France¡¡has¡¡seen¡¡during¡¡the¡¡past¡¡century¡¡having¡¡been¡¡explained£»¡¡it
will¡¡now¡¡suffice¡¡to¡¡present¡¡a¡¡summary¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡these¡¡successive
revolutions¡£
The¡¡sovereigns¡¡in¡¡coalition¡¡having¡¡defeated¡¡Napoleon£»¡¡they
reduced¡¡France¡¡to¡¡her¡¡former¡¡limits£»¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡Louis¡¡XVIII¡££»¡¡the
only¡¡possible¡¡sovereign£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throne¡£
By¡¡a¡¡special¡¡charter¡¡the¡¡new¡¡king¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡a
constitutional¡¡monarch¡¡under¡¡a¡¡representative¡¡system¡¡of
government¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡recognised¡¡all¡¡the¡¡conquests¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Revolution£º
the¡¡civil¡¡Code£»¡¡equality¡¡before¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡liberty¡¡of¡¡worship£»
irrevocability¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sale¡¡of¡¡national¡¡property£»¡¡&c¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡right
of¡¡suffrage£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡limited¡¡to¡¡those¡¡paying¡¡a¡¡certain
amount¡¡in¡¡taxes¡£
This¡¡liberal¡¡Constitution¡¡was¡¡opposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ultra¡royalists¡£¡¡
Returned¡¡emigres£»¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡restitution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡national
property£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡re¡establishment¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ancient¡¡privileges¡£
Fearing¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡reaction¡¡might¡¡cause¡¡a¡¡new¡¡revolution£»¡¡Louis
XVIII¡£¡¡was¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡dissolving¡¡the¡¡Chamber¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election
having¡¡returned¡¡moderate¡¡deputies£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡to
govern¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡principles£»¡¡understanding¡¡very¡¡well¡¡that¡¡any
attempt¡¡to¡¡govern¡¡the¡¡French¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ancien¡¡regime¡¡would¡¡be
enough¡¡to¡¡provoke¡¡a¡¡general¡¡rebellion¡£
Unfortunately£»¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡in¡¡1824£»¡¡placed¡¡Charles¡¡X¡££»¡¡formerly
Comte¡¡d'Artois£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throne¡£¡¡¡¡Extremely¡¡narrow£»¡¡incapable¡¡of
understanding¡¡the¡¡new¡¡world¡¡which¡¡surrounded¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡boasting
that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡modified¡¡his¡¡ideas¡¡since¡¡1789£»¡¡he¡¡prepared¡¡a
series¡¡of¡¡reactionary¡¡lawsa¡¡law¡¡by¡¡which¡¡an¡¡indemnity¡¡of¡¡forty
millions¡¡sterling¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡paid¡¡to¡¡emigres£»¡¡a¡¡law¡¡of¡¡sacrilege£»
and¡¡laws¡¡establishing¡¡the¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡primogeniture£»¡¡the
preponderance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clergy£»¡¡&c¡£
The¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deputies¡¡showing¡¡themselves¡¡daily¡¡more
opposed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡projects£»¡¡in¡¡1830¡¡he¡¡enacted¡¡Ordinances¡¡dissolving
the¡¡Chamber£»¡¡suppressing¡¡the¡¡liberty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Press£»¡¡and¡¡preparing
for¡¡the¡¡restoration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancien¡¡regime¡£
The¡¡effect¡¡was¡¡immediate¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡autocratic¡¡action¡¡provoked¡¡a
coalition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡all¡¡parties¡£¡¡¡¡Republicans£»
Bonapartists£»¡¡Liberals£»¡¡Royalistsall¡¡united¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡raise
the¡¡Parisian¡¡populace¡£¡¡¡¡Four¡¡days¡¡after¡¡the¡¡publication¡¡of¡¡the
Ordinances¡¡the¡¡insurgents¡¡were¡¡masters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡capital£»¡¡and
Charles¡¡X¡£¡¡fled¡¡to¡¡England¡£
The¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡movementThiers£»¡¡Casimir¡Perier£»¡¡La¡¡Fayette£»
&c¡£summoned¡¡to¡¡Paris¡¡Louis¡Philippe£»¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡existence¡¡the
