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e emotion in history； it was neither the spectral calm of Charles I。； nor the eagle scream of Napoleon。
They departed； that is all。
They laid down the crown； and retained no aureole。
They were worthy； but they were not august。 They lacked； in a certain measure； the majesty of their misfortune。 Charles X。 during the voyage from Cherbourg； causing a round table to be cut over into a square table； appeared to be more anxious about imperilled etiquette than about the crumbling monarchy。 This diminution saddened devoted men who loved their persons； and serious men who honored their race。
The populace was admirable。
The nation； attacked one morning with weapons； by a sort of royal insurrection； felt itself in the possession of so much force that it did not go into a rage。
It defended itself； restrained itself； restored things to their places； the government to law； the Bourbons to exile； alas！ and then halted！
It took the old king Charles X。 from beneath that dais which had sheltered Louis XIV。
and set him gently on the ground。 It touched the royal personages only with sadness and precaution。 It was not one man； it was not a few men； it was France； France entire； France victorious and intoxicated with her victory； who seemed to be ing to herself； and who put into practice； before the eyes of the whole world； these grave words of Guillaume du Vair after the day of the Barricades：
〃It is easy for those who are accustomed to skim the favors of the great； and to spring； like a bird from bough to bough； from an afflicted fortune to a flourishing one； to show themselves harsh towards their Prince in his adversity； but as for me； the fortune of my Kings and especially of my afflicted Kings； will always be venerable to me。〃
The Bourbons carried away with them respect； but not regret。 As we have just stated； their misfortune was greater than they were。 They faded out in the horizon。
The Revolution of July instantly had friends and enemies throughout the entire world。
The first rushed toward her with joy and enthusiasm； the others turned away； each according to his nature。
At the first blush； the princes of Europe； the owls of this dawn； shut their eyes； wounded and stupefied； and only opened them to threaten。 A fright which can be prehended； a wrath which can be pardoned。 This strange revolution had hardly produced a shock； it had not even paid to vanquished royalty the honor of treating it as an enemy； and of shedding its blood。
In the eyes of despotic governments； who are always interested in having liberty calumniate itself； the Revolution of July mitted the fault of being formidable and of remaining gentle。
Nothing； however； was attempted or plotted against it。
The most discontented； the most irritated； the most trembling； saluted it； whatever our egotism and our rancor may be； a mysterious respect springs from events in which we are sensible of the collaboration of some one who is working above man。
The Revolution of July is the triumph of right overthrowing the fact。 A thing which is full of splendor。
Right overthrowing the fact。
Hence the brilliancy of the Revolution of 1830； hence； also； its mildness。
Right triumphant has no need of being violent。
Right is the just and the true。
The property of right is to remain eternally beautiful and pure。 The fact； even when most necessary to all appearances； even when most thoroughly accepted by contemporaries； if it exist only as a fact； and if it contain only too little of right； or none at all； is infallibly destined to bee； in the course of time； deformed； impure； perhaps； even monstrous。
If one desires to learn at one blow； to what degree of hideousness the fact can attain； viewed at the distance of centuries； let him look at Machiavelli。
Machiavelli is not an evil genius； nor a demon； nor a miserable and cowardly writer； he is nothing but the fact。
And he is not only the Italian fact； he is the European fact； the fact of the sixteenth century。 He seems hideous； and so he is； in the presence of the moral idea of the nineteenth。
This conflict of right and fact has been going on ever since the origin of society。
To terminate this duel； to amalgamate the pure idea with the humane reality； to cause right to penetrate pacifically into the fact and the fact into right； that is the task of sages。
BOOK FIRST。A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY
CHAPTER II
BADLY SEWED
But the task of sages is one thing； the task of clever men is another。 The Revolution of 1830 came to a sudden halt。
As soon as a revolution has made the coast； the skilful make haste to prepare the shipwreck。
The skilful in our century have conferred on themselves the title of Statesmen； so that this word； statesmen； has ended by being somewhat of a slang word。
It must be borne in mind； in fact； that wherever there is nothing but skill； there is necessarily pettiness。 To say 〃the skilful〃 amounts to saying 〃the mediocre。〃
In the same way； to say 〃statesmen〃 is sometimes equivalent to saying 〃traitors。〃
If； then； we are to believe the skilful； revolutions like the Revolution of July are severed arteries； a prompt ligature is indispensable。
The right； too grandly proclaimed； is shaken。 Also； right once firmly fixed； the state must be strengthened。 Liberty once assured； attention must be directed to power。
Here the sages are not； as yet； separated from the skilful； but they begin to be distrustful。
Power； very good。
But； in the first place； what is power？
In the second； whence es it？ The skilful do not seem to hear the murmured objection； and they continue their manoeuvres。
According to the politicians； who are ingenious in putting the mask of necessity on profitable fictions； the first requirement of a people after a revolution； when this people forms part of a monarchical continent； is to procure for itself a dynasty。 In this way； say they； peace； that is to say； time to dress our wounds； and to repair the house； can be had after a revolution。 The dynasty conceals the scaffolding and covers the ambulance。 Now； it is not always easy to procure a dynasty。
If it is absolutely necessary； the first man of genius or even the first man of fortune who es to hand suffices for the manufacturing of a king。
You have； in the first case； Napoleon； in the second； Iturbide。
But the first family that es to hand does not suffice to make a dynasty。
There is necessarily required a certain modicum of antiquity in a race； and the wrinkle of the centuries cannot be improvised。
If we place ourselves at the point of view of the 〃statesmen；〃 after making all allowances； of course； after a revolution； what are the qualities of the king which result from it？
He may be and it is useful for him to be a revolutionary； that is to say； a participant in his own person in that revolution； that he should have lent a hand to it； that he should have either promised or distinguished himself therein； that he should have touched the axe or wielded the sword in it。
What are the qualities of a dynasty？
It should be national； that is to say； revolutiona