"Handcuffthemall!"shoutedJavert。
"Comeon!"criedavoicewhichwasnotthevoiceofaman,butofwhichnoonewouldeverhavesaid:"Itisawoman’svoice。"
TheThenardierwomanhadentrenchedherselfinoneoftheanglesofthewindow,anditwasshewhohadjustgivenventtothisroar。
Thepolicemenandagentsrecoiled。
Shehadthrownoffhershawl。butretainedherbonnet;
herhusband,whowascrouchingbehindher,wasalmosthiddenunderthediscardedshawl,andshewasshieldinghimwithherbody,assheelevatedthepaving—stoneaboveherheadwiththegestureofagiantessonthepointofhurlingarock。
"Beware!"sheshouted。
Allcrowdedbacktowardsthecorridor。Abroadopenspacewasclearedinthemiddleofthegarret。
TheThenardierwomancastaglanceattheruffianswhohadallowedthemselvestobepinioned,andmutteredinhoarseandgutturalaccents:——
"Thecowards!"
Javertsmiled,andadvancedacrosstheopenspacewhichtheThenardierwasdevouringwithhereyes。
"Don’tcomenearme,"shecried,"orI’llcrushyou。"
"Whatagrenadier!"ejaculatedJavert;"you’vegotabeardlikeaman,mother,butIhaveclawslikeawoman。"
Andhecontinuedtoadvance。
TheThenardier,dishevelledandterrible,setherfeetfarapart,threwherselfbackwards,andhurledthepaving—stoneatJavert’shead。
Javertducked,thestonepassedoverhim,struckthewallbehind,knockedoffahugepieceofplastering,and,reboundingfromangletoangleacrossthehovel,nowluckilyalmostempty,restedatJavert’sfeet。
Atthesamemoment,JavertreachedtheThenardiercouple。
Oneofhisbighandsdescendedonthewoman’sshoulder;theotheronthehusband’shead。
"Thehandcuffs!"heshouted。
Thepolicementroopedininforce,andinafewsecondsJavert’sorderhadbeenexecuted。
TheThenardierfemale,overwhelmed,staredatherpinionedhands,andatthoseofherhusband,whohaddroppedtothefloor,andexclaimed,weeping:——
"Mydaughters!"
"Theyareinthejug,"saidJavert。
Inthemeanwhile,theagentshadcaughtsightofthedrunkenmanasleepbehindthedoor,andwereshakinghim:——
Heawoke,stammering:——
"Isitallover,Jondrette?"
"Yes,"repliedJavert。
Thesixpinionedruffianswerestanding,andstillpreservedtheirspectralmien;allthreebesmearedwithblack,allthreemasked。
"Keeponyourmasks,"saidJavert。
AndpassingtheminreviewwithaglanceofaFrederickII。
ataPotsdamparade,hesaidtothethree"chimney—builders":——
"Goodday,Bigrenaille!goodday,Brujon!goodday,Deuxmilliards!"
Thenturningtothethreemaskedmen,hesaidtothemanwiththemeat—axe:——
"Goodday,Gueulemer!"
Andtothemanwiththecudgel:——
"Goodday,Babet!"
Andtotheventriloquist:——
"Yourhealth,Claquesous。"
Atthatmoment,hecaughtsightoftheruffians’prisoner。who,eversincetheentranceofthepolice,hadnotutteredaword,andhadheldhisheaddown。
"Untiethegentleman!"saidJavert,"andletnoonegoout!"
Thatsaid,heseatedhimselfwithsovereigndignitybeforethetable,wherethecandleandthewriting—materialsstillremained,drewastampedpaperfromhispocket,andbegantopreparehisreport。
Whenhehadwrittenthefirstlines,whichareformulasthatnevervary,heraisedhiseyes:——
"Letthegentlemanwhomthesegentlemenboundstepforward。"
Thepolicemenglancedroundthem。
"Well,"saidJavert,"whereishe?"
Theprisoneroftheruffians,M。Leblanc,M。UrbainFabre,thefatherofUrsuleortheLark,haddisappeared。
Thedoorwasguarded,butthewindowwasnot。Assoonashehadfoundhimselfreleasedfromhisbonds,andwhileJavertwasdrawinguphisreport,hehadtakenadvantageofconfusion,thecrowd,thedarkness,andofamomentwhenthegeneralattentionwasdivertedfromhim,todashoutofthewindow。
Anagentsprangtotheopeningandlookedout。Hesawnooneoutside。
Theropeladderwasstillshaking。
"Thedevil!"ejaculatedJavertbetweenhisteeth,"hemusthavebeenthemostvaluableofthelot。"
CHAPTERXXII
THELITTLEONEWHOWASCRYINGINVOLUMETWO
OnthedayfollowingthatonwhichtheseeventstookplaceinthehouseontheBoulevarddel’Hopital,achild,whoseemedtobecomingfromthedirectionofthebridgeofAusterlitz,wasascendingtheside—alleyontherightinthedirectionoftheBarrieredeFontainebleau。
Nighthadfullycome。
Thisladwaspale,thin,cladinrags,withlinentrousersinthemonthofFebruary,andwassingingatthetopofhisvoice。
AtthecorneroftheRueduPetit—Banquier,abentoldwomanwasrummaginginaheapofrefusebythelightofastreetlantern;
thechildjostledherashepassed,thenrecoiled,exclaiming:——
"Hello!AndItookitforanenormous,enormousdog!"
Hepronouncedthewordenormousthesecondtimewithajeeringswellofthevoicewhichmightbetolerablywellrepresentedbycapitals:
"anenormous,ENORMOUSdog。"
Theoldwomanstraightenedherselfupinafury。
"Nastybrat!"shegrumbled。"IfIhadn’tbeenbendingover,IknowwellwhereIwouldhaveplantedmyfootonyou。"
Theboywasalreadyfaraway。
"Kisss!kisss!"hecried。"Afterthat,Idon’tthinkIwasmistaken!"
Theoldwoman,chokingwithindignation,nowrosecompletelyupright,andtheredgleamofthelanternfullylightedupherlividface,allhollowedintoanglesandwrinkles,withcrow’s—feetmeetingthecornersofhermouth。
Herbodywaslostinthedarkness,andonlyherheadwasvisible。
OnewouldhavepronouncedheramaskofDecrepitudecarvedoutbyalightfromthenight。
Theboysurveyedher。
"Madame,"saidhe,"doesnotpossessthatstyleofbeautywhichpleasesme。"
Hethenpursuedhisroad,andresumedhissong:——
"LeroiCoupdesabotS’enallaitalachasse,Alachasseauxcorbeaux——"
Attheendofthesethreelineshepaused。HehadarrivedinfrontofNo。50—52,andfindingthedoorfastened,hebegantoassaultitwithresoundingandheroickicks,whichbetrayedrathertheman’sshoesthathewaswearingthanthechild’sfeetwhichheowned。
Inthemeanwhile,theveryoldwomanwhomhehadencounteredatthecorneroftheRueduPetit—Banquierhastenedupbehindhim,utteringclamorouscriesandindulginginlavishandexaggeratedgestures。
"What’sthis?What’sthis?LordGod!He’sbatteringthedoordown!
He’sknockingthehousedown。"
Thekickscontinued。
Theoldwomanstrainedherlungs。
"Isthatthewaybuildingsaretreatednowadays?"
Allatonceshepaused。
Shehadrecognizedthegamin。
"What!soit’sthatimp!"
"Why,it’stheoldlady,"saidthelad。"Goodday,Bougonmuche。
Ihavecometoseemyancestors。"
Theoldwomanretortedwithacompositegrimace,andawonderfulimprovisationofhatredtakingadvantageoffeeblenessandugliness,whichwas,unfortunately,wastedinthedark:——
"There’snoonehere。"
"Bah!"retortedtheboy,"where’smyfather?"
