Page:The Royal Family of France (Henry).djvu/88

 family and their hereditary traditions to acknowledge that their father was in fault, that they themselves are guilty?" "And this,—add they,—when the Head of the House of Bourbon is childless, when, as regards the royal claim and the popular vote, all the chances of the future are for the Orléans family. Why should they disown the past?" It is these blinded, narrow-minded men who have raised the question of the flag, as though the Lilies of France would blush for shame if embroidered on the banners of Austerlitz, Isly, and Magenta; as if the pennon that waved at Rocroy and Fontenoy would in its turn disgrace the victors of Marengo and Solferino.

But these extreme parties are not composed of would-be Orleanists only; there are also the ne-plus-ultra Legitimists, a faction whose loss would be a gain, who have learned nothing and forgotten nothing. For them fusion would be a sacrilege; they would sooner become Republicans than acknowledge as Royal Princes the descendants of Philippe Egalité. This cannot wound the feelings of sensible men, it can only make them smile.

For, if we had to accept the decrees of Moses and to curse the children unto the fourth generation for the sins of their fathers, who would escape the anathema? It would be better in such circumstances to uproot the Cross of divine Mercy and adopt circumcision. Let them then cast aside once for all such oratorical display as would be invidious to the memory of those who have already appeared before the judgment-seat of Divine justice and truth. Here below there are but two judges competent to sit; King Louis Philippe, father of the Orléans Princes, and France.

The last words, the last advice of Louis Philippe at Claremont, were words of peace and counsels of reconciliation. His supreme wish was that his sons should promise to acknowledge the Comte de Chambord as Head of their House. "Let the Comte de Chambord be the Head of the House of Orleans!"

On October 19th, 1852, Louis Napoleon had convoked his Senate for November, to deliberate on a change of Government, when a senatus consultum, referring to the contemplated restoration of the Empire, would be proposed for the ratification of the French people; and on the 25th following was issued the Comte