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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd January 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 10

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      The Attempt In Paris. "We Do Not Propose...

      tions and bruises , naturally caught in the hurried flight of bo many dismayed persons . All the conspirators had time to get away . Pistols and revolvers were found scattered in the streets near at hand . Many police-officers rushed wildly from the neighbouring cabarets . It is true , AMESSANimi , and a band of faithfill Corsicans , were not daunted , and rallied round the Emperor and Empress , staining the gown of the latter with blood . The Emperor was one of the first to recover his

      presence of mind . His voice was heard high above all others enjoining calm ; and calm was at length restored . The Lancers drew up , ashamed of their panic . Their Imperial Majesties entered the theatre , enjoyed as best they might the acting of Madame Ristoei , and returned at midnight amidst acclamations to the Tuileries . Meanwhile , the signs of butchery had been removed . All traces of the blood that had flooded the gutters had disappeared . There were only a few broken windows on either side of the

      street . Some half-dozen men , wounded and despairing , and , we hope , remorseful for , their useless crime , were Bkulking home tracked by the police ; and all Paris was talking of the tragedy that had taken place , and the still worse tragedy that had been averted . If the whole world is unanimous in condemning this atrocious business , this massacre of innocent men , women , and children in the attack on a life which is not touched , it is almost equally unanimous in agreeing with the conspirators on one point . Had they succeeded , there would have been an end of the Bonapartist dynasty for ever . The very name of Napoleon would have been forgotten in the tremendous convulsion that would have ensued . To say the contrary is mere policy , or the evidence of fond parental or dynastic delusion . A dozen different parties are waiting to seize upon power . The death of the Emperor would open the flood-gates . This it is that condemns his

      system as false and dangerous ; but this it is also which enhances the criminality of the attempted assassination . To overthrow a Government even by straightforward means , vrhen there is a moral certainty that it can be succeeded only by anarchy , has always been considered the greatest of political mistakes . JSTo doubt the necessity of something like order to save a nation from perishing would at length lead to a new dictatorship . But is this a prize worth runniug such tremendous risks P He must be mad or drunk

      with vanity who is ready to take upon himself the responsibility of all the blood that will be shed in France the next time that the great problem of legal liberty is discussed with cannon and musketry in the streets . The conspirators , therefore , can expect no sympathy from England . As far aa is at present known they are Italians ; but many circumstances seem to indicate that instead

      of being friends of M . Mazzini , aa has been gratuitously supposed , they were decidedly severed from him in policy . We suspect that it will be found they acted entirely in obedience to their own gloomy fanaticism . At any rate , it would be moBt unjust and absurd to envelop in their condemnation any persons not strictly proved to have been their accomplices . An undiscriminnting cry against the

      ~ refuffee 8 ^ w . ho _ n ) o ; HLje . ^ England would be the worst , as it would He " the most ungenerous , of mistakes . Every person who flies from oppression in his own country is not necessarily an assassin . Even su , ch , as are ready to take up arms to reverse the decision of arms , should be regarded with the greateut indulgence . The present Emperor more than once started with cannon , muskets , ammunition of wnr , money , and men , to stir up civil war in Prance .

      Nothing that has been said in extenuation of his offence should be now forgotten , if it be proved that the exiles who have taken his place have been ready to imitate his example . It is our duty to repress all such attempts by means of the laws provided for that purpose . Nothing more . Any demand inconsistent with the duties of hospitality must be met with a prompt and unconditional refusal .

      There seems no doubt that the Emperor will make the first trial of his influence , backed by some display of force if necessary , against Belgium . The press of that country , or rather a small and unimportant fraction of it , seems inclined to provoke such measures . Perhaps the writers think that an attack on Belgium might lead to complications favourable to their ulterior views . They must be disappointed . The battle for the right of hospitality must be fought "by all liberal Europe on whatever field may be chosen . The laws of Belgium provide a remedy for

      such a gross offence as apology for assassination . . Let those laws be applied , if the offence has really been committed , in their utmost rigour . Already the Brussels police has proved itself tolerably subservient . At such a time , as Belgium can scarcely pretend to hold its head so high as England , no one will object to a little extra severity . But any attempt at wholesale and indiscriminate persecution should be repelled by every power which does not care to become virtually a province of France . If we sacrifice Belgium , our turn will come next . At such a time it

      is necessary to speak out the truth without phrases . There is real danger that , considering our position in India to be more critical than it is , the familiars of the Emperor may take a turn and demand concessions which , if we ever listen to without indignation , wou ld go more to lessen our prestige in Europe than the loss of a great battle .

      02 The Lead E R. [No. 409, January 23, 1...

      02 THE LEAD E R . [ No . 409 , January 23 , 1858 .

      Our Epithalamhum. In Iiove All Extremes ...

