New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-26
CHARLES KS DOWNFALL.
A PARTISAN REVOLUTION.

TIE DUCHESS OF BERRY AID THE REVELATION
OF !, o; By Imbert dc Saint Am Amond: Translated
by Elizabeth Gilbert Martin. With portrait. Emo,
PIP. 33l. Charles scrbners sons.
The Duchess of Berry really has little more
than a nominal part 10 play in the history Of
the French Revolution OF $50. She suffered by
it, as did many Others who were not less helpless
and innocent, but the event itself was one of
those when, so far as can even now be seen.
merely occurred because the Court anil the Cow
eminent Of the country completely paralyzcd
by strange access of faulty. Ii might be said.
and it certainly has been said often enough. that
Charles lost his throne for no other
reason than because he had not brains enough
TO govern. That. however. is perhaps altogether
too sweeping an assertion; for il cannot he for
gotten that far more stupid and vicious kings
have retained their crowns to the end Of their
DAYS. What renders Charcss downfall 50 peculiar
really is that nearly all the circumstances seemed
to tend to the success OF his plans. At the very
moment when they were about 10 he wrecked
utterly and that the man himself exhibited a
boldness IN his legislative course which should al
least have been supported by some frmncss IN
action.
But the story as now told in great detail by
NJ. de Saint-Amand is exceedingly interesting AZ
exhibiting the develOpment-onc might almost call
il the self-devclopment-Of a Partisan revolution.
Before the enactment Of the ordinances there was
apparently no rally organized or formidable Oppo-
stion. The Ministry was not strong and IL was
not popular: but the people seemed to be in a
good-tcmpcred and tolerant humor, ond nothing
SO much as suggested trouble. The King. how
ever had made up Ills mind TO pass the ordinancea
and had persuaded himself that the provisions OF
the charter warranted his proposed action. To
all In infon1aI 10 piv rot :cp
of the coup d'ctat." but TO spring it upon friends
and foes with the same sudlenncss. At this point
of course truly Bourbon crassity is apparent
Perhaps almost any other man would have real
lied the peril Of playing such a trick upon the
excitable and sensitive Parsians. But the echoes
of '93 had ceased to sound in his ears llo
evidently thought his throne established upon a
rock, and that he could brave and dare every
thing.
Acting upon this naive but assuredly not states
manlikc theory. he delayed the passage OF the
ordinances until the last moment. ana made
literally no efforts 10 guard against any popular
cbulition in they provoked the Parlsians
Marshal Marmont who was in charge Of the
military was left without any sufficient force u
hold the city. and was given no time - make new
dispositions. The old King seemed to have
imagined that nothing would be said or done
against the course Of the Government, and he
did his best, or his worst. to prevent the Govern
ment from doing anything effective In support OF
its policy. In fact. so thoroughly imbecilc was
the course followed that one almost suspects the
Parisians of being literally tempted to revolt BY
the too obviously favorable opportunities for such
a movement The famous 22l members OF the
legislative body who had put their names to the
protest OF course expected 10 encounter opposi-
ton from the Ministers ard the Crown. but they
were not. at least as yet deliberately planning Q
revolution.
The King. however. thought 1t was his duty "a
rule alone. and turning his back UPON the imme.
date past he proceeded to take measures which
might bring things to speedy issue. though al
the same time he neglected TO provide for the
energetic meeting OF that issue. One cannot but
contrast his course. as the author does. with that
OF Napoleon. The latter went to work and dill
whatever he once decided had TO be done He did
not try to quench the Revolution with
water He extinguished it with grapeshot When
it became necessary to his policy 10 kill people,