shadow of britain

Chapter 684: The Justice League of Paris

The last two months I spent in Paris were unbearable. I was literally under the open surveillance of the French government, my correspondence was shamelessly opened and delivered a day late, and wherever I went, there was always an unpleasant person following me from a distance, and at the corner of the street, he would wink and hand me over to someone else.

It must not be forgotten that this was a period of police lawlessness. The ignorant conservatives and the Algerian revolutionaries of the Lamartine faction were helping the cunning and cunning villains around Louis Bonaparte to build a network of spies and agents for the new empire of the Napoleonic family, stretching it over the whole of France so that the Ministry of the Interior and the Elysee Palace could search for and extinguish all active forces in the country at any time through telegrams.

Louis Bonaparte, the little police secretary who had once served in Scotland Yard, skillfully used all the means at his disposal against all opposition. On December 12, the police officially became the symbol of state power. Nowhere, not even Austria and Russia, had ever had such a political police as France had had since the days of the National Assembly.

This situation was caused not only by Louis Bonaparte's skillful use of and peculiar respect for the police, but also by the French people's special yearning for the police. There were many other reasons. The Parisian spies under Louis Bonaparte had nothing in common with his old department, the British police. In Britain, the police were surrounded by many hostile factors, and the eyes of Fleet Street, social opinion, the Police Commission and the constraints of Parliament always influenced its actions. Therefore, Scotland Yard often seemed weak and could only rely on the energy of building a temple in a snail shell to make maneuvers in a small space.

In France, however, the opposite is true. The police organization is the most popular institution in France. Whatever government has come to power, the police is a ready-made tool in its hands. A section of the people will assist it with all the madness and enthusiasm that should be curbed rather than indulged. In their private capacity, they can use all the terrible means that the police cannot use.

How could one avoid the shopkeeper, the yardkeeper, the tailor, the laundress, the butcher, the brother-in-law, the sister ...

Condorcet escaped the eyes and ears of the Jacobin police and managed to escape to a village near the border. He was exhausted and walked into a restaurant, sat in front of the fire and warmed his hands, and ordered a roast chicken. The proprietress was a kind old woman, a great patriot, and she thought: "He is covered in dust, he must have traveled a long way, he wants to eat chicken, he must be rich, his hands are very white, he must be a nobleman."

So she stewed the chicken on the stove and went into another tavern where some patriots were sitting: one citizen was Musius Scaevola, a liquor seller, another was Brutus, and another was Timoleon, a tailor. This was exactly what they wanted, because ten minutes later, one of the smartest activists in the French Revolution was in prison, handed over to the police of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity!
Napoleon strengthened this system during the Consulate and the Empire, training a cadre of spies and secret agents from among his generals. Fouché, the executioner of Lyons, developed the whole theory, organization, and science of the secret police: it performs police functions both through the chief of police and without the chief of police, that is, through promiscuous women and not promiscuous landlady, through servants and coachmen, through doctors and barbers, etc.

Napoleon fell, but the system remained the same, not only the system, but also the people in it. Fouché surrendered to the Bourbon dynasty, and the power of the secret agents was not weakened at all. On the contrary, it was supplemented by priests and monks. During the Louis-Philippe period of the July Monarchy, bribery and corruption became the spiritual pillar of the government, and half of the petty bourgeoisie successfully entered the police system.

During the February Republic, however, three or four real secret police forces and a number of semi-secret police forces were formed: the police of Ledru-Rollin and the police of Caussidier, the police of Marrast and the police of the Provisional Government, the police of the party of Order and the police of the party of Anti-Order, the police of Bonaparte and the police of the Orleanists.

Now, the cunning government of Louis Bonaparte, with its chief having learned the police struggle experience from Britain, has made good use of this situation. The once penniless police secretary, who knows how the police department should operate in a hostile environment and has developed a patient and cautious character from his earlier failed uprisings, has made good use of this favorable situation and has collected informers from all parties.

