Shadow of great britain

When I first visited Paris in 1833, my knowledge of the country was almost entirely based on paper. But after talking with royalists in Vendée and Brittany, I realized that the foundation of these royalists was not the orthodox nobility. Although the nobility occupied a leading role in this team, But without the support of the farmers in other provinces, they would never be able to compete with the Republicans and Bonapartists.

Looking back at the development of France from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, it is obvious that Paris, the center of the European continent, is constantly expanding. At the same time, local autonomy in rural areas is shrinking, and the passion and characteristics of independent life continue to disappear. Many unique rural traditions are disappearing more and more, and the ancient country life is gradually fading away until there is no trace of history left.

The countryside continues to decline and die, but the country as a whole is vibrant and has never been more vibrant. However, there is only one source of vitality for the country, and that is Paris. Cities are monopolized by selfishness, looking out for their own interests and ready to sacrifice the interests of rural areas. The peasants seemed to have been eliminated from the entire nation and thrown aside.

In France in the 1780s, no one would think that France was in decline. The French dominated the War of Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the North American War of Independence. So of course, everyone feels that this country has a bright future and will prosper forever.

However, this superficial prosperity did not bring stability and peace, but brought about a great revolution. Those who set the revolutionary agenda for France were the three most politically educated classes in France, namely the first-class clergy, the second-class nobility, and the third-class citizens.

They ignited the flames of revolution. But what they didn't expect was that once the revolutionary enthusiasm was ignited, the direction in which it would burn was beyond the control of individuals.

Why was the actual process of the Revolution so inconsistent with the slogans he shouted? Why was Thomas Paine, who wrote "The Rights of Man", eventually forced to run away during the Revolution? Why did British poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, who had enthusiastically supported the Revolution in their early years, eventually become insane and become the most fiercely opposed to the Revolution?

I think this is because they discovered that the people responsible for implementing the revolution and those who formulated the revolutionary plan were not the same group of people. The ideals of the Revolution actually only existed during the initial period. And not long after, it was eliminated in the streets and fields of France by bloody conflicts and violent incidents one after another.

The way republican governments were governed during the Revolution was not as novel as they had hoped. On the contrary, in many places, they simply changed the name of the management method. In fact, the management background of the republican government is still that of Bourbon's Iris Citigroup, or even worse. History is like a gallery, but there are few original works and most of them are reproductions.

Republicans are eager to abolish religion and law because they believe that these are old things that must be overthrown. But they did not prepare a system of moral standards that would convince everyone. This was originally supposed to be a process of replacing parts for the locomotive, but the solution given by the Republicans started with inventing the wheel.

The result of such behavior is that the spirit of the entire French people begins to lose balance. They do not know when to stop, what principles to refer to, and how the country should be managed. They scuttled the old canoe and drowned it as a matter of course. And when they discovered that the old system they destroyed had such bad consequences, they eagerly looked for the rotten ropes of the old system to pull themselves ashore.

However, just because part of the old system has been destroyed, they have torn away the mask of what they consider hypocrisy that is best removed, so the remaining parts they hold onto happen to be the most difficult to eradicate and the most malignant remnants. The religious power has not disappeared in this land, but has become integrated with the government, and the government has taken the place of God.

Farmers lost their cattle or horses and begged the government for compensation. Wealthy people request loans from the government to help them better develop their land and obtain more benefits. Industrialists begged the government for special privileges and squeezed out competitors. The businessman revealed his private secret to the governor, saying that he was short of money now and asked if he could get help, at least give himself some loans.

The French middle class's enthusiasm and desire for civil servants have never been stronger. When a person obtains a small amount of capital, he immediately uses it to purchase a position rather than investing in business. This pitiable obsession with public office did more harm to the development of French agriculture and commerce than industrial monopolies and agricultural taxes.

In terms of obtaining official positions, today's enthusiasm is even greater than then, but there is one biggest essential difference between then and this era: the government sold official positions at that time, while today's government grants official positions, and people today do not have to spend money. , as long as you sell your soul, you can achieve your goal.

When the love for freedom was seriously injured by disordered rule and anarchy, the ideal of revolution gradually became pale. Until this time, the bewildered country began to look for a master. The revolution with freedom as the ideal eventually gave birth to the most authoritarian Government and a great dictator - Napoleon Bonaparte.

This great military genius keenly smelled the breath of opportunity and found that he was destined to be the successor and gravedigger of the Great Revolution. Who put Napoleon on the throne of emperor? The Republicans will say that it was all the work of those ignorant provincial peasants. They will never admit that they themselves played the greatest role in promoting it.

They did not understand this truth half a century ago, and they still do not understand it today. But unfortunately, I want to tell them: because of your impracticality and selfishness, you have long ignored the provincial peasants who account for three-quarters of the population. I have vaguely seen the imperial eagle flag re-planted on the high ground outside Paris. Soon, you will suffer the consequences again.

Arthur Hastings

Written on the eve of the presidential election of the French Republic in 1848.

——Eld Carter, "The Letters of Arthur Hastings"

Arthur walked out of the alley, and a light rain fell on the streets of Paris. The cold raindrops hit his face. The switching between hot and cold made his mind clear a lot, and the ebb of adrenaline also made him gradually feel the burning wound on his shoulder.

Arthur leaned against the lamppost, ignoring the pedestrians coming and going on the street, and lit his pipe.

He was lighting a cigarette, and suddenly a red-nosed robber with a knife rushed out of the alley. They pointed the bright blade in their hands at Arthur fiercely and threatened: "Sir, do you want to be decent, or let us do it in an indecent way."