"AtLaForce。"
"Come,now!Andmymother?"
"AtSaint—Lazare。"
"Well!Andmysisters?"
"AttheMadelonettes。"
Theladscratchedhisheadbehindhisear,staredatMa’amBougon,andsaid:——
"Ah!"
Thenheexecutedapirouetteonhisheel;amomentlater,theoldwoman,whohadremainedonthedoor—step,heardhimsinginginhisclear,youngvoice,asheplungedundertheblackelm—trees,inthewintrywind:——
"LeroiCoupdesabot[31]
S’enallaitalachasse,Alachasseauxcorbeaux,Montesurdeuxechasses。
Quandonpassaitdessous,Onluipayaitdeuxsous。"
[31]KingBootkickwenta—huntingaftercrows,mountedontwostilts。
Whenonepassedbeneaththem,onepaidhimtwosous。
[TheendofVolumeIII。"Marius"]
VOLUMEIV。SAINT—DENIS。
THEIDYLINTHERUEPLUMETANDTHEEPICINTHERUESAINT—DENIS
BOOKFIRST。——AFEWPAGESOFHISTORY
CHAPTERI
WELLCUT
1831and1832,thetwoyearswhichareimmediatelyconnectedwiththeRevolutionofJuly,formoneofthemostpeculiarandstrikingmomentsofhistory。Thesetwoyearsriseliketwomountainsmidwaybetweenthosewhichprecedeandthosewhichfollowthem。Theyhavearevolutionarygrandeur。Precipicesaretobedistinguishedthere。
Thesocialmasses,theveryassizesofcivilization,thesolidgroupofsuperposedandadheringinterests,thecentury—oldprofilesoftheancientFrenchformation,appearanddisappearinthemeveryinstant,athwartthestormcloudsofsystems,ofpassions,andoftheories。
Theseappearancesanddisappearanceshavebeendesignatedasmovementandresistance。Atintervals,truth,thatdaylightofthehumansoul,canbedescriedshiningthere。
Thisremarkableepochisdecidedlycircumscribedandisbeginningtobesufficientlydistantfromustoallowofourgraspingtheprincipallinesevenatthepresentday。
Weshallmaketheattempt。
TheRestorationhadbeenoneofthoseintermediatephases,hardtodefine,inwhichthereisfatigue,buzzing,murmurs,sleep,tumult,andwhicharenothingelsethanthearrivalofagreatnationatahalting—place。
Theseepochsarepeculiarandmisleadthepoliticianswhodesiretoconvertthemtoprofit。Inthebeginning,thenationasksnothingbutrepose;itthirstsforbutonething,peace;ithasbutoneambition,tobesmall。Whichisthetranslationofremainingtranquil。
Ofgreatevents,greathazards,greatadventures,greatmen,thankGod,wehaveseenenough,wehavethemheapedhigherthanourheads。WewouldexchangeCaesarforPrusias,andNapoleonfortheKingofYvetot。
"Whatagoodlittlekingwashe!"Wehavemarchedsincedaybreak,wehavereachedtheeveningofalongandtoilsomeday;wehavemadeourfirstchangewithMirabeau,thesecondwithRobespierre,thethirdwithBonaparte;wearewornout。Eachonedemandsabed。
Devotionwhichisweary,heroismwhichhasgrownold,ambitionswhicharesated,fortuneswhicharemade,seek,demand,implore,solicit,what?Ashelter。Theyhaveit。Theytakepossessionofpeace,oftranquillity,ofleisure;behold,theyarecontent。But,atthesametimecertainfactsarise,compelrecognition,andknockatthedoorintheirturn。Thesefactsaretheproductsofrevolutionsandwars,theyare,theyexist,theyhavetherighttoinstallthemselvesinsociety,andtheydoinstallthemselvestherein;
andmostofthetime,factsarethestewardsofthehouseholdandfouriers[32]whodonothingbutpreparelodgingsforprinciples。
[32]Inoldentimes,fouriersweretheofficialswhoprecededtheCourtandallottedthelodgings。
This,then,iswhatappearstophilosophicalpoliticians:——
Atthesametimethatwearymendemandrepose,accomplishedfactsdemandguarantees。Guaranteesarethesametofactsthatreposeistomen。
ThisiswhatEnglanddemandedoftheStuartsaftertheProtector;
thisiswhatFrancedemandedoftheBourbonsaftertheEmpire。
Theseguaranteesareanecessityofthetimes。Theymustbeaccorded。
Princes"grant"them,butinreality,itistheforceofthingswhichgivesthem。Aprofoundtruth,andoneusefultoknow,whichtheStuartsdidnotsuspectin1662andwhichtheBourbonsdidnotevenobtainaglimpseofin1814。
Thepredestinedfamily,whichreturnedtoFrancewhenNapoleonfell,hadthefatalsimplicitytobelievethatitwasitselfwhichbestowed,andthatwhatithadbestoweditcouldtakebackagain;thattheHouseofBourbonpossessedtherightdivine,thatFrancepossessednothing,andthatthepoliticalrightconcededinthecharterofLouisXVIII。
wasmerelyabranchoftherightdivine,wasdetachedbytheHouseofBourbonandgraciouslygiventothepeopleuntilsuchdayasitshouldpleasetheKingtoreassumeit。Still,theHouseofBourbonshouldhavefelt,fromthedispleasurecreatedbythegift,thatitdidnotcomefromit。
Thishousewaschurlishtothenineteenthcentury。Itputonanill—temperedlookateverydevelopmentofthenation。Tomakeuseofatrivialword,thatistosay,ofapopularandatrueword,itlookedglum。Thepeoplesawthis。
ItthoughtitpossessedstrengthbecausetheEmpirehadbeencarriedawaybeforeitlikeatheatricalstage—setting。Itdidnotperceivethatithad,itself,beenbroughtininthesamefashion。ItdidnotperceivethatitalsolayinthathandwhichhadremovedNapoleon。
Itthoughtthatithadroots,becauseitwasthepast。Itwasmistaken;
itformedapartofthepast,butthewholepastwasFrance。
TherootsofFrenchsocietywerenotfixedintheBourbons,butinthenations。Theseobscureandlivelyrootsconstituted,nottherightofafamily,butthehistoryofapeople。
Theywereeverywhere,exceptunderthethrone。
TheHouseofBourbonwastoFrancetheillustriousandbleedingknotinherhistory,butwasnolongertheprincipalelementofherdestiny,andthenecessarybaseofherpolitics。ShecouldgetalongwithouttheBourbons;shehaddonewithoutthemfortwoandtwentyyears;
therehadbeenabreakofcontinuity;theydidnotsuspectthefact。
Andhowshouldtheyhavesuspectedit,theywhofanciedthatLouisXVII。
reignedonthe9thofThermidor,andthatLouisXVIII。wasreigningatthebattleofMarengo?Never,sincetheoriginofhistory,hadprincesbeensoblindinthepresenceoffactsandtheportionofdivineauthoritywhichfactscontainandpromulgate。Neverhadthatpretensionherebelowwhichiscalledtherightofkingsdeniedtosuchapointtherightfromonhigh。
Acapitalerrorwhichledthisfamilytolayitshandoncemoreontheguarantees"granted"in1814,ontheconcessions,asittermedthem。Sad。Asadthing!Whatittermeditsconcessionswereourconquests;whatittermedourencroachmentswereourrights。
Whenthehourseemedtoittohavecome,theRestoration,supposingitselfvictoriousoverBonaparteandwell—rootedinthecountry,thatistosay,believingitselftobestronganddeep,abruptlydecidedonitsplanofaction,andriskeditsstroke。
OnemorningitdrewitselfupbeforethefaceofFrance,and,elevatingitsvoice,itcontestedthecollectivetitleandtheindividualrightofthenationtosovereignty,ofthecitizentoliberty。