The new government of Louis Bonaparte represents both revolution and reaction, war and peace. Thus, 1789 and the Catholic Church, the remnants of the Bourbon dynasty and percent of the people. The Jesuit Falloux, the socialist Billaud, the monarchist La Roche-Jacquelin, and a large number of people who have been blessed by Louis-Philippe are all serving the new government of Louis Bonaparte. Naturally, all parties and people of all political colors gather and enter the Tuileries Palace.

Sir Arthur Hastings, the new British ambassador to France, once tactfully criticized his former subordinate: These new policemen from all parties are all trying to find out the direction, spying on each other and informing on each other. Even if these informants are motivated by conviction and with the best motives, not for money, informing is still informing. In fact, I even hope that informants are motivated by material desires such as money and beauty, because it is a very harmful atmosphere to be accustomed to or even proud of informing. Although doing so can greatly expand the source of intelligence, from a long-term perspective, the small profits in front of us are completely not worth the destroyed purity of the police system and the corrupted good social atmosphere...

—Alexander Herzen, Paris, 1850
It would be hard for ordinary people to believe that such a group of young people who were detained in prisons and barracks not long ago could be so optimistic about their own destiny.

They clinked their glasses and talked excitedly and noisily about the various interesting things that happened during their imprisonment. The sound of their laughter filled the living room of Arthur's mansion.

When Arthur mentioned their optimistic attitude, Herzen even joked to him: "We behaved in the same way when we were taken to the interrogation committee to listen to the verdict. The officers of the garrison all stood up straight, the police officers also stood in their uniforms, the door was solemnly opened, the short Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn wore a formal dress with a sash on his shoulders, the police chief Ziensky wore a guard officer uniform, and even Secretary Olansky wore a light green military uniform for today's event. Seeing us like this, Olansky had to put on a stern face and walked to the center of the hall to announce to us: talking loudly, especially laughing, is a great disrespect to the will of the emperor we are about to listen to!"

Although Herzen and others had a very good mentality, in the eyes of Arthur, who had been walking on thin ice all his life, it was obviously not worthwhile to demonstrate his courage in this way.

However, on this great day, he did not intend to upset the young people, so he just tactfully advised them: "Brother, you can't do this. You are lucky this time, but it doesn't mean you will be so lucky next time. Although I am not much older than you, I still want to give you a word of advice in an old-fashioned way. Don't imitate the reckless behavior in French novels, unless you are ready to sacrifice your life at any time like Mr. Alexandre Dumas."

Herzen smiled and poured Arthur a glass of Madeira wine. "I dare not say that I have much in common with Mr. Dumas, nor do I dare to boast that I am braver than him, but at least I have the same honor as him to be your friend."

The Red Devil, who was sipping monastery wine in front of the fireplace, heard this and swept his tail across the ashes on the carpet: "This kid is really good at grasping the key points."

Sakyong was just about to say a few words of thanks to Arthur. In his arms he also had a thank-you gift for Arthur that his mother had asked him to take before leaving.

But as he stood up, he caught a glimpse of the newspaper Arthur had placed on the coffee table.

It was a copy of the French Journal Constitution from a few weeks ago. The front-page headline read: "The riot of instigators in Lyon was decisively suppressed - the army defended national security with the sword of law."

On the 16th day of the Flower Month of the fourth year of the dynasty, under the protection of God and the sacred guidance of the July Monarchy Constitution, the riots that had lasted for several days in Lyon finally subsided yesterday.

On the 9th of this month, a group of migrants and unemployed people took advantage of the government's crackdown on illegal associations to incite riots in the Croix-Rousse district. The thugs used arbitrary means to coerce honest Lyon textile workers to stop contributing to the country's economy, and spread shocking slogans and leaflets such as "Abolition of property" and "Equal distribution of wealth" on the streets, calling on Lyon workers to launch a general strike.