people¡¡were¡¡scarcely¡¡aware£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡him¡¡king¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡£
Between¡¡the¡¡indifference¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hostility¡¡of¡¡the
nobles£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡the¡¡legitimate¡¡dynasty£»¡¡the
new¡¡king¡¡relied¡¡chiefly¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bourgeoisie¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡electoral¡¡law
having¡¡reduced¡¡the¡¡electors¡¡to¡¡less¡¡than¡¡200£»000£»¡¡this¡¡class
played¡¡an¡¡exclusive¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡government¡£
The¡¡situation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sovereign¡¡was¡¡not¡¡easy¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡struggle
simultaneously¡¡against¡¡the¡¡legitimist¡¡supporters¡¡of¡¡Henry
V¡£¡¡the¡¡grandson¡¡of¡¡Charles¡¡X¡££»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Bonapartists£»¡¡who
recognised¡¡as¡¡their¡¡head¡¡Louis¡Napoleon£»¡¡the¡¡Emperor's¡¡nephew£»
and¡¡finally¡¡against¡¡the¡¡republicans¡£
By¡¡means¡¡of¡¡their¡¡secret¡¡societies£»¡¡analogous¡¡to¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡of¡¡the
Revolution£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡provoked¡¡numerous¡¡riots¡¡at¡¡various
intervals¡¡between¡¡1830¡¡and¡¡1840£»¡¡but¡¡these¡¡were¡¡easily¡¡repressed¡£
The¡¡clericals¡¡and¡¡legitimists£»¡¡on¡¡their¡¡side£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡cease¡¡their
intrigues¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Duchess¡¡de¡¡Berry£»¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡of¡¡Henry¡¡V¡££»¡¡tried
in¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡Vendee¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡clergy£»¡¡their¡¡demands
finally¡¡made¡¡them¡¡so¡¡intolerable¡¡that¡¡an¡¡insurrection¡¡broke¡¡out£»
in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡archbishop¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡was
sacked¡£
The¡¡republicans¡¡as¡¡a¡¡party¡¡were¡¡not¡¡very¡¡dangerous£»¡¡as¡¡the
Chamber¡¡sided¡¡with¡¡the¡¡king¡¡in¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡against¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡The
minister¡¡Guizot£»¡¡who¡¡advocated¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡central¡¡power£»¡¡declared
that¡¡two¡¡things¡¡were¡¡indispensable¡¡to¡¡government¡®¡®reason¡¡and
cannon¡£''¡¡¡¡The¡¡famous¡¡statesman¡¡was¡¡surely¡¡somewhat¡¡deluded¡¡as¡¡to
the¡¡necessity¡¡or¡¡efficacy¡¡of¡¡reason¡£
Despite¡¡this¡¡strong¡¡central¡¡power£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡reality¡¡was¡¡not
strong£»¡¡the¡¡republicans£»¡¡and¡¡above¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Socialists£»¡¡continued
to¡¡agitate¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡influential£»¡¡Louis¡¡Blanc£»¡¡claimed
that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡to¡¡procure¡¡work¡¡for¡¡every
citizen¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Catholic¡¡party£»¡¡led¡¡by¡¡Lacordaire¡¡and¡¡Montalembert£»
united¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Socialistsas¡¡to¡day¡¡in¡¡Belgiumto¡¡oppose¡¡the
Government¡£
A¡¡campaign¡¡in¡¡favour¡¡of¡¡electoral¡¡reform¡¡ended¡¡in¡¡1848¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fresh
riot£»¡¡which¡¡unexpectedly¡¡overthrew¡¡Louis¡Philippe¡£
His¡¡fall¡¡was¡¡far¡¡less¡¡justifiable¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Charles¡¡X¡£¡¡¡¡There
was¡¡little¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡reproached¡£¡¡¡¡Doubtless¡¡he¡¡was
suspicious¡¡of¡¡universal¡¡suffrage£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Revolution¡¡had
more¡¡than¡¡once¡¡been¡¡quite¡¡suspicious¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Louis¡Philippe¡¡not
being£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Directory£»¡¡an¡¡absolute¡¡ruler£»¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡as¡¡the
latter¡¡had¡¡done£»¡¡annul¡¡unfavourable¡¡elections¡£
A¡¡provisional¡¡Government¡¡was¡¡installed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Hotel¡¡de¡¡Ville£»
to¡¡replace¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡monarchy¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡proclaimed¡¡the¡¡Republic£»
