The news is excellent, in a few hours perhaps it will be better. We
rejoice beforehand at the almost certain prospect of pacification. The
sun shines, the boulevards are crowded with people, the faces of the
women especially are beaming. What is the cause of all this joy? A
placard has just been posted up on all the walls in the city. I copy it
with pleasure.
“DEAR FELLOW CITIZENS,—I hasten to announce to you that together with
the Deputies of the Seine and the Mayors of Paris, we have obtained
from the Government of the National Assembly: 1st. The complete
recognition of your municipal franchises; 2nd. The right of electing
all the officers of the National Guard, as well as the
general-in-chief; 3rd. Modifications of the law on bills; 4th. A
project for a law on rents, favourable to tenants paying 1,200 francs a
year, or less than that sum. Until you have confirmed my nomination, or
until you name some one else in my stead, I shall continue to remain at
my post to watch over the execution of these conciliatory measures that
we have succeeded in obtaining, and to contribute to the well-being of
the Republic!
“The Vice-Admiral and
Provisional Commander,
SAISSET
Paris, 23rd March.”
Well! this is opportune and to the purpose. The National Assembly has
understood that, in a town like Paris, a revolution in which a third of
the population is engaged, cannot be alone actuated by motives of
robbery and murder;[20] and that if some of the demands of the people
are illegitimate or premature, there are at least others, which it is
but right should obtain justice. Paris is never entirely in the wrong.
Certainly among the authors and leaders of the 18th March, there are
many who are very guilty. The murderers of General Lecomte and General
Clément Thomas should be sought out and punished. All honest men must
demand and expect that a minute inquiry be instituted concerning the
massacres in the Place Vendôme. It must be acknowledged that all the
Federals, officers and soldiers, are not devils or drunkards. A few
hundred men getting drunk in the cabarets—(I have perhaps been wrong to
lay so much stress here upon the prevalence of this vice among the
insurrectionists)—a few tipsy brutes, ought not to be sufficient to
authorise us to condemn a hundred thousand men, among whom are
certainly to be found some right-minded persons who are convinced of
the justice of their cause. These unknown and suddenly elevated chiefs,
whom the revolution has singled out, are they all unworthy of our
esteem, and devoid of capacity? They possess, perhaps, a new and vital
force that it would be right and perhaps necessary to utilise somehow.
The ideas which they represent ought to be studied, and if they prove
useful, put into practice. This is what the Assembly has understood and
what it has done. By concessions which enlarge rather than diminish its
influence, it puts all right-minded men, soldiers and officers, under
the obligation of returning to their allegiance. Those who, having read
the proclamation of Admiral Saisset, still refuse to recognise the
Government, are no longer men acting for the sake of Paris and the
Republic, but rioters guilty of pursuing the most criminal paths, for
the gratification of their own bad passions. Thus the tares will be
separated from the wheat, and torn up without mercy. Yesterday and the
day before, at the Place de la Bourse, at the Place des Victoires and
the Bank, we were resolved on resistance—resistance, nothing more, for
none of us, I am sure, would have fired a shot without sufficient
provocation—and even this resolution cost us much pain and some
hesitation. We felt that in the event of our being attacked, our shots
might strike many an innocent breast—and perhaps at the last moment our
hearts would have failed us. Now, no thoughts of that kind can hinder
us. In recognising our demand, the Assembly has got right entirely on
its side, we shall now consider all rebellion against the authority of
which it makes so able a use, as an act entailing immediate punishment.
Until now, fearing to be abandoned or misunderstood by the Government,
we had determined to obey the mayors and deputies elected by the
people, but the Assembly, by its judicious conduct, has shown itself
worthy confidence. Let them command, we are ready to obey.
Truly this change in the attitude of the Government is at once strange
and delightful. No later than yesterday their language was quite
different. The manner in which the majority received the mayors did not
lead us to expect a termination so favourable to the wishes of all
concerned. But this is all past, let us not recriminate. Let us rather
rejoice in our present good fortune, and try and forget the dangers
which seemed but now so imminent. I hear from all sides that the
Deputies of the Seine and the mayors, fully empowered, are busy
concluding the last arrangements. Municipal elections are talked of,
for the 2nd April; thus every cause for discontent is about to
disappear. Capital! Paris is satisfied. Shops re-open. The promenades
are crowded with people; the Place Vendôme alone does not brighten with
the rest, but it soon will. The weather is lovely, people accost each
other in the streets with a smile; one almost wonders they do not
embrace. Is to-day Friday? No, it is Sunday. Bravo! Assembly.