LETTERS FROM PARIS, BY 0. P. Q.
No. XXI.
THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAYS OF JULY.
TO THE EDITOR Ok' TIIE SPECTATOR.
Paris, 30th Jay 1834,
Stu—The Gardens of the Tuileries, yesterday so gorgeous and so gay, are M. (lay nearly deserted. The Champs Elysees, yesterday the scene of music, dancing, pole-climbing, and rope-dancing, where the young thought themselves happy, and the old talked of the fetes of the Empire and the Convention, ate now knee-deep in mud ; whilst tine booth-proprietors and moveable tavern. keepers are recounting all the horrors of last night's thunder-storm, and all the losses they sustained by being present at the fetes. The Place Louis XVI., yes- terday adorned with so many lamps. and from which one gained last night a view of the Barriere de l'Etoile and the Palace of the Tuileries at then sauna moment, though at opposite extremities of those beautiful public promenades, is now merely occupied by journeymen carpenters, who are engaged in (lest! (iyieg the platforms and stands they erected twenty-four hours ago. The quay:, Irmo Passy to the Carrousel, yesterday crammed by the curious to gaze on the jousts on the water, the fireworks on the Quay d'Orsay, and the balloon from the Chamber of Deputies, are now quietly traversed by the slow-pacing oninibite at six sous a league. The Place Vendome, the day before yesterday a military parade, and yesterday brilliant with illuminations, is to-day got back again to its quiet column of bronze, surmounted by the Emperor as its apotheosis. The public buildings, yesterday sparkling with tricoloured flags and ti i.colourea lights, have now resumed their wonted sobriety; the fireworks are all expended, the rockets have all burst, the lights are all out, and we have got back to a plaiu and everyday world. I do not complain of this. It is as it should be. Pleasures and fetes, amuse- ments and recreation, ought to constitute not the business but the exceptions to the occupations of life. But as the fetes have terminated—as the young eery- mat ried couples, whose fathers or mothers or guardians were killed in the streets of Paris in July 1830, have now commenced the duties of domestic life—as ihe provisions bestowed gratuitously on the poor by the different arrondissements on the first day of the anniversary are all distributed—as the review of the National Guards and of the garrison of Paris by Louis Pilule, King of the French, has been passed—as the funeral honours rendered by the church to the dead, and by the patriotic to their departed friends, have been paid—as the games in the Champs Elysees are all closed, the shows shut up or removed, and the malls already on their way to country fetes in the Depaitments--as the concert in the Gardens of the Tuileries was closed by heaven's artillery, a roaring thunder- storm, at an early hour—as the prizes to the water-wrestlers have been all (Esti ibuted, and the banquet of the mariners eaten and forgotten—as the splendid fireworks and the earth-shaking cannon have ceased to illuminate even the heavens, and to make Paris tremble with their repeated firing—as, in one word, all the fetes are over, and nothing remains to be dune but to count the cost and pay the expenses ; it will neither be uninteresting nor unprofitable, to pass over the events of the last three (lays in a rapid review, and to make some tellections which those events cannot fail to recall and to excite.
