Friedrich Engels 
Letter from France VI (Fragment) 
Results of abolishing universal suffrage 

The Democratic Review. 
Juni 1850 

1101 If the proletarians suffer the suffrage to be taken from them, they submit 
to the undoing of the Revolution of February, as far as they are concerned. 
For them the republic will no longer exist. They will be shut out from it. Will 
they allow this? 

The law certainly will pass. Not a tittle of it will be weakened. The will 
of the majority, upon this point, has already shown itself clearly. And as 
matters stand to-day, no one can tell what will follow, whether the people 
will rise and hurl down the government and Assembly, or whether they will 
wait until another occasion. Paris seems quiet; there is no direct sign of an 

approaching revolution; but a spark will suffice to call forth a tremendous 
explosion. 

That explosion would have taken place before now but for the treacherous 
conduct of the popular chiefs, who have been doing nothing but preaching 
"peace", "tranquillity", and "majestic calm". This, however, cannot last 
long. The situation of France is eminently revolutionary. The Ordermongers 
cannot stand where they are. They must advance a step every day in order 
to maintain themselves. If this law should pass without provoking a rev- 
olution, they will come out with fresh, more violent, and more direct attacks 
on the constitution and the Republic. They want an emeute, and they will 
have a revolution, and have it soon, too. For it must be borne in mind that 
this is a question of weeks, perhaps days, not of years. | 

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