established¡¡universal¡¡suffrage£»¡¡and¡¡decreed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people
should¡¡proceed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡a¡¡National¡¡Assembly¡¡of¡¡nine
hundred¡¡members¡£
From¡¡the¡¡first¡¡days¡¡of¡¡its¡¡existence¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Government¡¡found
itself¡¡the¡¡victim¡¡of¡¡socialistic¡¡manoeuvres¡¡and¡¡riots¡£
The¡¡psychological¡¡phenomena¡¡observed¡¡during¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Revolution
were¡¡now¡¡to¡¡be¡¡witnessed¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Clubs¡¡were¡¡formed£»¡¡whose¡¡leaders
sent¡¡the¡¡people¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to¡¡time¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Assembly£»¡¡for
reasons¡¡which¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡quite¡¡devoid¡¡of¡¡common¡¡sensefor
example£»¡¡to¡¡force¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡to¡¡support¡¡an¡¡insurrection¡¡in
Poland£»¡¡&c¡£
In¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡satisfying¡¡the¡¡Socialists£»¡¡every¡¡day¡¡more¡¡noisy
and¡¡exigent£»¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡organised¡¡national¡¡workshops£»¡¡in¡¡which
the¡¡workers¡¡were¡¡occupied¡¡in¡¡various¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡labour¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡these
100£»000¡¡men¡¡cost¡¡the¡¡State¡¡more¡¡than¡¡L40£»000¡¡weekly¡£¡¡¡¡Their
claim¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡pay¡¡without¡¡working¡¡for¡¡it¡¡forced¡¡the¡¡Assembly
to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡workshops¡£
This¡¡measure¡¡was¡¡the¡¡origin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡formidable¡¡insurrection£»¡¡50£»000
workers¡¡revolting¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Assembly£»¡¡terrified£»¡¡confided¡¡all
the¡¡executive¡¡powers¡¡to¡¡General¡¡Cavaignac¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡four¡days
battle¡¡with¡¡the¡¡insurgents£»¡¡during¡¡which¡¡three¡¡generals¡¡and¡¡the
Archbishop¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡were¡¡killed£»¡¡3£»000¡¡prisoners¡¡were¡¡deported¡¡by
the¡¡Assembly¡¡to¡¡Algeria£»¡¡and¡¡revolutionary¡¡Socialism¡¡was
annihilated¡¡for¡¡a¡¡space¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡years¡£
These¡¡events¡¡brought¡¡Government¡¡stock¡¡down¡¡from¡¡116¡¡to¡¡50¡¡francs¡£¡¡
Business¡¡was¡¡at¡¡a¡¡standstill¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡peasants£»¡¡who¡¡thought
themselves¡¡threatened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Socialists£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bourgeois£»
whose¡¡taxes¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡had¡¡increased¡¡by¡¡half£»¡¡turned¡¡against
the¡¡Republic£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Louis¡Napoleon¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡re¡establish
order¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡welcomed¡¡with¡¡enthusiasm¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡candidate¡¡for
the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic£»¡¡who¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the
new¡¡Constitution¡¡must¡¡be¡¡elected¡¡by¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡body¡¡of¡¡citizens£»
he¡¡was¡¡chosen¡¡by¡¡5£»500£»000¡¡votes¡£
Very¡¡soon¡¡at¡¡odds¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Chamber£»¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡decided¡¡on¡¡a¡¡coup
d'etat¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Assembly¡¡was¡¡dissolved£»¡¡30£»000¡¡persons¡¡were
arrested£»¡¡10£»000¡¡deported£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡deputies¡¡were¡¡exiled¡£
This¡¡coup¡¡d'etat£»¡¡although¡¡summary£»¡¡was¡¡very¡¡favourably
received£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡plebiscite¡¡it¡¡received
7£»500£»000¡¡votes¡¡out¡¡of¡¡8£»000£»000¡£
On¡¡the¡¡2nd¡¡of¡¡November£»¡¡1852£»¡¡Napoleon¡¡had¡¡himself¡¡named¡¡Emperor
by¡¡an¡¡even¡¡greater¡¡majority£º¡¡¡¡The¡¡horror¡¡which¡¡the¡¡generality¡¡of
Frenchmen¡¡felt¡¡for¡¡demagogues¡¡and¡¡Socialists¡¡had¡¡restored¡¡the
Empire¡£