Arthur glanced at him, took off his pipe and blew out a puff of smoke, then kicked the robber in the crotch: "Fuck you! You robbed me!"

The robber fell to the ground with his crotch covered, wailing and screaming. Arthur was about to turn around and leave, but he suddenly heard a shout behind him.

"Arthur, did you catch them?"

Arthur turned his head and saw that it was Victor and Dumas who had been tracking him all the way.

Arthur heard this, looked down at the robbers on the ground, and spat: "Robbery has no future, I'll show you a way out, you should become an assassin."

Dumas ran all the way to Arthur, the fat black man supported his knees with his hands, bent over and panted: "Arthur, who is this on the ground?"

"What do you think?" Arthur did not admit it directly, but hinted with the usual tricks of the blue lobster of Scotland Yard: "Why do you think I knocked him down?"

Victor saw this situation and was also surprised: "Brother, you are really amazing! You caught this? It seems that you will be famous in Paris now!"

"No, Mr. Victor." Arthur shook his head slightly: "This is all the credit of the Breoque Detective Agency, I am just a temporary worker you hired."

Victor was stunned at first, and then he was quite Arthur patted Arthur's shoulder with some gratitude: "Brother, are you willing to give this kind of credit to the agency?"

"What else?" Arthur smoked his cigarette: "Can I, a British, become the Minister of Police in France with this? Mr. Vidocq, it should be enough for you to complete this order?"

Vidocq nodded happily: "Brother, I am really benefiting from you. Our Breaux Detective Agency will definitely be a hit this time!"

Arthur took off his hat and fanned himself: "I will leave the person to you. I have to find a clinic to bandage the wound quickly."

"No problem, go with peace of mind." Vidocq did not forget to add at the end: "Your medical expenses will be reimbursed by the agency."

Seeing Vidocq so enthusiastic, Arthur did not refuse, but waved his hat to him and said goodbye.

The robber saw Dumas and Victor rushing towards him, and his lips trembled with fear when he spoke: "Call for help, call for help, right? Don't think you are the only ones, my brothers are also nearby, I will shout and no one will survive."

Victor was not afraid when he heard this, but snorted coldly and kicked him in the chest: "Call! I want to see how big your gang is!"

Dumas saw Victor punching and kicking the robbers, and repeatedly persuaded: "Mr. Victor, that's enough, you are almost catching up with the torture of the Security Department..."

Arthur walked back the way he came in the drizzle on the streets of Paris. Not far away, he saw a group of dragoons galloping past and National Guard soldiers running forward. Needless to say, they must be chasing the assassins.

Arthur didn't want to talk to them because he was in a bad mood tonight.

At this time, he suddenly felt that being a policeman in London was actually quite good. At least at that time he had clear goals and discipline requirements, and he didn't need to express his political stance. When facing the torture of conscience, he could always use the "Internal Affairs Regulations" to deceive himself.

Now, he slowly understood the true meaning of what Talleyrand said to him at the beginning.

If you can't stay calm in the face of blood, in the face of painful scenes, and in the face of obvious evidence, you can't be a surgeon.

If you don't stay calm in the face of passion, you can't be a strong person. If you can't be indifferent in the event, you can't be a politician and a statesman.

He is really not a politician. He is only suitable for being a policeman. It feels good to be a humble social tool.

Arthur walked back in the rain all the way, and suddenly looked up at the dark sky.

The sky in London was cloudy and rainy, and the weather in Paris was not very good.

"Is it... is it Sir Arthur Hastings?"

The carriage stopped beside Arthur, and a delicate hand holding a handkerchief stretched out from the curtain.

Arthur turned around and saw that it was a familiar face. She looked a little nervous and maybe a little surprised.

"Didn't you bring an umbrella? You can wipe your face with a handkerchief first. Although I heard that London often rains, so Londoners generally don't like to carry umbrellas. But if you walk on the streets like this, you will get sick when you go back. "

Arthur stared at her face in fascination until he saw Miss Draisaitl blushing, then he came back to his senses, took off his hat and thanked her: "Thank you for your concern."

He took the handkerchief, wiped it on his face, and handed back the handkerchief with his name embroidered in gold thread.

Seeing him like this, Miss Draisaitl asked cautiously: "Are you separated from your servant? Fortunately, nothing happened to you. What happened at the Kaidouxe Mansion tonight was really terrible. If you If you don’t mind, you can take my car. Wherever you live, I can give you a ride.”

When Arthur heard this, he asked in surprise: "No, of course I don't mind, but you...your husband doesn't mind?"

"Husband?" Miss Draisaitl replied with a blushing face: "Sir, I don't have a husband. My father came with me today. But he was called to a meeting after the explosion tonight. So now, the car There are still empty seats.”

When Arthur heard this, he thought for a moment, and finally asked politely: "I don't know much about the situation in Paris, but can an unmarried lady like you sit with me?"

Miss Dresser nodded repeatedly and said: "Of course! I am accompanied by a male servant, and I am not alone with you. The atmosphere in Paris is not as conservative as in London."

"Then it's better to be respectful than to obey. Thank you for your generosity."

Miss Dresser asked the groom to open the door for Arthur. Arthur got on the carriage and the wheels started turning again.

Arthur first took a look at the warmly decorated carriage. Sitting in the carriage, he didn't know what to say. He could only chat with Miss Dresser about tonight's incident.

"You weren't hurt tonight, were you?"