The Lost Pleiad [pp. 365]

1850.] The Lost Pie jad. 365
persisted in they may give occasion to popular
manifestations, the attempt to repress which will
produce a collision, which will end perhaps in
making Louis Napoleon taller or shorter-by a
crown. Having the numerical majority in Paris,
and assured as they profess to be since the late
elections, that the army throughout France is of
their party, I do not think it will be possible to
contain the red republicans much longer. They
will provoke, if they are not provoked to, a personal collision. The presentiment is prevalent
all over the country that a desperate and terrible
struggle is approaching.
Larochejacquelein, a legitimist member of the
Assembly, a relative of the famous Vendean chief
of that name, lately proposed formally in the
Assembly an appeal to the people, in violation
of the constitution, to determine by universal
suffrage, in June next, whether France should
be governed by a republic or a monarchy. The
proposition was refused consideration by a vote
almost unanimous, only two voting in favor of
the appeal. Does not this prove that they are
republicans? you ask. Not at all. That they
respect the constitution at least? Not at all. Not
one in three of the members of the assembly
would now avow himself to be republican. There
is, I believe, not a member of the assembly who
would scruple or hesitate to make the constitu tion bend or break before expediency, bend o
break for the accomplishment of party ends oi
personal ambition. It was evident that De La rochejacquelein's plan offered no solution to the
difficult questions of the day that it was only
another mode of precipitating France into the
certain horrors and doubtful chances of civil war
If the people decided in favor of monarchy; the
question, what monarchy? would instantly divide
France into three hostile and irreconcilable camps
The Cossacks would finally decide.
Voices are coming up from all quarters, how
ever, in favor of an immediate revision of the
constitution, and many of the reactionist journal
are coming out boldly in support of the proposi
tion.
WVe are soon, that is to say during the montl
of May, if, of which we have no assurance how
ever, the provisions of the law are respected, to
have another election in Paris. Vidal, one o
the socialists recently elected here, was also, a
is permitted by the vicious laws of force, chosen
in the department of the Lower Rhine. He ha
decided.to represent the Lower Rhine, whic
leaves a vacancy in the Parisian delegation
Girardin, of La Presse, is already out as th
socialist candidate. He has warm friends an
ardent enemies in the socialist ranks, and it i
by no means certain that he will be the nomine
of the party. _.
I had intended to occupy one of your columns
with a notice of an amusing dispute between
Thiers and Gen. Napier, the English historian of
the Peninsula Waar, touching the credibility of
Thier's "History of the Consulate and the Emr
Fire." But I am at the end of my sheet. The
disputants give each other some sharp cuts and
piquant thrusts. I think the advantage rests
with the Englishman. His broad sword of slashing fact is more than a match for the little Frenchman's keen and dexterously handled small sword.
w. w. M.
THE LOST PLEIAD.
BY R. H. STODDARD.
A dim tradition gathered in a dream."
Geo. H. Boker.
1.
There dwelt a starry sisterhood,
A thousand years ago,
Alone in cloistral sanctity,
As chaste as snow!
;2.
Six joined in love their linked hands,
And stood with folded wings,
Around the seventh who touched a lute,
With golden strings!
3.
Morning and Noon and Evening came,
And soft and holy Night;The Swan sailed up its azure lake
In trailing light!
4.
And still the sweet musician sat,
And played upon her lute,
Till Earth was lapped in ecstasy,
And Heaven mute!
5.
The changing seasons passed away,
Like flocks of birds at sea;
And cloudy years went drifting down
Eternity!
6.
But oh! one immemorial eve,
An angel left the skies,
And led her in a trance of song,
To Paradise!
365
7%,e Lost Pleiad.
1&50.]