their lives was meditated, and that precautions had not been taken to protect these personages. M. Carlier, the Prefect of Police, wrote to the 'Débats' that its report was utterly without foundation, and that the pretended plot was a mystification of which an agent who was not under his orders (but was under those of the Commission) had been the dupe. At the same time M. Yon, the dupe in question, was reprimanded, and deprived of his salary, for having as police commissioner to the Assembly given false news to members of the Assembly, without at the same time remitting a report on the same to the Prefect of Police. General Piat-one of the founders of the Society of the Tenth of December-and its President, also addressed an indignant denial to the Débats,' in which he showed that the Society had not even a meeting on the day when Policeman Yon pretended that two assassinations were discussed and resolved upon. As for the plot of which you speak,' said the General, 'I should feel that I was degrading my entire life if I condescended to deny the existence of a deliberation of which assassination was the object.' But, although the President's enemies were confounded by the swiftness and completeness with which Yon was convicted of having vamped up a foul charge, they covered their defeat with an act of defiance. The questors of the Assembly took Yon under their special protection, placed him at the head of a police for securing the safety for the Assembly, and made his salary payable out of the Parliamentary dotation. But his reign was short. It was proved that he had employed one Alais, a police agent of the lowest class, to get up the assassination story. Alais, pressed, and confounded by his own contradictions, confessed all. Even then the Assembly refused to part with Yon. He had more sense of blame than his employers and CHAP. X. BOOK patrons; for he retired before the force of public indignation. Thus was the session of 1850 passed by the parties that were disputing for power in France. Throughout Prince Louis Napoleon maintained that quiet bearing which was a perpetual puzzle to his foes. He made no answer to General Changarnier's aggressive order of the day. He even sacrificed his Minister of War, General d'Hautpoul, to the animosity of the chief of the Army of Paris; and finally dissolved the Society of the Tenth of December, the only gathering of his party. 1 M. de Lamartine in the tribune called the Alais affair un honteux chiffon de police, indigne d'être ramassé par le dernier agent de la plus vile police dans les ruisseaux d'une capitale.' M. Odilon Barrot, in his Mémoires, also repudiates the story as baseless. CHAPTER XI. THE DISMISSAL OF GENERAL CHANGARNIER. Ox the meeting of the Assembly on November 11, M. Baroche read the President's message. It proved the inexhaustible patience of the Chief Magistrate towards the enemies who were bent on his destruction. He referred to the laws on which the Executive and the Legislature had agreed to strengthen the hands of Government against the disturbances of public order, and congratulated the country on the growing confidence and prosperity which had sprung out of this harmonious action of the Executive and the Assembly. Then he reviewed the home action of the Government. The National Guard— deliberative bodies with arms in their hands-had been disbanded in 153 towns; great military divisions had been created to ensure tranquillity throughout the provinces; the agricultural districts had been calmed by the removal of the village schoolmasters who had been the agents of the Socialists; the savings bank and benefit society laws were working excellently well; the financial condition of the communes was improving; telegraphic lines were being extended; since June 1849 2,400 convicted revolutionists had been liberated, and there remained only 458 under restraint; the Government had prepared measures on the industrial employment of prisoners and the treatment of juvenile criminals, and one making provision for the old soldiers of the Republic and the Empire. СНАР. XI. BOOK The finances had improved; the deficit had been diminished; and there was every reason to hope that the Budget of 1851 would show a revenue equal to the expenditure. Foreign trade had revived. The progress of the country under new laws and guidance would have enabled the Government, within the space of three years -that is, between 1849 and 1851-to enrich the country with public works to the extent of 200,000,000f., to relieve the poorest class of tax-payers, and to lighten the burdens of agriculture to the extent of 27,000,000f. Then the President dwelt on the plans prepared for the completion of the main lines of railway, for the extension of canals and high roads and the improvement of rivers, as necessary to the rapid development of the riches of France. The Government had also given attention to the introduction of agricultural machinery, the improvement in the breed of cattle and horses, the application of science to the cultivation of the earth, the establishment of model farms. Many other measures affecting the development of arts, manufactures, and industries were in preparation, including one for the encouragement of the great fisheries. All these measures bore the impress of Prince Louis's mind. 6 Glancing abroad, the President congratulated the Assembly on the downfall of the turbulent demagogy of Rome, which throughout the Italian peninsula had compromised the cause of real liberty.' The brave soldiers of France had had the honour of restoring Pius IX. to the throne of St. Peter. Party passion,' said the President, will not be able to obscure this shining fact, which will fill a glorious page for France. The constant aim of our policy has been to encourage the liberal and philanthropical intentions of the Holy Father. The Pontifical Power pursues the realisation of the promises contained in the motu proprio of September 1849.' Then the President turned to England, and remarked that France had, in concert with England, sent her naval forces to the Levant in order to show her loyal sympathy for the independence of the Porte, menaced by Russia and Austria, who were expected to demand the extradition of the Hungarian and Polish refugees on Turkish territory. The French Government had also concluded advantageous navigation and other treaties with foreign Powers. The account of all this useful and hopeful work was followed by a peroration which compelled applause even in the hostile Assembly to which it was addressed. This is,' said the President, a rapid review of the condition of our affairs. In spite of the difficult circumstances under which we have laboured, law and authority have so far recovered their empire that nobody believes in the success of violence henceforth. Still, the more that fears as to the present diminish, the more do people give themselves up to speculations about the future. France, before all things, desires repose. Still disturbed by the dangers which society has run, she remains apart from the quarrels of men and parties, which appear so mean in the presence of the great interests which are at stake. I have often declared, when the opportunity has offered for publicly expressing my thoughts, that I should regard as great criminals those who, for personal ambition, should compromise the little stability which the Constitution affords us. This is my profound conviction, and it has never been shaken. Only the enemies of the public peace have been able to misrepresent the simplest acts which spring from my position. As First Magistrate of the Republic, I have been obliged to put myself in communication with the clergy, the magistracy, agriculturists, manufacturers, the civil service, and the army, and I have been eager to express CHAP. XI. |