The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04

From lT74 up to the latter days Of June. 1Tss'
IL seemed quite possible TO regenerate France by
constitutional reform instead OF by revolution
II TurRot could have remained an all-poweriui
Minister for twelve years instead OF two, MS
aim would have been accomplished. AZ 10 was
lie freed the internal trade In grain and hour
from all the old provincial custom dues, and
abolished not only the exclusive right OF many .
seigneur 10 own a grain mill on his estate, but
also the privileges Of bakers in towns. He per-
suaded Louis XVI. to compel the Paris Parlia-
ment TO register in a " bed Of justice " six edtcts
suppressinR various privileges. especially the OLD
trade guilds, and substituting n tax on all
landed property for the corvees previously rem
dered by the peasants. He liberated traders and
agriculturists. especially vine growers. from
many shackles. freed the serfs on the royal do
mains, and curtailed the immunities Of the
mobiles. His other bencfccnt plans, however. he
was unable TO carry out. lie tried In vain to
consolidate the public debt, to reform the col
lection Of the Gnhdlc or salt duties. and other
taxes and tolls (%Oc'rJtsl. TO form n FUND to aid
peasants In the redemption of the surviving
feudal services, and to give local self-govcrn-
ment not only to the commune or parish, but
also to the reimbursement, to the province, and
to the whole realm. These reforms, which would
have peacefully reconstructed France, were
never carried out. 1t was the Queen. Marie
Antoinette, who, annoyed at an act which had
injured one Of her favorite mobiles. persuaded
Louis TO dismiss the great reforming Minister.
This victory OF the privileged order over the
monarchy. followed as II soon was by n reversal
Of nearly all Turgot's measures, made q demo-
cratic revolution almost inevitable.
Nevertheless, some seven weeks after the
meeting of the States General IL seemed still
possible to effect many Of the desired
changes In n constitutional way. In the So
called royal session, which took place on June
23. 1889. Louis XVI annulled the declaration
which had boen made by the third estate act
ing separately. and proposed n scheme OF re-
forms in thirty-hve articles announcing that IL
the three orders voting as such could not agree
on these reforms he alono would effect the
welfare Of his people" II is no doubt true that
to impose political reforms while insisting on
maintaining the old system of three distinct
orders showed n complete disregard OF those
passionate longings for social equality and self
government which were fusing provinces and
orders into a united nation. Nevertheless, the
Kings intention In this royal session has been
much misunderstood. Mr.. Rose points out that
it was no mere defiant exhibition OF arbitrary
power. but a spasmodic attempt to return. when
too late, to the policy Of imposing reform by
royal decree which had always till then been
followed by continental rulers and statesman.
such had been the policy Of tho reforming
Joseph H., and of the French rcformer Turgot.
IL the Kings unskilful policy had. for the time.
the cause of royal reform with the
cause OF the privileged orders. yet. on the other
hand, the attitude of the third estate in resist
ing all compromise Is pronounced partly re-
for the first rupture. We are reminded
that Jefferson, WIN was in Paris at the time as
the American Minister, strongly urged the lead
ers Of the third estate to accept the reforms
Louis XVI. would at once have granted.
viz. n representative legislature, meeting every
year. with the right of originating laws and tho
control of taxation; responsibility Of the Kings
Ministers to the legislature; trial by jury: free
dom OF conscience and Of the press. with
these powers said Jefferson subsequently,.
they could obtain in the future whatever else
necessary to perfect their Constitution.
They thought otherwise, and events have proved
heir lamentable error: for. after thirty years
Df foreign and domestic war and the loss of
of lives. they have In the end obtained
no more. nor even that securely"