Inotherwords,itdeniedtothenationthatwhichmadeitanation,andtothecitizenthatwhichmadehimacitizen。
ThisisthefoundationofthosefamousactswhicharecalledtheordinancesofJuly。TheRestorationfell。
Itfelljustly。But,weadmit,ithadnotbeenabsolutelyhostiletoallformsofprogress。Greatthingshadbeenaccomplished,withitalongside。
UndertheRestoration,thenationhadgrownaccustomedtocalmdiscussion,whichhadbeenlackingundertheRepublic,andtograndeurinpeace,whichhadbeenwantingundertheEmpire。FrancefreeandstronghadofferedanencouragingspectacletotheotherpeoplesofEurope。
TheRevolutionhadhadthewordunderRobespierre;thecannonhadhadthewordunderBonaparte;itwasunderLouisXVIII。
andCharlesX。thatitwastheturnofintelligencetohavetheword。Thewindceased,thetorchwaslightedoncemore。
Ontheloftyheights,thepurelightofmindcouldbeseenflickering。
Amagnificent,useful,andcharmingspectacle。Foraspaceoffifteenyears,thosegreatprincipleswhicharesooldforthethinker,sonewforthestatesman,couldbeseenatworkinperfectpeace,onthepublicsquare;equalitybeforethelaw,libertyofconscience,libertyofspeech,libertyofthepress,theaccessibilityofallaptitudestoallfunctions。Thusitproceededuntil1830。
TheBourbonswereaninstrumentofcivilizationwhichbrokeinthehandsofProvidence。
ThefalloftheBourbonswasfullofgrandeur,notontheirside,butonthesideofthenation。Theyquittedthethronewithgravity,butwithoutauthority;theirdescentintothenightwasnotoneofthosesolemndisappearanceswhichleaveasombreemotioninhistory;
itwasneitherthespectralcalmofCharlesI。,northeeaglescreamofNapoleon。Theydeparted,thatisall。Theylaiddownthecrown,andretainednoaureole。Theywereworthy,buttheywerenotaugust。
Theylacked,inacertainmeasure,themajestyoftheirmisfortune。
CharlesX。duringthevoyagefromCherbourg,causingaroundtabletobecutoverintoasquaretable,appearedtobemoreanxiousaboutimperilledetiquettethanaboutthecrumblingmonarchy。
Thisdiminutionsaddeneddevotedmenwholovedtheirpersons,andseriousmenwhohonoredtheirrace。Thepopulacewasadmirable。Thenation,attackedonemorningwithweapons,byasortofroyalinsurrection,feltitselfinthepossessionofsomuchforcethatitdidnotgointoarage。Itdefendeditself,restraineditself,restoredthingstotheirplaces,thegovernmenttolaw,theBourbonstoexile,alas!andthenhalted!IttooktheoldkingCharlesX。frombeneaththatdaiswhichhadshelteredLouisXIV。andsethimgentlyontheground。
Ittouchedtheroyalpersonagesonlywithsadnessandprecaution。
Itwasnotoneman,itwasnotafewmen,itwasFrance,Franceentire,Francevictoriousandintoxicatedwithhervictory,whoseemedtobecomingtoherself,andwhoputintopractice,beforetheeyesofthewholeworld,thesegravewordsofGuillaumeduVairafterthedayoftheBarricades:——
"Itiseasyforthosewhoareaccustomedtoskimthefavorsofthegreat,andtospring,likeabirdfromboughtobough,fromanafflictedfortunetoaflourishingone,toshowthemselvesharshtowardstheirPrinceinhisadversity;butasforme,thefortuneofmyKingsandespeciallyofmyafflictedKings,willalwaysbevenerabletome。"
TheBourbonscarriedawaywiththemrespect,butnotregret。
Aswehavejuststated,theirmisfortunewasgreaterthantheywere。
Theyfadedoutinthehorizon。
TheRevolutionofJulyinstantlyhadfriendsandenemiesthroughouttheentireworld。Thefirstrushedtowardherwithjoyandenthusiasm,theothersturnedaway,eachaccordingtohisnature。Atthefirstblush,theprincesofEurope,theowlsofthisdawn,shuttheireyes,woundedandstupefied,andonlyopenedthemtothreaten。
Afrightwhichcanbecomprehended,awrathwhichcanbepardoned。
Thisstrangerevolutionhadhardlyproducedashock;ithadnotevenpaidtovanquishedroyaltythehonoroftreatingitasanenemy,andofsheddingitsblood。Intheeyesofdespoticgovernments,whoarealwaysinterestedinhavinglibertycalumniateitself,theRevolutionofJulycommittedthefaultofbeingformidableandofremaininggentle。Nothing,however,wasattemptedorplottedagainstit。Themostdiscontented,themostirritated,themosttrembling,salutedit;whateverouregotismandourrancormaybe,amysteriousrespectspringsfromeventsinwhichwearesensibleofthecollaborationofsomeonewhoisworkingaboveman。
TheRevolutionofJulyisthetriumphofrightoverthrowingthefact。
Athingwhichisfullofsplendor。
Rightoverthrowingthefact。HencethebrilliancyoftheRevolutionof1830,hence,also,itsmildness。Righttriumphanthasnoneedofbeingviolent。
Rightisthejustandthetrue。
Thepropertyofrightistoremaineternallybeautifulandpure。
Thefact,evenwhenmostnecessarytoallappearances,evenwhenmostthoroughlyacceptedbycontemporaries,ifitexistonlyasafact,andifitcontainonlytoolittleofright,ornoneatall,isinfalliblydestinedtobecome,inthecourseoftime,deformed,impure,perhaps,evenmonstrous。Ifonedesirestolearnatoneblow,towhatdegreeofhideousnessthefactcanattain,viewedatthedistanceofcenturies,lethimlookatMachiavelli。Machiavelliisnotanevilgenius,norademon,noramiserableandcowardlywriter;
heisnothingbutthefact。AndheisnotonlytheItalianfact;
heistheEuropeanfact,thefactofthesixteenthcentury。
Heseemshideous,andsoheis,inthepresenceofthemoralideaofthenineteenth。
Thisconflictofrightandfacthasbeengoingoneversincetheoriginofsociety。Toterminatethisduel,toamalgamatethepureideawiththehumanereality,tocauserighttopenetratepacificallyintothefactandthefactintoright,thatisthetaskofsages。
CHAPTERII
BADLYSEWED
Butthetaskofsagesisonething,thetaskofclevermenisanother。
TheRevolutionof1830cametoasuddenhalt。
Assoonasarevolutionhasmadethecoast,theskilfulmakehastetopreparetheshipwreck。
TheskilfulinourcenturyhaveconferredonthemselvesthetitleofStatesmen;sothatthisword,statesmen,hasendedbybecomingsomewhatofaslangword。Itmustbeborneinmind,infact,thatwhereverthereisnothingbutskill,thereisnecessarilypettiness。
Tosay"theskilful"amountstosaying"themediocre。"
Inthesameway,tosay"statesmen"issometimesequivalenttosaying"traitors。"If,then,wearetobelievetheskilful,revolutionsliketheRevolutionofJulyareseveredarteries;apromptligatureisindispensable。Theright,toograndlyproclaimed,isshaken。
Also,rightoncefirmlyfixed,thestatemustbestrengthened。
Libertyonceassured,attentionmustbedirectedtopower。
Herethesagesarenot,asyet,separatedfromtheskilful,buttheybegintobedistrustful。Power,verygood。But,inthefirstplace,whatispower?Inthesecond,whencecomesit?
