The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-26
SOME NEW HOOKS.
The Letters Of George sand.

teresting picture of the political world during
tho years 1s4s- So which were so eventful in the
history of France. In these letters wo read
history. so to speak, from the inside. for George
Sand was n radical Of tho extreme socialistic
type. and maintained intimate relations with
those members of the provisional Government
Established in February. 1sis) who entertained
tho most advanced opinions. and who en-
dcavorod to Offset their defeat in tho elections
for the Constituent Assembly by the sanguinary
revolt ofJune % -26. 1913. This book shows also,
that although George Sand profossed such UNI
compromising opinions thoy did not prevent
her from offering u good deal Of adulation to
Louis Bonaparte after the crime of Dec. 2. 1861.
and Of accepting u great many favors at his
hands When we contrast the security which
this woman enjoyed and the influence sho
welded with tho stern refusal of Victor Hugo
and other republican cxilcs to ask or even to
accept anything from the author Of the Deem
bcr mussacrc. we cannot help entertaining
some doubts touching tho depth and sincerity
OF George Sands political convictions.
Mime. Dudevant fastened to leave her farm
al Nohant for Paris after the revolution OF
February. and there found employment. be-
sides hot literary work. in writing circulars
and bulletins for the provisional Government.
In IA letter dated March 0. 1SiS she gives vent
to the enthusiasm with which the success of
the ponuar uprising had inspired her. The
republic has been won" abe writes " IL is
firmly planted; we will all die sooner than let
10. The provisional Government IL made
US of mon for tho most part excellent
though all are somewhat inadequate to
task which would call forth tho
genius OF Napoleon and the heart Of
Jesus Christ. But the combination of
all these men, who have either spirit or
talent or good will wil DO equal to the stua-
ton. They wish for what s right. they will
seek for it. and they will try to carry it out.
They are really governed by q principle STU
perior to the individual capacity OF any one of
them. to wit the will OF the whole. the right OF
the people. In Paris. too. the people are no
good natured so indulgent so confident about
their cause and so strong that they themselves
AID their Government. Could such u DISPOSE
ton last we should have the social ideal; we
must encourage It. From one end OF France to
the other every man should try to help the
pubic ana save 1t from its enemies. 1t is the
aim tho principle. the fervcnt wish of the mom-
beers OF the provisional Government that we
should send to the Constituent Assembly men
representing the people and emerging in a large
number OF instances directly from its loins."
II soon became evident to the friends of
George Sand that the Social Democrats would
not have the majority in this Assembly and
that it would be far more difficult TO set this
aside nasmuch AZ it would be- tho expression
OF tho popular will. They accordingly made
several attempts to overthrow the provisional
Government aud defer the general elections for
the National assembly which had been fixed
for the month of April. But neither on March
IL nor on April lG did the united ultra Re pub
Leans and Socialists succeed in carrying out
their purpose. Apropos OF the rising on the
last-named date. which. owing mainly to La
marines irmness. was suppressed by
the Joint efforts of the Garde Mobile
and the National Guard George Sand
writes as follows: Il am pretty we'll convinced
that the republic has been slaughtered in it's
essence and in its future. or at least in its
immediate future. 1t has been stained to- day
by death cries: liberty and equality have been
frampled under foot in the same miro with
fraternity during the whole OF the day which
has Just closed. must tell you how this came
to pass, for you would understand nothing
about 1t from the newspapers. There have
been three. or rather four conspiracies on foot
during the past week. In the first place,
Ledru- Rolin, Louis Blanc. F,ocon. Caussidiere.
and Albert wish to force Marrast. GARNER
Pages. Carnot Bethmont. in short, all the
right-mcdium faction to withdraw from the
provisional Government. They would have
kept Lamartine and Arago who are men Of
mixed predictions. and who. prefcrrng
power to opinions flor they have nonc)
would have joined hands with them
and with the people. This conspiracy
was well grounded. The other politicians
were leading us back to all the institutions Of
the monarchy. to the reign OF bankers. to the
extreme wretchedness and complete abandon
mcnt OF the poor. to the unbridled luxury OF the
aifiuent. in word, to the system which makes
the workingman like the slave. ape ndant m the
work which his master does out to him. quar-
re's over. and wthdraws at his good pleasure.
rms conspiracy might accordingly have saved
the republic. have proclaimed the immediate
reduction of the taxes levied upon the poor and
have taken steps which. without running for
tunes honestly acquired, would have rescued
Franco from the financial crisis" She goes on
to reveal the real motive OF this conspiracy by
declaring that it would have changed the
form of the Eectotn law which is essen
TALLY bad. and will give reactionary re-
suits; would have. in fact. done all the
good possible at this moment which
consists In winning back the people to tho re-
public, with which the middle class has already
succeeded in disgusting it throughout tho
provinces, and in procuring for us a National
Assembly which we should not have been
obliged to control by violence" This accord
ing to George Sand, was the principal CON
epiracy, but there were also two variations OF
II. together with rcactionary plot. 1t is tho
last, which probably had no existence except in
the writer's Imagination, that is credited with
the support given to Lamartne
In tho new Assembly which began its sittings
on May 4 there was an overwhelming majority
against tho Social Democrats. whose clubs ac- |
cordnsly resolved TO overthrow the Assembly |
and the Executive Commission and set UP q |
Social Democratic Dictatorship. The presenta- |
ton OF monster petition for the resus- |
citation OF free and independent Poland |
Formed the prcteXt under which. on May IJ a |
crowd OF 100000 persons marched against tho |
National Assembly. The members of the |
Legislature fed in confusion ami terror and |
the mob. finding itself for some hours victori- |
GUS, proceeded to establish new Government. |
Bat, through the energy OF Lamartinc. the Ma |
'iona Guard was quickly called out. the Hotel !
dc Vile was retaken and the leaders OF the ro- |
volt wcro sent as prisoners 10 Vincenncs 1t |
was on account OF the share she was believed |
10 have taken in promoting this Instruction |
that George Sand was obliged to leave Paris. |
and was for some time threatened with arrest.
Her illusions to the subject in the letters here