he independence of Germany. In their eyes to be a priest is to teach
morality and charity; is to make common cause with all the oppressed; to
preach justice and toleration; to predict the reign of equality; and to
teach men that political redemption must follow religious liberty. Let
the education of the clergy be the same in France as it is in Germany,
and it will produce the same results. By the union of priests and laymen
there will be a double action which will be favourable to society;
priests will become citizens, and citizens will become more religious.
Then--but then only--we shall be happy to see, as in Germany, the
ministers of religion at the head of education, teaching youth the
morality of Christ, which destroyed slavery, taught men, that they are
equal, and impressed on them that God has placed in their hearts
faith and love, in order to believe in what is right, and to love one
another."*

* "Complete Works of the Emperor Napoleon III.," vol. ii.
Chapter on "The Clergy and the State."

The espousal of the president's cause by M. Montalembert, then
recognised as the lay leader of the ultramontane party, decided many
waverers, notwithstanding their affection for the elder Bourbons, and
their horror of such liberal enunciations by Louis Napoleon.

When the president's ministry of favourites was turned out by the vote
of the assembly, he resorted to the extraordinary measure of forming a
ministry of men who had no votes in that body. This he alleged was only
a provisional ministry, but the assembly did not place faith in these
assurances, and offered it every opposition. The new ministry
were allowed to sit in the assembly as ministers, to answer any
interpellations, or make any statements connected with their offices.
This ministry remained in office| until the 11th of April, when it gave
place to that which it had provisionally succeeded, and which in its
turn encountered the opposition of the assembly.

During the months of April and May petitions were got up in Paris, and
the provinces, in favour of a revision in the constitution Of 1848. On
the 28th of May the assembly was entitled, by its original constitution,
to entertain the question of a general revision of the constitution
of the state, but no alteration could take place unless approved by
three-fourths of the entire votes. Motions for an alteration in the
constitution were made by the Buonapartists, and supported in various
details b