      OUR EPITHALAMHUM . In Iiove all extremes meet and accord . It will be no wonder , then , that , in a few hours , two Christian kingdoms will accept with happiness—by proxy—the light-sceptred rule of pagan Hymen . In a few hours two Christian countries will be wedded , for better , for worse . But while the air fills with the soft preludings of bridal songs , who can think of anything but of the * better P' Have we not been told by all the newspapers , copying from an accomplished contemporary , that the Poet Laureate is pruning his wings for a flight of

      panegyric on the Royal nuptials ? Do we not know that from the stage of the Lyceum Theatre another dramatic poet , Westlanjo Mabston , is prepared to soar with wnpruned wings into the empyrean of laudation , in honour of the high event ? And shall we , dreaming away the propitious hour in doubts and visions of ills that may not descend upon this marriage of our country ' s daughter , be silent ?—offer her no pleasant homage ?—be alone without our wedding-day congratulation—our epithalamium P * ' Away with the thought ! " aa editors say .

      But let us approach the altar by bIow and reverent steps , stopping to pay due homage to the Royal mother , soon to lose the charm of daily intercourse with her firstborn . Ther < T % riot" ~ a ^ Tdj 7 rt ; Ma'fntly ~ i"n ~ tlTe world which is so bound to the hearts of the people over whom fortune haa placed them as Queen Victoria and her children . From the hour of her marriage , she has not been more C ^ ueen of the land than chief in the domestic virtues of l \ er kingdom , tho extolled exemplar of wives and mothers ; and , she haa never appeared more great or royal than when oh Queen she has performed some act

      dictated by feelings that . live only by the hearth-side , and that find sympathy nowhere but in the heart of home—the English heart of hearts . Thanks to the perfect trustfulness with which her frank and tender home-life has inspired her people , the cloud which always—or almost always—overshadows the idea of a royal marriage , has not rested upon

      this of her daughter ; no one believes that she , nurtured so carefully , the first-born of a model mother , has been sacrificed at the shrine of state necessity . The Queen has given her child , it is said , not to cold policy but to affection . Is the affection less welcome because it includes something august , judicious , and advantageous to public business ?

      Deep murmurs of distant shouts com & running upon the wind , nearing and swelling . A few moments more and the sound of drums ,. abrupt and confident of tone , rises above the long-pealing shout of the thronging multitude ; and then there spring high above all other sounds the gallant voices of trumpets— speaking like auguries . Drums and trumpets for a young lady ' s wedding t " Do you call that nothing ? " Ay ; and cannons thundering , too , till the heavens tremble . Among the jewels lately presented to the bride by her affianced was a pearl necklace worth 4000 Z . Could Paul have

      bestowed that upon Virginia ? But the blessings are indeed innumerable ; * what other girl' can go to church in a train so superbly ample that eight young ladies are re » quired to hold it up out of the dust ? - ' And what other girl' begins her married life with a prospect of so much domestic happiness—such splendid houses—such superb carpets—such curtains—such carriages —such power ! If any ordinary Frederick is a decent fellow , his Victoria may be able to screw out of him a shawl , to make him subscribe to her favourite charitable object , or to vote for papa ' s friend as churchwarden ; but what other girl can convert her graces

      into political engines ? If he should inadvertently talk Russian , to put her pretty finger on his mouth is worth any treaty of alliance . If she is called ' my love , ' it is peace in Europe . If there is a difficulty on the Elbe , an unstudied ' my darling' will remove it . Should Prussia b & slow on the Danube , a pretty smile will animate the sluggish power . Should despotic ideas obtrude at Sana Souci , the bright . English eyes will eye and laugh them away' Nice customs' the Zollverein will curtsey to her winning ways . "Will not Beauty rule when the royal eagle ' lies tangled in her hair ?' . What other girl can look for delight * like these—for domestic bliss based on tho map of Europe , virtue robed in ermine , or ecstasy exulted by trumpet and drum !

      Crown Government In India. Prince Albert...

      CROWN GOVERNMENT IN INDIA . Prince Albert aspires to a new title , ana his friends assure us that it will add nothing to his influence or dignity , and is , therefore , not worth withholding . On this principle , the Whigs are asking for the India patronage , on the plea that it is theirs already , and that , consequently , we are alarmed by a shadow . Nevertheless , tho truth stands where it was ;—a transfer of tho East India Company ' s authority to the Crown wo uld throw an-imraenseweighkaCpatrQnagejnJ ;^^ of the HorBO Guards and the Ministry of tMO day . At present , not more than a ninth or tho homo patronage is in the hands of the l ' rosisident of the Board of Control . Tho

      Governor-General haa been customarily u man of rank ; but , let the proposed cluiiigo bo Bnuctioned , and while the aristocracy rule , the Court and camp , wo shall have noble loonl governors and noble coinmiindors-in-ohioi .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 23, 1858, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23011858/page/10/