The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-20
For the National Era
Sketch OF the Political History of Europe.
THE CAPlTULATION OF PARIS, IN 1914,
TIL ESENT TIME.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.
CHAPTER XVII.

BY FRIEND OF LIBERTY
CHAPTER XVII.
The unpopularity of the Soult Guizot Minis.
try increased much on account of the discovery
OF the corrupt practices of NJ. Teste and Gen.
eral Cubiers, both Of whom had been members
| OF that Cabinet. Though there was no cause
for suspecting either the old Marshal or NJ.
Guizot OF being implicated in these bamable
transactions, still they were much censured for
having accepted as colleagues men of whose
lax morality they could not have been ignorant
but whom it was alleged, they themselves and
the king had selected as suitable instruments
IN aiding them in their wicked attempt at
| extending the royal power beyond the limits
of the Constitution. The very severity with
| which the guilty ex. Ministers-aud especially
M. Teste, man of very rare talents-were
treated, became new cause of accusation
against the King and NJ. Guizot both of whom
were represented as hypocritical and ungrateful
] for not saving from punishment the men whom
! they had themselves employed for purposes
much more criminal than that of accepting
| brides. But NJ. GuiZot-who, after the resigna-
| ton of Soult, had been appointed Premier-in-
| stead of endeavoring to do away with the popu-
! lar discomfort and to meet the wishes of the
| nation, at least in some respects, treated the
| clamors against the Government as originating
solely with persons DESTROYS of overthrowing the
Cabinet, for the purpose of elevating themselves
to power. Both he and the King looked upon the
opposition of NJ Theirs as emanating from the
desire of regaining the reins Of government,
and were consequently very much irritated
| against him.
| Still, while there might have been some
good reasons for such a suspicion, it is never
| theless very certain that NJ. Theirs was actu-
ated not only by personal ambition but also,
and perhaps yet more, by the laudable wish of
seeing the public affairs administered in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the Constitution,
and the dangers averted which were likely to
arise from the manner III which the public
opinion was disregarded, and the rights Of
the nation violated by the Government. Had
| he been intrusted with the power that he
desired, there is every reason for Supposing
that he would have been able to avert the rev.
oution of 1913, and the downfall of the throne
of Louis Philippe.
But it was decreed by Providence that the
arrogance Of NJ Guizot, and the desire of the
| King after unlawful power, should call forth an
event, the consequences of which have already
| been OF the most mOmentous Importance, not
only to France, but also to Europe at large
and to Asia, too. The royal chair was to be
overthrow, in order to give place to the impe-
rial throne, which the heir of Napoleon was to
erect upon the ruins Of the monarchy and the
republic, because to him, the Napoleonide, the
glorious task was assigned of frustrating the
| ,,la nf he
the prudence, the sagacity, and the experience
of Louis Philippe were not sufficient TO guard
them against pursuing course which resulted
in divesting them of the power of which they
were so fond, while making them appear as
mere novices in craftsmanship.
Still, neither they themselves nor their worst
enemies had the least anticipation Of their sud
den downfall. The revolution of lS46 is one
of the strongest illustrations, which history af
| fords US, of the influence of an overriding Prov
/ idence. The immediate cause of this altogeth-
er unexpected explosion of popular displessure
was the prohibition which the Cabinet issued
against the celebration of the so-called Reform
banquet. In vain did many of the most respect
ed members of the Chamber of Deputies at
tempt at persuading the Ministers to desist
from measure which, in itself, was unlawful,
and for which they could give no other excuse
than that it was apprehended by the Govern
ment, that the feast in question, if allowed to
| take place, would be made means of exciting
the popular feeling and of creating disturb
ances. Both NJ. Guizot and Nj. Duchatel de-
clared positively that it was the intention of the
Government to employ force, in order to pre-
vent the celebration of the intended banquet.
Many of the most influential members of the
opposition, DESTROYS of preventing conflict be-
tween the Government and the people, made
1t publicly known that, though deemng the
| prohibition unwarranted and unlawful, still they
would not, by their presence at the feast, en-
courage the contest which it was likely to call
forth, if its celebration was attempted. But
NJ. Odillon Barrot, and some other members
OF the opposition, deemed themselves in duty
bound to urge an impeachment of the Minis
tiers, on account of their unlawful conduct rela-
tive to this affair."
This was the signal for the revolution Of Feb
ruary, 1913. NJ. Guizot, while opposing calm
countenance to the attacks, directed against HIM
self and his colleagues, by the members of the
opposition within the Chambers, recommended
the most vigorous measures against the still
more formidable enemies that were gathering
in the streets of Paris, and who were threaten
ing to raise the standard of revolt But Louis
Philippe, who, on so many similar occasions,
though not in the defence of SO bad a cause,
action, proved himself, at this critical moment
very vacillating and timorous; but whether
this was caused by his consciousness OF being
in the wrong, or by the infirmity of old age,
seems somewhat difficult to decide. But be
this as it may, sure it is that he behaved very
timidly, and very differently from what might
have reasonably been expected from him. de
attempted at first, by sacrificing M. Guizot and
his colleagues, to dissi pate the thunder-clouds
that were gathering round his throne; but, in
stead Of calling Immediately to his aid NJ.
Theirs, he lost precious time by intrusting
Count Mole with the formation of new Min
istry.
The news of the resignation of the Guizot
Ministry received with the utmost JOY by
the Parsians STILL the appointment Of Count
Mole did not meet with their appreciation. The
command over the regular troops stationed in
Paris and its vicinity, numbering about 10000
men, as well as over the National Guard of the
capital, had meanwhile, in accordance with the
advice of Guzot, been intrusted to Marshal
Bugeaud, who declared himself confident of
being able to defeat whatever violent attempts
might be made on the part of the people against
the royal authority.
There can scarcely be any doubt that this
experienced warrior would have been able to
keep his promise, had he been allowed to act
with promptness and decision; because, of the
10000 men that constituted the National
Guard, he could rely upon the fidelity of about
two-thirds, and also upon the whole regular
force. He had consequently at his disposition
about $4,000 men, who would, no doubt, under
the leadership of SO able general, have proved
more than match even for the heroic Paris
ians. But the King, hoping to succeed, with