Theskilfuldonotseemtohearthemurmuredobjection,andtheycontinuetheirmanoeuvres。
Accordingtothepoliticians,whoareingeniousinputtingthemaskofnecessityonprofitablefictions,thefirstrequirementofapeopleafterarevolution,whenthispeopleformspartofamonarchicalcontinent,istoprocureforitselfadynasty。
Inthisway,saythey,peace,thatistosay,timetodressourwounds,andtorepairthehouse,canbehadafterarevolution。
Thedynastyconcealsthescaffoldingandcoverstheambulance。
Now,itisnotalwayseasytoprocureadynasty。
Ifitisabsolutelynecessary,thefirstmanofgeniusoreventhefirstmanoffortunewhocomestohandsufficesforthemanufacturingofaking。Youhave,inthefirstcase,Napoleon;inthesecond,Iturbide。
Butthefirstfamilythatcomestohanddoesnotsufficetomakeadynasty。Thereisnecessarilyrequiredacertainmodicumofantiquityinarace,andthewrinkleofthecenturiescannotbeimprovised。
Ifweplaceourselvesatthepointofviewofthe"statesmen,"aftermakingallallowances,ofcourse,afterarevolution,whatarethequalitiesofthekingwhichresultfromit?Hemaybeanditisusefulforhimtobearevolutionary;thatistosay,aparticipantinhisownpersoninthatrevolution,thatheshouldhavelentahandtoit,thatheshouldhaveeithercompromisedordistinguishedhimselftherein,thatheshouldhavetouchedtheaxeorwieldedtheswordinit。
Whatarethequalitiesofadynasty?Itshouldbenational;thatistosay,revolutionaryatadistance,notthroughactscommitted,butbyreasonofideasaccepted。Itshouldbecomposedofpastandbehistoric;becomposedoffutureandbesympathetic。
Allthisexplainswhytheearlyrevolutionscontentedthemselveswithfindingaman,CromwellorNapoleon;andwhythesecondabsolutelyinsistedonfindingafamily,theHouseofBrunswickortheHouseofOrleans。
RoyalhousesresemblethoseIndianfig—trees,eachbranchofwhich,bendingovertotheearth,takesrootandbecomesafig—treeitself。
Eachbranchmaybecomeadynasty。Onthesoleconditionthatitshallbenddowntothepeople。
Suchisthetheoryoftheskilful。
Here,then,liesthegreatart:tomakealittlerendertosuccessthesoundofacatastropheinorderthatthosewhoprofitbyitmaytremblefromitalso,toseasonwithfeareverystepthatistaken,toaugmentthecurveofthetransitiontothepointofretardingprogress,todullthataurora,todenounceandretrenchtheharshnessofenthusiasm,tocutallanglesandnails,towadtriumph,tomuffleupright,toenvelopthegiant—peopleinflannel,andtoputittobedveryspeedily,toimposeadietonthatexcessofhealth,toputHerculesonthetreatmentofaconvalescent,todilutetheeventwiththeexpedient,tooffertospiritsthirstingfortheidealthatnectarthinnedoutwithapotion,totakeone’sprecautionsagainsttoomuchsuccess,togarnishtherevolutionwithashade。
1830practisedthistheory,alreadyappliedtoEnglandby1688。
1830isarevolutionarrestedmidway。Halfofprogress,quasi—right。Now,logicknowsnotthe"almost,"absolutelyasthesunknowsnotthecandle。
Whoarrestsrevolutionshalf—way?Thebourgeoisie?
Why?
Becausethebourgeoisieisinterestwhichhasreachedsatisfaction。
Yesterdayitwasappetite,to—dayitisplenitude,to—morrowitwillbesatiety。
Thephenomenonof1814afterNapoleonwasreproducedin1830afterCharlesX。
Theattempthasbeenmade,andwrongly,tomakeaclassofthebourgeoisie。Thebourgeoisieissimplythecontentedportionofthepeople。Thebourgeoisisthemanwhonowhastimetositdown。
Achairisnotacaste。
Butthroughadesiretositdowntoosoon,onemayarresttheverymarchofthehumanrace。Thishasoftenbeenthefaultofthebourgeoisie。
Oneisnotaclassbecauseonehascommittedafault。Selfishnessisnotoneofthedivisionsofthesocialorder。
Moreover,wemustbejusttoselfishness。Thestatetowhichthatpartofthenationwhichiscalledthebourgeoisieaspiredaftertheshockof1830wasnottheinertiawhichiscomplicatedwithindifferenceandlaziness,andwhichcontainsalittleshame;
itwasnottheslumberwhichpresupposesamomentaryforgetfulnessaccessibletodreams;itwasthehalt。
Thehaltisawordformedofasingulardoubleandalmostcontradictorysense:atrooponthemarch,thatistosay,movement;astand,thatistosay,repose。
Thehaltistherestorationofforces;itisreposearmedandonthealert;itistheaccomplishedfactwhichpostssentinelsandholdsitselfonitsguard。
Thehaltpresupposesthecombatofyesterdayandthecombatofto—morrow。
Itisthepartitionbetween1830and1848。
Whatweherecallcombatmayalsobedesignatedasprogress。
Thebourgeoisiethen,aswellasthestatesmen,requiredamanwhoshouldexpressthiswordHalt。AnAlthough—Because。
Acompositeindividuality,signifyingrevolutionandsignifyingstability,inotherterms,strengtheningthepresentbytheevidentcompatibilityofthepastwiththefuture。
Thismanwas"alreadyfound。"HisnamewasLouisPhilipped’Orleans。
The221madeLouisPhilippeKing。Lafayetteundertookthecoronation。
Hecalleditthebestofrepublics。Thetown—hallofParistooktheplaceoftheCathedralofRheims。
Thissubstitutionofahalf—throneforawholethronewas"theworkof1830。"
Whentheskilfulhadfinished,theimmenseviceoftheirsolutionbecameapparent。Allthishadbeenaccomplishedoutsidetheboundsofabsoluteright。Absoluterightcried:
"Iprotest!"then,terribletosay,itretiredintothedarkness。
CHAPTERIII
LOUISPHILIPPE
Revolutionshaveaterriblearmandahappyhand,theystrikefirmlyandchoosewell。Evenincomplete,evendebasedandabusedandreducedtothestateofajuniorrevolutionliketheRevolutionof1830,theynearlyalwaysretainsufficientprovidentialluciditytopreventthemfromfallingamiss。Theireclipseisneveranabdication。
Nevertheless,letusnotboasttooloudly;revolutionsalsomaybedeceived,andgraveerrorshavebeenseen。
Letusreturnto1830。1830,initsdeviation,hadgoodluck。
Intheestablishmentwhichentitleditselforderaftertherevolutionhadbeencutshort,theKingamountedtomorethanroyalty。
LouisPhilippewasarareman。
Thesonofafathertowhomhistorywillaccordcertainattenuatingcircumstances,butalsoasworthyofesteemasthatfatherhadbeenofblame;possessingallprivatevirtuesandmanypublicvirtues;
carefulofhishealth,ofhisfortune,ofhisperson,ofhisaffairs,knowingthevalueofaminuteandnotalwaysthevalueofayear;
sober,serene,peaceable,patient;agoodmanandagoodprince;
sleepingwithhiswife,andhavinginhispalacelackeyschargedwiththedutyofshowingtheconjugalbedtothebourgeois,anostentationoftheregularsleeping—apartmentwhichhadbecomeusefulaftertheformerillegitimatedisplaysoftheelderbranch;
knowingallthelanguagesofEurope,and,whatismorerare,allthelanguagesofallinterests,andspeakingthem;anadmirablerepresentativeofthe"middleclass,"butoutstrippingit,andineverywaygreaterthanit;possessingexcellentsense,whileappreciatingthebloodfromwhichhehadsprung,countingmostofallonhisintrinsicworth,and,onthequestionofhisrace,veryparticular,declaringhimselfOrleansandnotBourbon;thoroughlythefirstPrinceoftheBloodRoyalwhilehewasstillonlyaSereneHighness,butafrankbourgeoisfromthedayhebecameking;diffuseinpublic,conciseinprivate;reputed,butnotprovedtobeamiser;
atbottom,oneofthoseeconomistswhoarereadilyprodigalattheirownfancyorduty;lettered,butnotverysensitivetoletters;
agentleman,butnotachevalier;simple,calm,andstrong;
adoredbyhisfamilyandhishousehold;afascinatingtalker,anundeceivedstatesman,inwardlycold,dominatedbyimmediateinterest,alwaysgoverningattheshortestrange,incapableofrancorandofgratitude,makingusewithoutmercyofsuperiorityonmediocrity,cleveringettingparliamentarymajoritiestoputinthewrongthosemysteriousunanimitieswhichmutterdullyunderthrones;
unreserved,sometimesimprudentinhislackofreserve,butwithmarvellousaddressinthatimprudence;fertileinexpedients,incountenances,inmasks;makingFrancefearEuropeandEuropeFrance!
