We shall have fewer wordcombats,
and more argumentative discussions we shall
see long-winded theories exploded in a para,
graph, and the essence of portentous volumes
crowded within the limits of daily article.
He who looks steadfastly into the future may
now view, as in glass darkly,' the approach
of this better day. If he should also perceive
storm and tempest, we do but share, in these
things, the common inheritance of all the world,
while we are at least better prepared than
many to endure the threatened peril bravely
when it does come, and TO turn it, as far as
possible, to the best advantage"
alexandria Gazette.
A COOP SLAvE.-A correspondent of the
Maysville Eagle says that during the prevalence
of the cholera at Flemingsburg, Ky, few
days ago, the jaior, Dillon Bridges, died of
the same and although rapid and malignant
case, and almost every one leaving and avoid
Al L