The fourth anniversary of the Days of July has been more frugally and less enthusiastically kept than any which have preceded it. The concourse of peo- ple has been much less than on any former occasion. Multitudes of workmen went on with their occupations during the whole of the three days, as if they had been mere ordinary days of an ordinary week ; others by thousands left Ririe, and went to see their relatives or friends in the adjoining departments, or towns and villages ; a vast number of sump, and even wholesale dealers and manufactories, were open just as usual ; and the whole population did not, as in 1831 and 1832, give themselves up to the fetes of July. This is a fact ; and the reason is obvious. Not the Revolution, but the Counter.Revoletion, is just now making progress. It will not be so always. I know and Ana that ; but it is so just now ; and the tradespeople ask—.., Why keep the Revo- lution of July as a fete, when the object of time Government is to avert its na- tural consequences, and destroy its influence?" Besides this, there arc thou- sands in Pais who feel, that it is an insult to time Revolution of July to affect to fete it, when the Government is engaged by day and by night in attacking it. These refuses! to be present at any of the ceremonies of the last three (lays ; and they included four-fifths of the educated portion of the rising generation. I saw but two Polytechnic lads the whole of the three days, at all the three days' fetes. The marriages of the young couple whose parents died in the Revolution of July 1830, would attract more interest and secure more attention, but for the scheme of the Government, which has been to confound with these or- phans, the orphans of the National Guards or solliers, who fought against the patriotic and the Republican parties in the streets of Paris, Lyons, St. Etienne, &c., in the months of June 1832 and July 1834. By this manceuvie of the Juste Milieu and Doctrinaires, it is made to appear, that the cause of the Peo- ple in 1830 was the seine cause as that of the Orleans in 1832 and 1834; and the original intentions of the People and of the first Legislature after the Revolution of 1830 are thus defeated. The Revolution of 1830 ought to stand alone ; not to be mixed up with any subsequent insurrections or quarrels, but remain pure and immaculate as it was when made. The Revolution of Hal was not a revolution made far "order" against "liberty," or for " pcaFe against " war." The Revolution of 1830 was made by all the Parisians against all the Bourbons—against foreign invasion—against the Treaties of Vienna-
against a dynasty placed on the throne by fsreign dictation—against illegal or- dinances—against the principle of Hereditary and Legitimate Monarchy. This was the Revolution of 1830. To confound it with the party insurrections of Paris in 1832 and 1t334, is an act of sacrilege or of high treason. The one was -a national movement and a national victory ; the others were party attacks and dynastic triumphs. This marrying, then, of the orphans of July 1830 with the denastie or monarchical orphans of 18:32 and 1834, whose parents perished in attacks on portions at least of the French people, is, to say the best of it, an act of had taste, and evinces a great deficiency of Judgment. The memory of civil wars
should not be encouraged, but should be discouraged and avoided. The Revolu- tion of 1830 was riot a civil war. The Insurrections of 1832 and 1834 were, on the contrary, most bloody civil conflicts ; and though all may individually deplore the loss of those who on both sides fell in those awful struggles, yet we have no right to place their orphans era a footing with those who were engaged in the national movements of 1630. The answer made to my objection is, that the Revolution of 1830 was made to defend the laws, the Charter, public liberty, and a constitutional throne ; and that the movements of those who in 1832 and 1834 defended the throne of 1830 against the Republicans and Patriots, partook of the same character. Now this 1 deny. It is false that the Revolution of July 18:30 was made to defend the laws, the Charter, and a censtitutional throne. It %vas made for no such purpose. It was made to overthrow the laws, and it did so—to overthrow the Charter, and it did so—to overthrow the throne, and it did so: whereas the movements of the National Guards an troops in 1832 and 1834 were purely dynastic or monarchical movements against both Patriots and Republicans. Whilst, then, I sincerely desire the happiness and prosperity of all the new-married couples of the fourth anniversary, still I pro- test against this bastatd coalition between the orphans of the Revolution of 1830 sod the orphans of the repressive forces of the dynasty of 18;32 and 1834. The funereal ceremonies of 1834 were by no recalls so splendid, so well-at- tended, or so imposing and well-arranged, as those of last year. The Arch- bishop of Palos has indeed suffered that the dead should be prayed fur in his churches, and masses be snug for their souls : but for whom has lie ordered these prayers to be chanted, and these funeral services to be performed ? For those who died in fighting agtinst the troops of Cit ARLES the Tenth in 1830 ?—No- For those who beat the troops in the Hotel de Ville, at the Tuileries, at the Louvre, at the Barracks, and behind the Barricades ?