The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-11
manent session at Paris. This body was the pro-
dnct of the universal outrage Of France, immediate

the reflex of the popular sentiment at that moment
The majority was republican the moy Cn A.
what occurred during their tenure OF power. From
the beginning the republican politicians committed
fatal error, for instead Of occupying themselves
with the interests of their constituents the masses.
they directed their attention solely to the best
means OF prolonging their Political preponderance
None of them were sagacous enough TO see that the
only mode of preserving their popularity was to eff
feet those reforms that up to this time the people
had failed to obtain from the monarchy. Soon after
they met in May it was apparent that they meant
to touch as little as possible the organization Of
France as the monarchy had left 1T, that portion OF
the Partisan popnlace, at the instgation OF Louis
Blanc, made demonstration against them, and only
month later nearly the whole popuace OF Paris
rose in arms to overthrow them. republican
chief, General Cavaignae, undertook successfully 70
defend the Assembly, and was rewarded by being
made the temporary head Of the State, with the
title of I" Chief of the Executive Power" The As.
sembly then commenced the business for which it
was especially elected, the structure OF new cOns
tuition, that was duly carried by the majority, but
they avoided submitting it to the approval OF the
French people. l will reserve my remarks on this
instrument for another place. What the people OF
Assembly that voted it may be gathered from the
overwhelming rejection of the representative of both,
General Cavaignac, when ne came forward as the
opponent Of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte for the
Presidency of the republic. On that occasion the
upper, middle and lower classes united to mark
their condemnation Of the republican politicians,
who had proved themselves either incapable or
false. The Assembly remained in session after the
election of the President but for want Of equal par
hamentary ability the republicans fell in measure
under the sway of the monarchists This body
was to dissolve by the terms of the constitution,
on the election OF new Legislature In May, lS49,
Maroh-the republican majority was sinking lower
still in public estimation by unsecmly brawls with
the monarchists the subject OF their party int
rests, entirely forgetting the popular cause they
were sent to promote. The President of the assem-
bly, was NJ. Marrast ex-editOr of the National al
ready spoken of, and the number OF brilliant enter
tainments he gave had procured him the sooriqua
of the petit Marquis" From the profound dissatis-
faction Of the public high and low, it was consider
ed certain at the forthcoming election the monarch
lists would obtain the majority and Messrs. Theirs,
Mole and Berger We're ia high spirits at the pros
pect. At this delicate juncure the President was,
perhaps, the only in France that understood his
own position and the state of the public mind. The
politicians of both parties, and OF all shades, were
entirely engrossed with their party or personal inte-
rests. The President saw their error and wisely re-
solved to avoid identifying himself with any OF them,
but to lemain in a perfectly neutral position. The
republicans could not accuse him OF being against
them whilst the monarchsts believed he was secret
ly with them, which led NJ Theirs to hope, with his
aid, to get back the Orleanists. whilst NJ Berger
calculated equally on him to restore Henry V. The
French people, meanwhile, had their gaze fixed on
President Bonaparte, and were content to wait, as
they knew, by the constitution Of Marrast he had
no power to serve them If he wished. This was the
complicated state OF things when received, one day
in March, an invitation from the President to dine
with him at the palace Of the Elysee, already men
toned l vas surprised and aattered at this prompt
mark OF his friendly remembrance, but did not al
low my self love to overate it. attributed 1t at
once to that good taste and kind feeling 80 charac-
terstic OF the Prince Louis Napoleon, and not to any
desire to his former relations with me which,
in his present exalted position it would have been
presumptuous to expect felt very curious. indeed,
to know something Of his state of mind on the amaz.
in May, ls47, an exile in London. | remembered
still his parting phrase, ~ attends les ecenemeus'
am waiting events) which indicated that II his hopes
were infexible, he felt it useless to wrese longer
with fate. was still more eager to ascertain his po
ltca views, and to divine his future policy, but did
not fer moment deceive my elf, nor underrate the
Prince. felt sure his tact was quite adequate to
the OCCASION and that, whilst avoiding his old fami-
ary, which might embolden me too much, that
he could still show lie was not unmindful OF the fact
that was the only one not interested in the result,
who cherished profound belief in his final sue
cess when all else pronounced it shallow deuson.
In the dreary solitude Of Ham after five years of
Imprisonment and forgotten by the world the visit
of even so humble person as myself was cheering
to him. as afterwards learnt, not only as an act OF
person al devotion, but as proof his fortunes could
not be utterly desperate, since foreigner, and
without motive, stu persisted mistaken ia his
faith. | drove at a few minutes before the hour
raIed On the day in question to the Eysee, and on
entering the first saloon found several members OF
the Presidents household assembled | recognized
amongst them his faithful friend and physician, DR..
Conneau, who through every vicissitude had re.
manned true to his trust No one could have OWNED
in the mild countenance and the quiet but genial
demeanor of DR.. Conneau, that his sagacity, firm
ness and courage had, in many trying emergencies,
rendered services far more precious than any his
professional skill had ever been called on TO afford,
and it. is not to be wondered at that he held nigh
place in the afectionate esteem o. his august
patron. fell into pleasant chat with my former &C
9naintance, expecting every moment to see the
President enter the room, a. supposed the dianer
was OILY to be, in common parance, family party.
was of sudden surprised to hear the ushers an.
nounce Monsieur Theirs who passed through
into an adjoining saloon Ct grander dimensions I'm
mediatey after NJ. Mole announced, then M.
Berger, NJ Montalembert, General Changranier,
and others of little less celebrity 1t turned out that
II was grand dinner OF state that the President
was giving, and found myself not little elated at
coming SO Unexpectedly into contact not only with
the most ilustrous names Of the day, but the very
men who aspired to shape the future destiuies OF
France. ! stroled along into the principal saloon,
where found the company was gathering to await
the coming of the President and ensconsced NY
self in quiet corner talking the while with an aid
de-camp in waiting. On the opposite side OF the
room small groups Of two or three were collected
about the political sracles have mentioned, who
coEversing in under tones, but with consider
able animation. AS my glance fell in turn on the
distinguished persons before me, it was natural my
mind should revert rapidly to the singular features
Of their different careers. There was NJ. Theirs,
OF humble extraction, he came to Paris at "a, and
began life in garet. Employed on a newsp sper,
his literary tilent raised him as once Finding
public opinion running against the pfiest ridden
government Of Charles x, he wrote a democratic
history Of the first revolution, and 20 FASTENED the
second, when he became a minister of Louis
Philippe. Finally discarded by the King, aud fore
seeing his downfall, he began Bonapartising France
by dazzling history of the Consulate and Empire,
and Louis Napoleon came sooner than h expected
wished. Writer, orator, statesman; brilliant, pro
found and unsctupulous, NJ. Theirs il an antagonist
any ru er might fear. Is the President match for
this political Titanl The result will show. Count
Mole Is listening to him Tie Count though OF an
Gent lineage, owed his title aud everything to the
first Napoleon, whose fortunes be never abandoned.
He was more than once prime minister to Louis
Philippe. High responsibility more than great
talent il the secret or his distinc ion. NJ. Berryer
is near him. The first advocate of France and the
poll cal champion Of hopeless cause. splendid
talents, lofty character. chivaIric nature. He de-
NH If UNs, The Aontalamhprt atandq