Incontestablyfondofhiscountry,butpreferringhisfamily;
assumingmoredominationthanauthorityandmoreauthoritythandignity,adispositionwhichhasthisunfortunateproperty,thatasitturnseverythingtosuccess,itadmitsofruseanddoesnotabsolutelyrepudiatebaseness,butwhichhasthisvaluableside,thatitpreservespoliticsfromviolentshocks,thestatefromfractures,andsocietyfromcatastrophes;minute,correct,vigilant,attentive,sagacious,indefatigable;contradictinghimselfattimesandgivinghimselfthelie;boldagainstAustriaatAncona,obstinateagainstEnglandinSpain,bombardingAntwerp,andpayingoffPritchard;
singingtheMarseillaisewithconviction,inaccessibletodespondency,tolassitude,tothetasteforthebeautifulandtheideal,todaringgenerosity,toUtopia,tochimeras,towrath,tovanity,tofear;possessingalltheformsofpersonalintrepidity;ageneralatValmy;asoldieratJemappes;attackedeighttimesbyregicidesandalwayssmiling。braveasagrenadier,courageousasathinker;
uneasyonlyinthefaceofthechancesofaEuropeanshakingup,andunfittedforgreatpoliticaladventures;alwaysreadytoriskhislife,neverhiswork;disguisinghiswillininfluence,inorderthathemightbeobeyedasanintelligenceratherthanasaking;
endowedwithobservationandnotwithdivination;notveryattentivetominds,butknowingmen,thatistosayrequiringtoseeinordertojudge;promptandpenetratinggoodsense,practicalwisdom,easyspeech,prodigiousmemory;drawingincessantlyonthismemory,hisonlypointofresemblancewithCaesar,Alexander,andNapoleon;
knowingdeeds,facts,details,dates,propernames,ignorantoftendencies,passions,thediversegeniusesofthecrowd,theinterioraspirations,thehiddenandobscureuprisingsofsouls,inaword,allthatcanbedesignatedastheinvisiblecurrentsofconsciences;acceptedbythesurface,butlittleinaccordwithFrancelowerdown;extricatinghimselfbydintoftact;
governingtoomuchandnotenough;hisownfirstminister;
excellentatcreatingoutofthepettinessofrealitiesanobstacletotheimmensityofideas;minglingagenuinecreativefacultyofcivilization,oforderandorganization,anindescribablespiritofproceedingsandchicanery,thefounderandlawyerofadynasty;
havingsomethingofCharlemagneandsomethingofanattorney;inshort,aloftyandoriginalfigure,aprincewhounderstoodhowtocreateauthorityinspiteoftheuneasinessofFrance,andpowerinspiteofthejealousyofEurope。LouisPhilippewillbeclassedamongtheeminentmenofhiscentury,andwouldberankedamongthemostillustriousgovernorsofhistoryhadhelovedglorybutalittle,andifhehadhadthesentimentofwhatisgreattothesamedegreeasthefeelingforwhatisuseful。
LouisPhilippehadbeenhandsome,andinhisoldageheremainedgraceful;
notalwaysapprovedbythenation,healwayswassobythemasses;
hepleased。Hehadthatgiftofcharming。Helackedmajesty;heworenocrown,althoughaking,andnowhitehair,althoughanoldman;
hismannersbelongedtotheoldregimeandhishabitstothenew;
amixtureofthenobleandthebourgeoiswhichsuited1830;
LouisPhilippewastransitionreigning;hehadpreservedtheancientpronunciationandtheancientorthographywhichheplacedattheserviceofopinionsmodern;helovedPolandandHungary,buthewrotelesPolonois,andhepronouncedlesHongrais。Heworetheuniformofthenationalguard,likeCharlesX。,andtheribbonoftheLegionofHonor,likeNapoleon。
Hewentalittletochapel,notatalltothechase,nevertotheopera。
Incorruptiblebysacristans,bywhippers—in,byballet—dancers;
thismadeapartofhisbourgeoispopularity。Hehadnoheart。
Hewentoutwithhisumbrellaunderhisarm,andthisumbrellalongformedapartofhisaureole。Hewasabitofamason,abitofagardener,somethingofadoctor;hebledapostilionwhohadtumbledfromhishorse;LouisPhilippenomorewentaboutwithouthislancet,thandidHenriIV。withouthisponiard。TheRoyalistsjeeredatthisridiculousking,thefirstwhohadevershedbloodwiththeobjectofhealing。
ForthegrievancesagainstLouisPhilippe,thereisonedeductiontobemade;thereisthatwhichaccusesroyalty,thatwhichaccusesthereign,thatwhichaccusestheKing;threecolumnswhichallgivedifferenttotals。Democraticrightconfiscated,progressbecomesamatterofsecondaryinterest,theprotestsofthestreetviolentlyrepressed,militaryexecutionofinsurrections,therisingpassedoverbyarms,theRueTransnonain,thecounselsofwar,theabsorptionoftherealcountrybythelegalcountry,onhalfshareswiththreehundredthousandprivilegedpersons,——
thesearethedeedsofroyalty;Belgiumrefused,Algeriatooharshlyconquered,and,asinthecaseofIndiabytheEnglish,withmorebarbarismthancivilization,thebreachoffaith,toAbd—el—Kader,Blaye,Deutzbought,Pritchardpaid,——thesearethedoingsofthereign;thepolicywhichwasmoredomesticthannationalwasthedoingoftheKing。
Aswillbeseen,theproperdeductionhavingbeenmade,theKing’schargeisdecreased。
Thisishisgreatfault;hewasmodestinthenameofFrance。
Whencearisesthisfault?
