Page:The Royal Family of France (Henry).djvu/42

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The Royal Family of France.

Bank of France and burned the books of the Public Debt, does with hostages.

The fate of Revolutionists, whose race has been perpetuated since 1792 to the present day, and gives no promise of extinction, has little interest for us. But before proscribing each other as in the days of the Convention, they may again band together in order to plunge France into anarchy and servitude. M. Duclerc himself, if we may believe the provincial echoes, foresees this danger. We are happy to see that Conservative and Liberal Monarchists will not allow themselves to be thus oppressed.


V. War.

There is no need for alarm on account of this war-cry! No intention exists of invading the editor's office sword in hand and pistol in belt. There is still less idea of rushing into the street with loaded gun preceded and followed by cannons, as on March 18th, 1871, when the Communist federals thronged suddenly from the heights of Montmartre down into the Place Vendôme.

The King's followers have too much respect for the law, even when it is inimical to their political and religious opinions,—and even when (as at present) it imposes a godless education which provokes civil war amongst the citizens,—to advocate revolt, to stir up its minions to storm the Elysée palace. They leave violent measures to Republicans.

The Republic in France has always been established by violence. In 1792, it was the outcome of the 6th of October, 1789, and the 10th of August, 1792; it was the fitting consecration of the massacres of the 2nd of September, in Paris, Versailles, Orleans, Rheims, Meaux, Lyons: over 1430 being slaughtered in Paris alone. In 1848, a pistol-shot fired in front of M. Guizot's house, on February the 23rd, and followed by the terrible days of June, announced the advent of the Second Republic, sealed with the blood of over 1500 killed, seven of whom were Generals in the army—the Second Republic, whose President was Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who, elected thanks to the prestige of his uncle's name, had taken the following oath. "En présence de Dieu et devant le peuple Français, je jure de