- -No, no : this would be to give the lie to all his sermons, homilies, addresses, and conduct. But he per- mits a Catholic service to be uttered in all the parish churches—" for the dead ;" and the mass is " in anniversaries! " That is all. So that the priests pray for the Swiss Guards who were shot, and for the troops of CHARLES the Tenth who were shot ; for all who remained faithful to the last to the cause of the eldest branch of the House of Bourbon; and finally, for all others who on those three days, from fear or from other causes, expired in Paris or elsewhere. Not one word is said or sung about those who died in defence of the cause of the people, of liberty, of justice, and of popular sovereignty : but it is merely " an anniversary mass in behalf of all who died on the 27th, 28th, and 29th July IMO." Now what is this but Jesuistry and deception ? The Roman Catholic clergy in France have pot forgiven the Revolution of Paris. Q EELEU, the Archbishop, is as inveterate as ever against it. The funeral mass is well under- stood by both the clergy and the people. Those who did not die in communion with the Catholic Church are not prayed for : and those who fought against Cu a it .s:S the Tenth, " the Lord's anointed," are in reality condemned. The funeral rites at the churches are thus unworthy of notice. But not so the speeches, the tears, the subs, the vows, and the eulogies pronounced and ex- hibited over the tomhs of the departed patriots of 1830. In spite of all the im- prisonments and massacres, persecutions and prosecutions of the last three years, there were those yesterday to be f000d who voluntarily came forward, and appearing at the tombs of those who fell victims in July 1830 whilst lighting for the cause of nationality and freedom, pronounced touching and eloquent eulo- giums on these whose names are now nearly forgotten, but whose courage and talents, zeal and energy, secured France against the despotism of the old Bour- bons. These were funereal ceremonies Which honour at once the dead and the living, and tend to keep alive that sacred flame which will ever burn on the altar of a pure patriotism. Let us now tutu to the review of the National Guards. and of the troops of the Line, and other portions of the Army in garrison in Paris. The National asks why should there be a review of National Guards and the Army at these auniversaries? It says that certainly the National Guards did not make the Revolution of 1SCO, for they were disbanded and disarmed ; and if they had existed as a body at that time, they would perhaps have called for a new 31inis- try, and for the withdrawal of the Ordinances of CHARLES the Tenth, but they would never have voted that the throne was vacant. The National in all this is right : if the National Guards had not been disbanded, they would have joined with the troops to prevent a revolution. Nor should the Army keep this anniversary as a fete ; for it can only call to recollection its defeat, disgrace, or defection. The soldiers who fought for three days against the people, were vanquished by the people ; and this the Army will never forgive the Revolu- tion. The review of National Guards and troops on this as on similar occa- sions, is then, to say the least of it, most absurd; since the Revolution of 1830 was the event most deprecated and now most deploral by the Parisian shop- keepers, and the Army must see in it the anniversary of its defeat and disgrace. But this review was most indifferently attended. The National Guards of Paris and its environs were only one-third present ; and a portion even of that third hastened off to their homes the moment after the King had rode once before their battalions. There was no enthusiasm, no energy, no zeal and spirit : there were no cries, except those commanded, and no deafening shouts from any Cuarter. No one evinced emotion. LAMA 'MEE, LA FAYETTE, BENJAMIN ONSTANT, were no more. LA EITTE, BARROT, A EDRY DE PUTRAVEAU, 111AUGrIN, SA LVERTE &e. were all absent. It was a mere form : anti the soldiers only, when ordered to do so. cried " Wive le Roi !" The review, as a' political demonstration in favour of the Government, was then a complete failure ; whilst the absence of two thirds of the Guards showed what progress the Counter-Revolution on the one hand, anti dissatisfaction and discourage- ment on the other, had made. But in order to make up for this flat and un- profitable exhibition, the Orleans Lancers got up at Paris yesterday a trans- parency in their barracks of Louis Plume ; and he was surrounded by four of their, Dumber, who were crying aloud, " We swear to defend him." The Swiss troops swore this in July 1830. The Royal Guards swore this on the day of the breaking out of the Revolution, when at St. Cloud they raised their sword. to heaven and said, " Nous juror's de le defenthe !" No, no—the hest defence for a King is the love, confidence, and respect of those over whom he is ap- pointed to govern. Of the " monster concert" at the Tuileries, the illuminations, fireworks, and games, I have said enough already. The " Marseillaise " and " Pari- aieune" were played twice ; and the people roared applause, But to-day the street-organs and the hurtlyguidies are ordered by M. Gisstuar, as usual, not to play such " daogerous " airs; whilst M. LEGORREC, the Avocat-General of the Crown, exclaims in full Court, before judges, banisters, and jurymen, " On invoque trip souvent le nom de Juillet 1830." I have done. One good, however, results from these anniversaries; and that is, that both kings and subjects, governors and governed, are at least annually reminded, that the sounoz OF ALL TOWER IS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PELELE. Your obedient set v..nt, 0. P. Q.
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