,T8/ 

 652 OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS. 



JIv9 9rfT .Jfuii -rettid imffo lorfjo graoa laod ^IwT, to iIO: 

 will become the mode, and every village will have its fit of loyalty. The 

 assassin in the meantime will be forgotten, and the opposition charged, 

 no doubt, with the crime, will demand inquest and trial in vain, 



Polignac's was an administration that resolved to hold itself up against 

 the nation by coups d' etat. M. Thiers and his colleagues form a ministry 

 resolved to gain a point by coups d' etat, a more cunning, more prudent, 

 and more mean expedient. It is in fact, a clap-trap administration. The 

 arrest of the Duchess of Berry was clap one; expedition against 

 Antwerp clap two ; and these not sufficing the pistol shot was imagined 

 to form a line of three times three. Thiers, however, knows his coun- 

 trymen, and, perhaps, this may be the best mode of managing them. 

 Though it is certainly little flattering, thus to treat a great people, as if 

 they were the audience of a theatre. They expect a tragedy, and are 

 treated to a melodrama. The new farce entitled the " coup de pistolet," 

 seems, indeed, to have taken M. Thiers as an able dramatist, as well as 

 historian. 



But I said, that all this was put to the test. Certainly ; it sets the 

 political field fair ; parties on either side drawn out ; the tories of 

 France no longer able to affect the position of that of a middle party, 

 whilst the left no longer constrained or worked by the coquetry of 

 the Dupinists, will rest compact and united to defend the interests of 

 true freedom. 



The left, indeed, or liberal side, has committed huge blunders, 

 without which it might have long since effected its chief wishes. 

 There is no doubt, that the majority of the country sympathizes fully 

 with the liberal opinions of the left; but then it shrinks from two 

 extreme conclusions, viz., war, and a change of dynasty. Both these 

 necessities, so often and fairly pointed at and approached by the oppo- 

 sition, terrify and alienate its followers. The extreme left, or repub- 

 lican party were, in my opinion wrong, to hoist up the flag of repub- 

 licanism. It was, indeed, bold and frank so to do. But 'twould have 

 been far better had they followed Lafayette's advice, which was to 

 remain republicans in spirit rather than in form, to insist and carry 

 essential points, and by no means protest against that monarchic form of 

 government, which had been established in July. Lafayette wanted his 

 party to give it a fairer and a longer trial. Some wished to do so, others 

 refused to do so any longer. And hence came the schism. The na- 

 tional boldness argues, that being republican in principle, no man ought 

 to shrink from avowing it. 



To this it is replied, that political faith is like religious faith. It hath 

 a sanctuary, and may without dishonour lie hidden, when no advantage, 

 but the contrary is to accrue from its avowal. And nought is attended 

 with so much harm as the preaching of even truth, -ere the world or the 

 country is ripe to receive it. Algernon Sidney's friendship tended 

 but to confirm the absolute power of Charles the Second. And Carrel's 

 republicanism serves but to fright the timid electors of Paris from 

 choosing such members as would demand a reform in the electoral 

 law. 



If Barrot would give up the feverish longing that he has for power; 

 and if Messrs. Mauguin and his friends would cease to appeal so very 

 often to the necessity of convincing Europe by French bayonets: 

 finally, if M. Carrel would espouse the essential points of internal free- 

 dom more, and the name of republic less, then one might hope to see 



