M. Paul de Cassagnac, the Bonapartist publicist, who protests against
the freedom of the Press, and uses language which makes one almost agree with him, has made a speech in Belleville. It was a compound of humour, bravado, and impudence. He accused Gambetta of cowardice for leaving Paris in a balloon to take charge of the war outside Paris, declared that the sons of Jules Simon entered an ambulance, and asserted that Jules Fevre had falsified public documents. He did not defend the 2nd of December, 1852, but maintained that all -done on that day was cendoned by the plebiscite, for " the people have the right to pardon, to change, to do all."
The people care nothing for the liberty of the Press. " What is more essential to them is to eat, drink, and sleep If the Empire came back, it would suppress the octroi, change the law of succession—that is, we presume, claim for the State a large share in successions—and so rearrange taxation as to press less heavily on the poor. This cynical speech was •well received, and M. de Cassagnac has obtained much applause for his daring ; but the Republicans say the meeting was packed, and the workmen ask the speaker to another meeting, which, however, he declines, as he suspects an ambuscade.
Previous page