Wewillstateit。
LouisPhilippewasrathertoomuchofapaternalking;thatincubationofafamilywiththeobjectoffoundingadynastyisafraidofeverythinganddoesnotliketobedisturbed;henceexcessivetimidity,whichisdispleasingtothepeople,whohavethe14thofJulyintheircivilandAusterlitzintheirmilitarytradition。
Moreover,ifwedeductthepublicdutieswhichrequiretobefulfilledfirstofall,thatdeeptendernessofLouisPhilippetowardshisfamilywasdeservedbythefamily。Thatdomesticgroupwasworthyofadmiration。Virtuestheredweltsidebysidewithtalents。
OneofLouisPhilippe’sdaughters,Maried’Orleans,placedthenameofherraceamongartists,asCharlesd’Orleanshadplaceditamongpoets。ShemadeofhersoulamarblewhichshenamedJeanned’Arc。TwoofLouisPhilippe’sdaughterselicitedfromMetternichthiseulogium:"Theyareyoungpeoplesuchasarerarelyseen,andprincessuchasareneverseen。"
This,withoutanydissimulation,andalsowithoutanyexaggeration,isthetruthaboutLouisPhilippe。
TobePrinceEquality,tobearinhisownpersonthecontradictionoftheRestorationandtheRevolution,tohavethatdisquietingsideoftherevolutionarywhichbecomesreassuringingoverningpower,thereinlaythefortuneofLouisPhilippein1830;
neverwasthereamorecompleteadaptationofamantoanevent;
theoneenteredintotheother,andtheincarnationtookplace。
LouisPhilippeis1830mademan。Moreover,hehadinhisfavorthatgreatrecommendationtothethrone,exile。Hehadbeenproscribed,awanderer,poor。Hehadlivedbyhisownlabor。InSwitzerland,thisheirtotherichestprincelydomainsinFrancehadsoldanoldhorseinordertoobtainbread。AtReichenau,hegavelessonsinmathematics,whilehissisterAdelaidedidwoolworkandsewed。
Thesesouvenirsconnectedwithakingrenderedthebourgeoisieenthusiastic。Hehad,withhisownhands,demolishedtheironcageofMont—Saint—Michel,builtbyLouisXI,andusedbyLouisXV。
HewasthecompanionofDumouriez,hewasthefriendofLafayette;
hehadbelongedtotheJacobins’club;Mirabeauhadslappedhimontheshoulder;Dantonhadsaidtohim:"Youngman!"
Attheageoffourandtwenty,in’93,beingthenM。deChartres,hehadwitnessed,fromthedepthofabox,thetrialofLouisXVI。,sowellnamedthatpoortyrant。TheblindclairvoyanceoftheRevolution,breakingroyaltyintheKingandtheKingwithroyalty,didsoalmostwithoutnoticingthemaninthefiercecrushingoftheidea,thevaststormoftheAssembly—Tribunal,thepublicwrathinterrogating,Capetnotknowingwhattoreply,thealarming,stupefiedvacillationbythatroyalheadbeneaththatsombrebreath,therelativeinnocenceofallinthatcatastrophe,ofthosewhocondemnedaswellasofthemancondemned,——hehadlookedonthosethings,hehadcontemplatedthatgiddiness;hehadseenthecenturiesappearbeforethebaroftheAssembly—Convention;
hehadbeheld,behindLouisXVI。,thatunfortunatepasser—bywhowasmaderesponsible,theterribleculprit,themonarchy,risethroughtheshadows;andtherehadlingeredinhissoultherespectfulfearoftheseimmensejusticesofthepopulace,whicharealmostasimpersonalasthejusticeofGod。
ThetraceleftinhimbytheRevolutionwasprodigious。Itsmemorywaslikealivingimprintofthosegreatyears,minutebyminute。
Oneday,inthepresenceofawitnesswhomwearenotpermittedtodoubt,herectifiedfrommemorythewholeoftheletterAinthealphabeticallistoftheConstituentAssembly。
LouisPhilippewasakingofthebroaddaylight。Whilehereignedthepresswasfree,thetribunewasfree,conscienceandspeechwerefree。ThelawsofSeptemberareopentosight。
Althoughfullyawareofthegnawingpoweroflightonprivileges,helefthisthroneexposedtothelight。Historywilldojusticetohimforthisloyalty。
LouisPhilippe,likeallhistoricalmenwhohavepassedfromthescene,isto—dayputonhistrialbythehumanconscience。Hiscaseis,asyet,onlyinthelowercourt。
Thehourwhenhistoryspeakswithitsfreeandvenerableaccent,hasnotyetsoundedforhim;themomenthasnotcometopronounceadefinitejudgmentonthisking;theaustereandillustrioushistorianLouisBlanchashimselfrecentlysoftenedhisfirstverdict;
LouisPhilippewaselectedbythosetwoalmostswhicharecalledthe221and1830,thatistosay,byahalf—Parliament,andahalf—revolution;andinanycase,fromthesuperiorpointofviewwherephilosophymustplaceitself,wecannotjudgehimhere,asthereaderhasseenabove,exceptwithcertainreservationsinthenameoftheabsolutedemocraticprinciple;intheeyesoftheabsolute,outsidethesetworights,therightofmaninthefirstplace,therightofthepeopleinthesecond,allisusurpation;butwhatwecansay,evenatthepresentday,thataftermakingthesereservesis,thattosumupthewhole,andinwhatevermannerheisconsidered,LouisPhilippe,takeninhimself,andfromthepointofviewofhumangoodness,willremain,tousetheantiquelanguageofancienthistory,oneofthebestprinceswhoeversatonathrone。
Whatisthereagainsthim?Thatthrone。TakeawayLouisPhilippetheking,thereremainstheman。Andthemanisgood。Heisgoodattimeseventothepointofbeingadmirable。Often,inthemidstofhisgravestsouvenirs,afteradayofconflictwiththewholediplomacyofthecontinent,hereturnedatnighttohisapartments,andthere,exhaustedwithfatigue,overwhelmedwithsleep,whatdidhedo?
Hetookadeathsentenceandpassedthenightinrevisingacriminalsuit,consideringitsomethingtoholdhisownagainstEurope,butthatitwasastillgreatermattertorescueamanfromtheexecutioner。
Heobstinatelymaintainedhisopinionagainsthiskeeperoftheseals;
hedisputedthegroundwiththeguillotinefootbyfootagainstthecrownattorneys,thosechatterersofthelaw,ashecalledthem。
Sometimesthepileofsentencescoveredhistable;heexaminedthemall;
itwasanguishtohimtoabandonthesemiserable,condemnedheads。
Oneday,hesaidtothesamewitnesstowhomwehaverecentlyreferred:
"Iwonsevenlastnight。"Duringtheearlyyearsofhisreign,thedeathpenaltywasasgoodasabolished,andtheerectionofascaffoldwasaviolencecommittedagainsttheKing。TheGrevehavingdisappearedwiththeelderbranch,abourgeoisplaceofexecutionwasinstitutedunderthenameoftheBarriere—Saint—Jacques;
"practicalmen"feltthenecessityofaquasi—legitimateguillotine;
andthiswasoneofthevictoriesofCasimirPerier,whorepresentedthenarrowsidesofthebourgeoisie,overLouisPhilippe,whorepresenteditsliberalsides。LouisPhilippeannotatedBeccariawithhisownhand。AftertheFieschimachine,heexclaimed:
"WhatapitythatIwasnotwounded!ThenImighthavepardoned!"
