tters of deep import, though
conferences in this office can never be so private or so important as
not to derive benefit from the presence and counsel of the Deputy from
Marseilles."

"Most true," observed Louis Blanc; "and so far from intrusion do we
view your arrival that we can but consider it most opportune that we
have the privilege of referring to you a question on which, between us,
especially between our friend Marrast and myself, there seems some
little diversity of sentiment."

"It would, I fear," said M. Dantes, "be unpardonable arrogance in one so
young as I am in the great cause of human liberty to offer counsel to
you, who are all veterans, and most of you little less than martyrs to
your enthusiasm. But no good citizen will shrink from the responsibility
of declaring the results of his reflections on all topics which have
reference to the general weal."

"We differ mainly in this," said Marrast: "Louis Blanc attributes the
Republican failures of the past ten years to prematurity and want of
preparation in our attempts, and contends that all those reverses may be
retrieved by patience and prudence in future, while, to my mind, there
is nothing to indicate for the future, from the same causes, different
results than those experienced in the past."

"Concert of action," said M. Dantes, mildly, "is always an indispensable
requisite in the accomplishment of every enterprise which relies for its
success on association, or the combined efforts of individuals laboring
for a common end; yet, with all the concert of action which can possibly
be attained, the best arranged and best digested scheme in the world may
be ruined by premature movement. Of this we surely have sad proof in the
history of the past ten years alluded to. There is something of truth
in the declaration so frequently made that the French people are not yet
prepared for freedom. If this be so, then it is the duty of their
friends to prepare them. It is folly to suppose that the masses should,
at first, intuitively know all their rights and the best mode of
vindicating them. This they must be taught; and, to this end, the press
should be unceasingly at work, not only all over France, but all over
Europe, in diffusing correct views upon life and labor, and political
rights and powers. There should be, also, concert of action among the
friends of freedom, and clubs should at once be instituted in every
city, town and village in France, which shou