The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-08
For the National Era.
For the National Era.
Sketch of the Political History of Europe,
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE PRE- 8 EMIT TIMR.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY,
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
During the terrible night that FOLLOWED upon
the overthrow of the throne of Louis philippe,
M. Lamartine was the guardian angel France,
which, but for his sublime heroism ID devo-
ton, would have become the theatre Of anarchy
and intestine warfare. Fain would l have seen
his noble countenance glowing with patriotic
ardor and self-sacrifcing courage, ' lille his
matchless eloquence bridled the fur of the
populace thirsting for blood and spells, and
while, by the power of his words alone, he pro-
tected his colleagues, and averted from his be-
loved country the renewal Of the terrors of the
revolution of 1889.
The members of the Provisional Government,
though they had safely reached PHotel de Ville,
mob, that, besieging the unprotected edifce,
were bent upon the renewal of the Reign Of
Terror. All of them behaved with admirable
courage, but the glory Of saving France from
the terrible dangers then threatening her, be-
longed chiefly to NJ. de Lamartine. Never has
moral power in a more manifest manner vim
Dictated its supremacy over brutal force, than it
did then. Never has eloquence achieved a
more brilliant victory than it did during that
night, when it kept at bay the immense crowd
of furies, whom He'll seemed to have let loose
for the purpose of destroying the beautiful Cap
ital of European civilization. The present
generation of Frenchmen may treat theglorious
saviour of France with ingratitude, but the
name of Alphonse de Lamartine will go down,
surrounded with imperishabe halo, TO the re-
hottest posterity.
In the midst of all the terrors surrounding
them, the members of the Provisional. Govern
ment distributed among themselves he func-
tons which they were respectively to perform,
appointing, at the same time, the ministers that
were to aid them in the discharge of their diff
cult duties.
NJ. Dupont de rEure was made President of
the Provisional Government, though this func-
ton, on account of the age of this venerable
patriarch of freedom, devolved in reality upon
NJ. de Lamartine.
NJ. de Lamartine was made Minister of For
eign Affairs M. Ledru Rollin, Minister of the
Interior; NJ. Cremieux, Minister of Justice; NJ.
Marie, Minister of Public Works; NJ. Arago,
Minister of the Navy General Subervie, Min
lister of War; NJ. Goudschaux- ian esteemed
banker,) Minister of the Treasury; M. Garnet,
Minister of Instruction.
AS Secretaries, were appointed: MN. Mar
rot, Flacon, Paynene, Louis Blanc, and Bar
thelemy St. Hilaire.
M. GARNER Pages assumed the administra-
ton of the city affairs.
NJ. de Courtais, an officer of the old royal
army, was made Commander-in-chief of the
National Guard of Paris.
During the night in question, an sAttempt
was made to force the Provisional Government
to adopt the Red Flag, which the Anarchists
had hoisted as token Of a deadly wa against
the established social order of things. But this
attempt was frustrated, chiefly by the heroic
resistance of NJ. de Lamartine, who exclaimed:
81 shall resist until death this bloody banner"
(Jc repouserai jusqu' d la mort ce drizpeau de
sang J telling, at the same time, the aopulace
that surrounded him, that this banne had in
1871 and 1898 been soiled in the bloc of the
French people, while, on the contrary, the tri-
colored flag had made the tour throughout the
globe, as q token of the glory and liberty of
France.
M. Lamartine proposed the abrogation of the
punishment of death; Louis Blanc seconded
this resolution, which was adopted by the Pro.
visional Government.
M GARNER Pages, Mayor of Paris, re-estab-
ished, at last, order in Hotel de Vile; while NJ.