Onanotheroccasion,alludingtotheresistanceofferedbyhisministry,hewroteinconnectionwithapoliticalcriminal,whoisoneofthemostgenerousfiguresofourday:"Hispardonisgranted;itonlyremainsformetoobtainit。"LouisPhilippewasasgentleasLouisIX。
andaskindlyasHenriIV。
Now,toourmind,inhistory,wherekindnessistherarestofpearls,themanwhoiskindlyalmosttakesprecedenceofthemanwhoisgreat。
LouisPhilippehavingbeenseverelyjudgedbysome,harshly,perhaps,byothers,itisquitenaturalthataman,himselfaphantomatthepresentday,whoknewthatking,shouldcomeandtestifyinhisfavorbeforehistory;thisdeposition,whateverelseitmaybe,isevidentlyandaboveallthings,entirelydisinterested;anepitaphpennedbyadeadmanissincere;oneshademayconsoleanothershade;
thesharingofthesameshadowsconferstherighttopraiseit;
itisnotgreatlytobefearedthatitwilleverbesaidoftwotombsinexile:"Thisoneflatteredtheother。"
CHAPTERIV
CRACKSBENEATHTHEFOUNDATION
AtthemomentwhenthedramawhichwearenarratingisonthepointofpenetratingintothedepthsofoneofthetragiccloudswhichenvelopthebeginningofLouisPhilippe’sreign,itwasnecessarythatthereshouldbenoequivoque,anditbecamerequisitethatthisbookshouldoffersomeexplanationwithregardtothisking。
LouisPhilippehadenteredintopossessionofhisroyalauthoritywithoutviolence,withoutanydirectactiononhispart,byvirtueofarevolutionarychange,evidentlyquitedistinctfromtherealaimoftheRevolution,butinwhichhe,theDucd’Orleans,exercisednopersonalinitiative。HehadbeenbornaPrince,andhebelievedhimselftohavebeenelectedKing。Hehadnotservedthismandateonhimself;hehadnottakenit;ithadbeenofferedtohim,andhehadacceptedit;convinced,wrongly,tobesure,butconvincednevertheless,thattheofferwasinaccordancewithrightandthattheacceptanceofitwasinaccordancewithduty。
Hencehispossessionwasingoodfaith。Now,wesayitingoodconscience,LouisPhilippebeinginpossessioninperfectgoodfaith,andthedemocracybeingingoodfaithinitsattack,theamountofterrordischargedbythesocialconflictsweighsneitherontheKingnoronthedemocracy。Aclashofprinciplesresemblesaclashofelements。Theoceandefendsthewater,thehurricanedefendstheair,theKingdefendsRoyalty,thedemocracydefendsthepeople;therelative,whichisthemonarchy,resiststheabsolute,whichistherepublic;societybleedsinthisconflict,butthatwhichconstitutesitssufferingto—daywillconstituteitssafetylateron;and,inanycase,thosewhocombatarenottobeblamed;
oneofthetwopartiesisevidentlymistaken;therightisnot,liketheColossusofRhodes,ontwoshoresatonce,withonefootontherepublic,andoneinRoyalty;itisindivisible,andallononeside;butthosewhoareinerroraresosincerely;
ablindmanisnomoreacriminalthanaVendeanisaruffian。
Letus,then,imputetothefatalityofthingsalonetheseformidablecollisions。Whateverthenatureofthesetempestsmaybe,humanirresponsibilityismingledwiththem。
Letuscompletethisexposition。
Thegovernmentof1840ledahardlifeimmediately。Bornyesterday,itwasobligedtofightto—day。
Hardlyinstalled,itwasalreadyeverywhereconsciousofvaguemovementsoftractionontheapparatusofJulysorecentlylaid,andsolackinginsolidity。
Resistancewasbornonthemorrow;perhapseven,itwasbornontheprecedingevening。Frommonthtomonththehostilityincreased,andfrombeingconcealeditbecamepatent。
TheRevolutionofJuly,whichgainedbutlittleacceptanceoutsideofFrancebykings,hadbeendiverselyinterpretedinFrance,aswehavesaid。
Goddeliversovertomenhisvisiblewillinevents,anobscuretextwritteninamysterioustongue。Menimmediatelymaketranslationsofit;translationshasty,incorrect,fulloferrors,ofgaps,andofnonsense。Veryfewmindscomprehendthedivinelanguage。
Themostsagacious,thecalmest,themostprofound,decipherslowly,andwhentheyarrivewiththeirtext,thetaskhaslongbeencompleted;
therearealreadytwentytranslationsonthepublicplace。
Fromeachremainingspringsaparty,andfromeachmisinterpretationafaction;andeachpartythinksthatitalonehasthetruetext,andeachfactionthinksthatitpossessesthelight。
Poweritselfisoftenafaction。
Thereare,inrevolutions,swimmerswhogoagainstthecurrent;
theyaretheoldparties。
FortheoldpartieswhoclungtohereditybythegraceofGod,thinkthatrevolutions,havingsprungfromtherighttorevolt,onehastherighttorevoltagainstthem。Error。Forintheserevolutions,theonewhorevoltsisnotthepeople;itistheking。
Revolutionispreciselythecontraryofrevolt。Everyrevolution,beinganormaloutcome,containswithinitselfitslegitimacy,whichfalserevolutionistssometimesdishonor,butwhichremainsevenwhensoiled,whichsurvivesevenwhenstainedwithblood。
Revolutionsspringnotfromanaccident,butfromnecessity。
Arevolutionisareturnfromthefictitioustothereal。Itisbecauseitmustbethatitis。
NonethelessdidtheoldlegitimistpartiesassailtheRevolutionof1830withallthevehemencewhicharisesfromfalsereasoning。
Errorsmakeexcellentprojectiles。Theystrikeitcleverlyinitsvulnerablespot,indefaultofacuirass,initslackoflogic;
theyattackedthisrevolutioninitsroyalty。Theyshoutedtoit:
"Revolution,whythisking?"Factionsareblindmenwhoaimcorrectly。
Thiscrywasutteredequallybytherepublicans。Butcomingfromthem,thiscrywaslogical。Whatwasblindnessinthelegitimistswasclearnessofvisioninthedemocrats。1830hadbankruptedthepeople。
Theenrageddemocracyreproacheditwiththis。
Betweentheattackofthepastandtheattackofthefuture,theestablishmentofJulystruggled。Itrepresentedtheminuteatloggerheadsontheonehandwiththemonarchicalcenturies,ontheotherhandwitheternalright。
Inaddition,andbesideallthis,asitwasnolongerrevolutionandhadbecomeamonarchy,1830wasobligedtotakeprecedenceofallEurope。
Tokeepthepeace,wasanincreaseofcomplication。Aharmonyestablishedcontrarytosenseisoftenmoreonerousthanawar。
Fromthissecretconflict,alwaysmuzzled,butalwaysgrowling,wasbornarmedpeace,thatruinousexpedientofcivilizationwhichintheharnessoftheEuropeancabinetsissuspiciousinitself。
TheRoyaltyofJulyrearedup,inspiteofthefactthatitcaughtitintheharnessofEuropeancabinets。Metternichwouldgladlyhaveputitinkicking—straps。PushedoninFrancebyprogress,itpushedonthemonarchies,thoseloiterersinEurope。Afterhavingbeentowed,itundertooktotow。
Meanwhile,withinher,pauperism,theproletariat,salary,education,penalservitude,prostitution,thefateofthewoman,wealth,misery,production,consumption,division,exchange,coin,credit,therightsofcapital,therightsoflabor,——
allthesequestionsweremultipliedabovesociety,aterribleslope。
Outsideofpoliticalpartiesproperlysocalled,anothermovementbecamemanifest。Philosophicalfermentationrepliedtodemocraticfermentation。Theelectfelttroubledaswellasthemasses;
inanothermanner,butquiteasmuch。
