"Neue Rheinische Zeitung" – Marrast and Thiers

Marrast and Thiers

["Neue Rheinische Zeitung" Nr. 33 vom 3. Juli 1848]

* We have continually drawn the readers of the “Neue Rheinische Zeitung” to the intrigues of the party of the “National”, embodied in Marrast. We have traced the byways on which this party seeks to seize the dictatorship. We have at the same time indicated how the dictatorship of Marrast conjures up a dictatorship of Thiers.

How very much the party of the “National”, by its victory, is already succumbing to the Thiers party, which is now intimately fused with the dynastic opposition, is strikingly demonstrated by a few facts.

The appointment of Carnot, a man of the “National”, as minister aroused a stormy uproar in the National Assembly. Maries’ candidacy for the presidency of the National Assembly had Dufaures’ candidacy as its rival and only went through, as the “Débats” say, because he was regarded as “the wisest and most moderate man of the old Executive Commission”, i.e., because he made the most concessions to the old dynastic party, because he drafted, introduced in the National Assembly, and defended the law on unlawful assemblies, that continuation of the September laws. The fact remains that the presidency of the National Assembly was diced for between “Marrast” and “Thiers”.

But that is not enough for the “dynastic opposition”. One of the first laws it is preparing is a law on the municipal councils, a law that is directly aimed against the sole rule and influence of Marrast, the mayor of Paris. And he will fall.

In a few days the entire National Assembly will tear itself to pieces. The reaction will proceed to the exclusion of the party of the “National” from all positions of power. “Republic” and “dynastic opposition” will confront each other once more, but the republic will no longer triumph under the conditions of February.

The people will no longer be in a state of enthusiasm. It will no longer “pocket” its revenge, as Caussidière says, and will no longer “hurl its feelings of resentment into the floods of the Styx”. Qui vivra verra. <He who lives will see.>