According to testimony from the gendarmerie, on the first day of the riot, rioters armed with sickles and torches attacked the tax treasury of the city hall and burned tax books worth more than 30 francs. Even more outrageous is that the gang leader claimed that "children are also future soldiers" and instigated ignorant children to hide behind the barricades and throw stones at the National Guard.

In view of the rioters' brutal and unscrupulous behavior, the king urgently summoned the cabinet ministers and quickly passed the temporary motion proposed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Adolphe Thiers. Mr. Thiers made a wise decision in response to the second riot in Lyon in the past three years: only the iron fist of the law can awaken those who have lost their way. Behind the barricades are criminals, and within the range are enemies.

The next morning, Marshal Brosser led the 26th Infantry Regiment, the 6th Cavalry Squadron of the Gendarmerie and 30 field guns into Lyon, and quickly occupied all crossroads and main strongholds in the city of Lyon. He placed heavy artillery on high ground in the suburbs, demonstrating the sanctity and inviolability of constitutional principles with the majesty of national military force.

According to military sources, the rioters used the tower of Saint-Nizier Church to set up homemade cannons to attack law enforcement officers. Marshal Brosse had no choice but to order the destruction of this desecrated sanctuary to protect innocent citizens nearby (photo: Marshal Brosse comforts the people in front of the church's ruins). After six days of fierce fighting, as of yesterday, the main streets of Lyon had been completely cleared of the remnants of the riots and order had been restored. Shops in Lyon have reopened, and the sound of looms in textile workshops once again complements the gurgling water of the Rhone River.

Louis Dupont, a grocer in the Saint-Jean district, confessed to this newspaper with tears in his eyes: "Thanks to the king's army, they saved our bread basket!"

(Photo: In front of Mr. Dupont's store that was looted by thugs, a team of soldiers are helping citizens clean up the broken glass. Mr. Dupont's ten-year-old son, Pierre, smiles as he holds the relief bread distributed by the government)

His Excellency Claude de Bonnard, Archbishop of Lyon, denounced the violence during a Sunday Mass a few days ago: "Poverty is never an excuse for doing evil, just as Satan has disguised himself as an angel of light."

(Photo: Devout believers kissed the cross with tears in their eyes and prayed for the sacrifice of the soldiers and the stability of the dynasty)

The Ministry of the Interior issued a notice today saying that during the riot, hundreds of rioters were executed on the spot and more than 600 people were detained pending trial. The Iron Minister, His Excellency Thiers, solemnly declared: Anyone who threatens the foundation of the French constitutional government with violence will be pierced through the chest by the sword of the kingdom!
(Photo: A National Guard officer holds up the Constitution with one hand and steps on the broken sickle and torch)
It is believed that the Parliament has urgently allocated 500,000 francs to comfort the victims and authorized the Lyon Chamber of Commerce to rebuild the burned silk exchange.

This newspaper reminds all citizens: poverty must be washed away by labor rather than riots, and progress should be made slowly within the framework of the law. Please be vigilant against anonymous leaflets distributed on the streets. It is reported that such evil printed materials with red flags and guillotines are being circulated through underground channels. Anyone who reports the hiding of treasonous documents will be rewarded with 50 francs in accordance with Article 7 of the "Law on Strengthening Public Security".

Advertisement insert: "San Roque Insurance Company - Provides special compensation for riot losses to patriotic merchants" (rate is only 1.5%)

When Herzen and other young people saw the newspaper, their noisy laughter gradually died down, and they passed the newspaper from Paris to each other.

The joy after escaping death was gone.

Arthur gently swirled the teacup, staring at the hard sugar cube slowly melting in the bright red tea.

He was no longer as excited about the Lyon workers' uprising as he had been when he first witnessed it in 1831.

On the contrary, unlike the solemn mood of Herzen and others, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Because these sufferings were not caused by his own hands, his friend Louis was likely to receive leniency from Louis Philippe.

Not only Herzen was lucky, but Louis was too, or rather, everyone who made friends with Arthur was lucky. This might be the only thing that made him happy in recent days.

(End of this chapter)