Paris may be said to have gone through another revolution
un- der the auspices of its Government : for the elements of revo- lution were actively at work, they were openly met by a display of resistance, and though there was no actual fighting the Go- vernment gained a victory. Stimulated by the demeanour of the Government, whose inevitable enforcement of executive authority and endeavours to consolidate order had provoked a cry of " re- action," the Clubs resumed their self-appointed office of contend- ing for the public liberties : they revived in organization and ac- tivity. Instead of yielding to that hostile movement, the Go- vernment boldly grappled with the advancing foe, and introduced to the Assembly a bill for the suppression not only of clubs but of all serial meetings for political purposes, whether at regular or ir- regular intervals. Government also grappled with other illegitimate powers. After the insurrection of June, the National Guard had been re- modelled in some of its more turbulent sections ; but the Garde Mobile, the pet creation of the February revolution, remained intact. The youth of Paris, enrolled in a special army, perpetually lounging about the streets in uniform, enjoying higher pay than the regular troops, perhaps boyishly presuming, with an osten tation of wealth, on that pay and on the engaging aspect of a uniform, had been an object of dislike to all sober and di- dactic folks, of jealousy to the National Guard, and of the most invidious feelings to the Line. But it was also a force manifestly open to ambitious temptations. It was desirable, therefore, to pull down its pride, to reduce it, and thus at once to weaken it and to conciliate the aggrieved regulars. The duty was intrusted to General Changarnier ; and the operation has been conducted with an energy that obtained success, but with a harshness that may be remembered should the Algerine General ever come under the power of the Garde Mobile. The attempt roused the friends of the Garde and the specula- tors in its angers ; and plots were rife on Sunday night. Mon- day, however, found Paris in possession of an immense army; and the revolutionists were overawed. President Bonaparte com- bined with his daily ride a tour of the scene which was to have been the field of battle, and he was saluted with the usual cries of " Vive l'Empereur ! " The victory was won, and Monday night saw Paris " tranquil " again. Whether from the firmness of the Ministerial bearing, the As- sembly shows some signs of yielding on the question of dissolu- tion; having resolved, by 416 to 405, to consider M. Bateau's proposition to fix a day. As we anticipated, therefore, the minor- ity is turning into a majority. But the turn is not quite so de- cisive as it looks : the quondam majority is still a formidable
minority ; it is exasperated by the reactionary steps of the Go- vernment ; it sympathizes with M. Proudhon, whom the Minis- ters prosecute; it sympathizes with the revolutionists out of doors, and the men arrested on Monda7 ; now that the Ministers have been induced to enter upon a decidedly anti-revolutionary course, the minority is in many respects strengthened by the alliance of General Cavaignac and the discreeter men of the real Republican party. On the other hand, the soi-disant Republicans, converts to the new fashion, have lost influence by subserving the Anti- republican proceedings of the Government. Men therefore are taking sides in a new contest, without any defined principles to guide any of them except perhaps the genuine Republicans—with- out any tried grounds of alliance and mutual confidence. The political disorganization is as great as ever ; and if it so happens that power is concentrating round the possessors of office, it is a fortuitous and spurious consolidation, without valid guarantee for its endurance or political advantage; the possessors of office being indeed able, and in manyinstances honest men, but held together by no substantial bond of opinion, impersonating no political principle or faith. That which is for the time the solidest part of the body politic has no organic life, no vital principle to resist disintegration or prolong its own existence. The prestige of the new President, a vague hope of once more seeing " l'Empereur," the desire for order, a union or rather a conspiracy of military officers and political adventurers who invest their interest with the winning party, have combined to set aside this attempted revolu- tion; but we discern in that state of things, we say, no better guarantee for the continuance of order than " the chapter of ac- cidents."
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