The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-20

sion, but not before he had received the Kings
promise of permitting him to associate n. Odil.
lon Barrot with him in the Ministry. 1t would
appear that Theirs, at least approved Of the
Kings intention not to permit Bugeaud to exc.
cute the nightly assault upon the barricades
and their defenders, as was the avowed inten-
ton of the Marshal--who, on being forbid to
act according to his own Judgment, resigned
his command, which, on thesuggeston of Theirs,
was transferred to General Lamoriciere, whose
military reputation stood almost equally high
as that of Bugeaud himself
Two days passed without any measures being
taken, calculated to strengthen the royal cause.
The unpopularity of the Prince of Nemours,
and the absence of his more popular brothers,
the Prince Of Joinvlle and Duke of Aumale,
left the King without any effectual aid from
the members of his family. The presence OF
the Prince of Joinville would probably have
been enough to prevent the downfall OF the
throne OF Louis Philippe. But deprived of the
support OF his sons, and prevented, by bis sus-
PIGEONS against Theirs, from intrusting him with
the formation of new Cabinet Immediately
on the resignation of the Guizot Ministry, the
time was lost, which, if properly employed
would have enabled him to avert or to brave
the fury Of the Republicans.
This party, which had lent its aid to the by
naStic opposition in overthrowing the Guizot
Ministry, had not expected so soon to find an
opportunity of realizing the scheme which il
had long nourished in its lap, but the execu
ton of which it was intended to defer until
after the death of Louis Philippe. The Repub
hcans seeing, however, the hesitation manifest
ed by the King and finding themselves rein
forced by an immense number of foreign resi-
dents, resolved at once to attempt the overthrow
nj IA thrArA l. l.
known, successful. Still, it would in all proba
bility have failed, had Bugeaud been allowed
to execute his intended attack upon the multi
tude that had taken up arms against the Gov
eminent
liners and Odillon Barrot have been accused
OF pusillanimity, and even treachery, because
they did not attempt to purchase victory at the
expense Of the lives of thousands of their Eel
low men, who, in fact, were defending the bet
ter cause. Theirs and Barrot might have saved
the throne Of Louis Philippe two days pre-
viously but they could not succeed in the at
tempt when they were appointed Ministers
without a most terrible bloodshed. The faul
was not theirs, but the Kings, who tarried too
long in seeking for their advice and support
Still, had Louis Philippe mounted his horse
and offered his breast to the balls and sword.
of the exasperated Parisians, there is every
reason to suppose that such an act of heroism
would have disarmed his generous enemies
and preserved to him the throne of France
But by his abdication and pusillanimity he
forfeited the esteem of the people, and Thiers
and the other friends of the Duchess of Orleans
were unable to save the crown in behalf of heI
infant son.
We cannot deplore the downfall of Louis
Philippe, because, having frustrated the hopes
which the revolution Of 1880 had created in
the heart of every sincere friend Of Freedom
he deserved the fate which befell him. But
we are not willing to join those who have rioted
In heaping every kind of abuse upon him and
NJ. Guizot-because, blamable as they were
IN many respects, they never committed any
acts of cruelty, or sulled themselves by any
such crimes against humanity as those which
disgraced the Emperor Nicholas.
Louis Philippe possessed less energy and
less talents as a ruler than did the late Gar
still he was a man of many rare qualities, aud
far more benevolent and humane than Nicho
las OF Russia. lie cannot he set down as
deSpot, and his sympathies with the people
would ever have made him unfit for such Q
part. Indeed, the disposition of NJ. Guizot
was far more despotic than that of his royal
master. Still, even NJ. Guizot had too much
regard for the claims of humanity ever to have
Besides, none can Justly deny that NJ. Guizot is
one of the most gifted men of the present age
and whatever faults he has committed as a
statesman, he has fully redeemed them as a
philosophical and political writer, advocating
truths of the highest Importance to humanity.
When the other eminent statesmen of the
present age shall be forgotten, Theirs and
GuiZot will still continue to live in the glorious
works they have bequeathed to posterity; yet
their most eloquent speeches will prove but
mere sounds, which will die away in the course
Of time, bat their historical productions must
necessarily remain imperishable monuments OF
their genius and lofty aspirations, as long as
the human race shall inhabit this globe.
We cannot Justly blame either Of these truly
great men for not having advocated the intro
duction Of republican institutions, because we
should be very ignorant of the true feelings Of
the French nation at large, were we to view a
republican form of government as suitable, or
even acceptable, to the great majority Of the
French. Hence, we feel compelled to admit
that Theirs and Guizot have done right in OPP
posing form Of government which would have
pleased only small minority of their country
men. But, while much praise is due to Theirs
for his fidelity and sincere attachment to the
Constitutional Monarchy much blame must
necessarily be attached to Guizot, for having
been instrumental in extending the royal power
beyond the limits of the Constitution, and for
having opposed the reform which was necessary,
in order to meet the just claims of the French
people with regard to the elective franchise.
1t is ridiculous to pretend that freedom can
not so well exist i'll Constitutional Monarchy
as in Republic. 1t is, indeed, an evidence Of
great ignorance, to think that Republics have
always been the asylums Of freedom, and Mon
arches always the dens of tyranny. The ma
jority of the citizens of Republican Rome en-
joyed no enviable freedom, while an inhabitant
of Norway is no less free than any citizen of
the United States.
Berlin, Prussia.