The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07

charter.
Louis XVIII himself seemed at first inclined
to side with the liberal party; and let Il not be
forgotten, that his powerful protectors, in =
note, signed by Russia, Austria, Prussia, and
England, and bearing the date of the goth of
November, 1915, advised him to follow the
principles of wisdom and moderation" warn
ed him from impruaent and passionate coun-
sells, and recommended that she should OPP
pose to all the enemies of the public good and
OF the tranquility of his kingdom, his attach
ment to the constitutional laws, and his firm
will to be the father of his subjects, without
distinction of class or religion"
! These wise and Just counsels cannot but gain
our appreciation, though at the same time they
must strike US with establishment, when we
compare them with the indifference evinced by
the same Powers, from which they emanated,
with regard to the unjust and cruel conduct of
the king of Spain. But our establishment will
disappear on more mature reflection. From
the Spaniards the allied monarchs had nothing
TO fear for their own tram utility; but from
the French, who had more tlau once brought
them - the edge of ruin, much danger was TO
be apprehended, should that nation be madden
ed into revolution. Hence it was the
fear of rousing again the sleeping lion, that
dictated the liberal and excellent counsels ad
ministered TO the king Of France and which
indeed were we'll calculated to prevent a new
attempt at overthrowing the throne of the
Bourbons, and confirm the order of things
which had been established in France by COM
| bined Europe
! But, while Louis XVIII was himself much
disposed to follow the prudent counsels of those
to whom he owed his crown, the reactionary
party-the old nobility and the eight fearing
| priests" who during the so eventful preceding
years had learned and forgotten nothing"-
closed their ears to the warnings Of the confed-
Grated princes, as they had done 20 "the les
sons of ages" and seemed to think of nothing
but OF satisfying their vengeance, aud Of recoy-
ering their privileges and their lost wealth.
Strong by the favor Of the royal family,
strong by the excited passions or purchased
assistance of an ignorant, fanatical, and venal
multitude, and strong, finally, by the aid Of
great number of apostates of the revolution,
the reactionists "beset the king, who, notwith-
standing his love Of justice and prudence, was
not firm enough against the zeal and impOrtu-
mites of his old companions i'm misfortune,
and of his pretended friends" The royal word
of pardon was broken arbitrary prescriptions
and executions took place, az pirtue Of iatcS Of
exception many of the noblest men of France,
only on account Of their liberal principles or
OF their services TO the republic and the EN-
plre, were treated "a criminals: and pTeDOtdk
courts, formerly the revolutionary tribunals,
pronounced, in Judiciary forms, the decision of
vengeance. The press ceased to be free, and
complaints, petitions, and the assertion of truth,
were interdlcted to the friends of the constitu-
ton.
Thus the reactionists introduced a new
reign of terror, supported by the fear which
the presence of the foreign troops inspired into
the vanquished party, that, however, enioyed
the sympathy Of the great majority of the ma.
ton. Religious fanatcis.n associated its hor-
rors with those Of political, and in the south
and west of unfortunate France, murders and
deYastations were practiced, almost without OPP
position, on the part Of the Government against
PrOtestants, as wei as against republicans,
scarcely equalled in barbarity by the most
bloody prosecutions against the Huguenots."
The victory of the reactionists over the lib
eral party was accompanied by the dismissal
OF Talleyrand, Fouche, and their colleagues
the two former being treated as their treachery
to Napoleon made them deserving. The new
ministry was headed by the Duke de Richelieu,
(who was probably unjustly viewed as acting
under the influence of Russia but with whom
was associated Decazes, very prudent and
moderate politician.
Richelieu, though notorious on account of
his arstocratical predictions, was neverthe-
less deemed by the reactionists Ia be too lem
lent and impartial. These partisans of arbi-
trary power asked for impunity for crimes COM
mitted by their adherents, but, on the contrary,
for the most rigorous punishments of the lib
erals, when these had taken up arms in self
defence. Richelieu, apprehensive of the out
break of new revolution, opposed these I'M
Justlhabe demands; and the allied princes,
dreadlng similar event, renewed their warn
ings of moderation. This led TO the dissOlu-
ton Of the Chamber of Deputies, which had
been controlled by the influence of the reac-
tionists.
The new Chamber proved to consist, in its
majority, of friends Of the constitution and the
ministry, and hence the king became encour-
aged to return, for some time, to liberal course
OF policy. Besides, he was much influenced by
Decazes, who sterny opposed the fury of the
reactionists, or, as they were styled, the ultras.
Hence, the Government began to gain the con-
hdence of the nation, and public tranquility
was restored. In consequence of this, the for.
eign army Of occupation, which had remained
in France from the final overthrow of Napoleon,
was reduced one-6fth, in the beginning Of 1917;
and in the following year, the total evacuation
of France by the foreign troops took place, as
a result of the conference Of the Congress at
Aix-la- Chapelle.
The liberal party, despite the desperate re-
sistance of the ultras, continued to exercise a
ohiuIlig AhhucHcc upon puDuC aualrS OF
France, until the assassination of the Duke of
Berry, by an abandoned fanatic. But then the
ultrGs or reactionists compelled Decazes to
resign, by their false assertion that this crime
had been instigated by the liberals and thus
regained the ascendeney.
From that time, notwithstanding the most
manly resistance of the most eloquent orators
and the most sincere patriots-the constitution
Al charter was most scandalously violated by
adoption of the so-called ld,cs Of exception. A
errible blow was directed against the liberty of
he press, andagainst personal freedom-against
he former by rigid commission of censure
Ind Inspection Of books; and against the latter
BY the detention Of those suspected Of political
crimes.
But these arbitrary and severe measures. in
tead OF strengthening the cause of the priv.
eyed classes, had the effect to weaken il in tbs
course of some years. The French nation can
lot any more, long be kept in subsection by
rolent means alone.
In Germany, neither the arrangements of
he Congress of Vienna, nor those of the Diet
u the German Confederation, had met with the
'pproDaton OF the Germans in general, who
lao hoped Tor the realization of the idea of ma
lonal unity, so dear TO the immense majority
u that intelligent people and which had been
o solemnly promised by the allied princes, du-
ing the struggle of 1913, against Napoleon.
But some of the German princes Of the sec
md and third rank had, meanwhile, fastened
o allay the fomenting discomfort of their sub
ects, by voluntary and liberal concessions. But
{ to be observed that Austria and Prussia
remained closed to the idea of a genuine rep-
constitution"
The liberal spirit, which was nourished
throughout the whole of Germany by the lib
rol institutions intrOducod IN sava.aI oc "a.