Thinkersmeditated,whilethesoil,thatistosay,thepeople,traversedbyrevolutionarycurrents,trembledunderthemwithindescribablyvagueepilepticshocks。Thesedreamers,someisolated,othersunitedinfamiliesandalmostincommunion,turnedoversocialquestionsinapacificbutprofoundmanner;impassiveminers,whotranquillypushedtheirgalleriesintothedepthsofavolcano,hardlydisturbedbythedullcommotionandthefurnacesofwhichtheycaughtglimpses。
Thistranquillitywasnottheleastbeautifulspectacleofthisagitatedepoch。
Thesemenlefttopoliticalpartiesthequestionofrights,theyoccupiedthemselveswiththequestionofhappiness。
Thewell—beingofman,thatwaswhattheywantedtoextractfromsociety。
Theyraisedmaterialquestions,questionsofagriculture,ofindustry,ofcommerce,almosttothedignityofareligion。Incivilization,suchasithasformeditself,alittlebythecommandofGod,agreatdealbytheagencyofman,interestscombine,unite,andamalgamateinamannertoformaveritablehardrock,inaccordancewithadynamiclaw,patientlystudiedbyeconomists,thosegeologistsofpolitics。
Thesemenwhogroupedthemselvesunderdifferentappellations,butwhomayallbedesignatedbythegenerictitleofsocialists,endeavoredtopiercethatrockandtocauseittospoutforththelivingwatersofhumanfelicity。
Fromthequestionofthescaffoldtothequestionofwar,theirworksembracedeverything。Totherightsofman,asproclaimedbytheFrenchRevolution,theyaddedtherightsofwomanandtherightsofthechild。
Thereaderwillnotbesurprisedif,forvariousreasons,wedonotheretreatinathoroughmanner,fromthetheoreticalpointofview,thequestionsraisedbysocialism。Weconfineourselvestoindicatingthem。
Alltheproblemsthatthesocialistsproposedtothemselves,cosmogonicvisions,reveryandmysticismbeingcastaside,canbereducedtotwoprincipalproblems。
Firstproblem:Toproducewealth。
Secondproblem:Toshareit。
Thefirstproblemcontainsthequestionofwork。
Thesecondcontainsthequestionofsalary。
Inthefirstproblemtheemploymentofforcesisinquestion。
Inthesecond,thedistributionofenjoyment。
Fromtheproperemploymentofforcesresultspublicpower。
Fromagooddistributionofenjoymentsresultsindividualhappiness。
Byagooddistribution,notanequalbutanequitabledistributionmustbeunderstood。
Fromthesetwothingscombined,thepublicpowerwithout,individualhappinesswithin,resultssocialprosperity。
Socialprosperitymeansthemanhappy,thecitizenfree,thenationgreat。
Englandsolvesthefirstofthesetwoproblems。Shecreateswealthadmirably,shedividesitbadly。Thissolutionwhichiscompleteononesideonlyleadsherfatallytotwoextremes:
monstrousopulence,monstrouswretchedness。Allenjoymentsforsome,allprivationsfortherest,thatistosay,forthepeople;
privilege,exception,monopoly,feudalism,bornfromtoilitself。
Afalseanddangeroussituation,whichsatespublicpowerorprivatemisery,whichsetstherootsoftheStateinthesufferingsoftheindividual。Abadlyconstitutedgrandeurinwhicharecombinedallthematerialelementsandintowhichnomoralelemententers。
Communismandagrarianlawthinkthattheysolvethesecondproblem。
Theyaremistaken。Theirdivisionkillsproduction。Equalpartitionabolishesemulation;andconsequentlylabor。Itisapartitionmadebythebutcher,whichkillsthatwhichitdivides。Itisthereforeimpossibletopauseoverthesepretendedsolutions。
Slayingwealthisnotthesamethingasdividingit。
Thetwoproblemsrequiretobesolvedtogether,tobewellsolved。
Thetwoproblemsmustbecombinedandmadebutone。
Solveonlythefirstofthetwoproblems;youwillbeVenice,youwillbeEngland。Youwillhave,likeVenice,anartificialpower,or,likeEngland,amaterialpower;youwillbethewickedrichman。Youwilldiebyanactofviolence,asVenicedied,orbybankruptcy,asEnglandwillfall。Andtheworldwillallowtodieandfallallthatismerelyselfishness,allthatdoesnotrepresentforthehumanraceeitheravirtueoranidea。
Itiswellunderstoodhere,thatbythewordsVenice,England,wedesignatenotthepeoples,butsocialstructures;theoligarchiessuperposedonnations,andnotthenationsthemselves。Thenationsalwayshaveourrespectandoursympathy。Venice,asapeople,willliveagain;England,thearistocracy,willfall,butEngland,thenation,isimmortal。Thatsaid,wecontinue。
Solvethetwoproblems,encouragethewealthy,andprotectthepoor,suppressmisery,putanendtotheunjustfarmingoutofthefeeblebythestrong,putabridleontheiniquitousjealousyofthemanwhoismakinghiswayagainstthemanwhohasreachedthegoal,adjust,mathematicallyandfraternally,salarytolabor,minglegratuitousandcompulsoryeducationwiththegrowthofchildhood,andmakeofsciencethebaseofmanliness,developmindswhilekeepingarmsbusy,beatoneandthesametimeapowerfulpeopleandafamilyofhappymen,renderpropertydemocratic,notbyabolishingit,butbymakingituniversal,sothateverycitizen,withoutexception,maybeaproprietor,aneasiermatterthanisgenerallysupposed;
intwowords,learnhowtoproducewealthandhowtodistributeit,andyouwillhaveatoncemoralandmaterialgreatness;andyouwillbeworthytocallyourselfFrance。
Thisiswhatsocialismsaidoutsideandaboveafewsectswhichhavegoneastray;thatiswhatitsoughtinfacts,thatiswhatitsketchedoutinminds。
Effortsworthyofadmiration!Sacredattempts!
Thesedoctrines,thesetheories,theseresistances,theunforeseennecessityforthestatesmantotakephilosophersintoaccount,confusedevidencesofwhichwecatchaglimpse,anewsystemofpoliticstobecreated,whichshallbeinaccordwiththeoldworldwithouttoomuchdisaccordwiththenewrevolutionaryideal,asituationinwhichitbecamenecessarytouseLafayettetodefendPolignac,theintuitionofprogresstransparentbeneaththerevolt,thechambersandstreets,thecompetitionstobebroughtintoequilibriumaroundhim,hisfaithintheRevolution,perhapsaneventualindefinableresignationbornofthevagueacceptanceofasuperiordefinitiveright,hisdesiretoremainofhisrace,hisdomesticspirit,hissincererespectforthepeople,hisownhonesty,preoccupiedLouisPhilippealmostpainfully,andthereweremomentswhenstrongandcourageousashewas,hewasoverwhelmedbythedifficultiesofbeingaking。
Hefeltunderhisfeetaformidabledisaggregation,whichwasnot,nevertheless,areductiontodust,FrancebeingmoreFrancethanever。
Pilesofshadowscoveredthehorizon。Astrangeshade,graduallydrawingnearer,extendedlittlebylittleovermen,overthings,overideas;ashadewhichcamefromwrathsandsystems。
Everythingwhichhadbeenhastilystifledwasmovingandfermenting。
Attimestheconscienceofthehonestmanresumeditsbreathing,sogreatwasthediscomfortofthatairinwhichsophismswereintermingledwithtruths。Spiritstrembledinthesocialanxietylikeleavesattheapproachofastorm。Theelectrictensionwassuchthatatcertaininstants,thefirstcomer,astranger,broughtlight。Thenthetwilightobscurityclosedinagain。
Atintervals,deepanddullmutteringsallowedajudgmenttobeformedastothequantityofthundercontainedbythecloud。
TwentymonthshadbarelyelapsedsincetheRevolutionofJuly,theyear1832hadopenedwithanaspectofsomethingimpendingandthreatening。