And Yet I Can See In The Most
Conservative Circles That A Feeling Is Gaining Ground That Some
Concessions Must Be Made.
An enlargement of the suffrage one hears
now often discussed as, perhaps, an approaching necessity.
Friday, April 14
The day of the Chartists passed off with most ridiculous quiet, and
the government is stronger than ever. . . . If the Alien Bill
passes, our American friends must mind their p's and q's, for if
they praise the "model republic" too loudly, they may be packed off
at any time, particularly if they have "long beards," for it seems
to be an axiom here that beards, mustaches, and barricades are
cousins-german at least. . . . Mr. Bancroft goes to Paris on Monday,
the 17th, to pass the Easter holidays. He will go on with his
manuscripts, and at the same time witness the elections and meeting
of the Convention.
LETTER: To W.D.B.
LONDON, April 19, 1848
Dear W.: . . . To-day I have driven down to Richmond to lunch with
Mrs. Drummond, who is passing Easter holidays there. On coming home
I found a letter from Mr. Bancroft from which I will make some
extracts, as he has the best sources of knowledge in Paris. "Then I
went to Mignet, who, you know, is politically the friend of Thiers.
He pointed out to me the condition of France, and drew for me a
picture of what it was and of the change. I begin to see the
difference between France and us. Here they are accustomed to BE
governed. WE are accustomed to GOVERN. HERE power may be seized
and exercised, if exercised in a satisfactory manner; with us the
foundation of power, its constitutionality and the legality of its
acts are canvassed and analyzed. Here an unpopularity is made away
with by a revolution, and you know how WE deal with it. Thus,
power, if in favor, may dare anything, and if out of favor is little
likely to be forgiven." . . . "Our fathers had to unite the thirteen
States; here they have unity enough and run no risk but from the
excess of it. My hopes are not less than they were, but all that
France needs may not come at once. We were fourteen years in
changing our confederation into a union, perhaps France cannot be
expected to jump at once into perfect legislation or perfect forms.
Crude ideas are afloat, but as to Communism, it is already exploded,
or will be brushed away from legislative power as soon as the
National Assembly meets, though the question of ameliorating the
condition of the laboring class is more and more engaging the public
mind." . . . "I spent an hour with Cousin, the Minister of a
morning. He gave me sketches of many of the leading men of these
times, and I made him detail to me he scene of Louis Philippe's
abdication, which took place in a manner quite different from what I
had heard in London." . . . "Cousin, by the way, says that the Duc
de Nemours throughout, behaved exceedingly well.
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