In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡part¡¡of¡¡its¡¡existence¡¡it¡¡constituted¡¡an¡¡absolute
Government£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡half¡¡a¡¡liberal¡¡Government¡£¡¡
After¡¡eighteen¡¡years¡¡of¡¡rule¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡was¡¡overthrown¡¡by¡¡the
revolution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡4th¡¡of¡¡September£»¡¡1870£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡capitulation
of¡¡Sedan¡£
Since¡¡that¡¡time¡¡revolutionary¡¡movements¡¡have¡¡been¡¡rare£»¡¡the¡¡only
one¡¡of¡¡importance¡¡was¡¡the¡¡revolution¡¡of¡¡March£»¡¡1871£»¡¡which
resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡of¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monuments¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡and¡¡the
execution¡¡of¡¡about¡¡20£»000¡¡insurgents¡£
After¡¡the¡¡war¡¡of¡¡1870¡¡the¡¡electors£»¡¡who£»¡¡amid¡¡so¡¡many¡¡disasters£»
did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡which¡¡way¡¡to¡¡turn£»¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡great¡¡number¡¡of¡¡Orleanist
and¡¡legitimist¡¡deputies¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Constituent¡¡Assembly¡£¡¡¡¡Unable¡¡to
agree¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡establishment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡monarchy£»¡¡they¡¡appointed¡¡M¡£
Thiers¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic£»¡¡later¡¡replacing¡¡him¡¡by¡¡Marshal
MacMahon¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡1876¡¡the¡¡new¡¡elections£»¡¡like¡¡all¡¡those¡¡that¡¡have
followed£»¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡republicans¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Chamber¡£
The¡¡various¡¡assemblies¡¡which¡¡have¡¡succeeded¡¡to¡¡this¡¡have¡¡always
been¡¡divided¡¡into¡¡numerous¡¡parties£»¡¡which¡¡have¡¡provoked
innumerable¡¡changes¡¡of¡¡ministry¡£
However£»¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡equilibrium¡¡resulting¡¡from¡¡this¡¡division
of¡¡parties£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡for¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡enjoyed¡¡comparative¡¡quiet¡£¡¡
Four¡¡Presidents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic¡¡have¡¡been¡¡overthrown¡¡without
revolution£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡riots¡¡that¡¡have¡¡occurred£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡those¡¡of
Champagne¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Midi£»¡¡have¡¡not¡¡had¡¡serious¡¡consequences¡£
A¡¡great¡¡popular¡¡movement£»¡¡in¡¡1888£»¡¡did¡¡nearly¡¡overthrow¡¡the
Republic¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡General¡¡Boulanger£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡has
survived¡¡and¡¡triumphed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡attacks¡¡of¡¡all¡¡parties¡£
Various¡¡reasons¡¡contribute¡¡to¡¡the¡¡maintenance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present
Republic¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conflicting¡¡factions
none¡¡is¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡second¡¡place£»
the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡State¡¡being¡¡purely¡¡decorative£»¡¡and¡¡possessing¡¡no
power£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡attribute¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡evils¡¡from¡¡which
the¡¡country¡¡may¡¡suffer£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡matters¡¡would¡¡be
different¡¡were¡¡he¡¡overthrown¡£¡¡¡¡Finally£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡power¡¡is
distributed¡¡among¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡hands£»¡¡responsibilities¡¡are¡¡so
disseminated¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡know¡¡where¡¡to¡¡begin¡£¡¡
A¡¡tyrant¡¡can¡¡be¡¡overthrown£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡can¡¡be¡¡done¡¡against¡¡a¡¡host
of¡¡little¡¡anonymous¡¡tyrannies£¿
If¡¡we¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡sum¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡word¡¡the¡¡great¡¡transformations¡¡which
have¡¡been¡¡effected¡¡in¡¡France¡¡by¡¡a¡¡century¡¡of¡¡riots¡¡and
revolutions£»¡¡we¡¡might¡¡say¡¡that¡¡individual¡¡tyrann
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü