At that moment people generally believed, and we ourselves believed, in this judgment, which, as we have seen, was not the genuine judgment.
At the same time they posted in the populous quarters, at the corner of every street, two Proclamations. The first ran thus:—
"TO THE PEOPLE.
"ARTICLE III.[10]
"The Constitution is confided to the keeping and to the patriotism of
French citizens. Louis NAPOLEON is outlawed.
"The State of Siege is abolished.
"Universal suffrage is re-established.
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC.
"To ARMS!
"For the United Mountain.
"The Delegate, VICTOR HUGO."
The second ran thus:—
"INHABITANTS OF PARIS.
"The National Guards and the People of the Departments are marching on
Paris to aid you in seizing the TRAITOR, Louis Napoléon BONAPARTE.
"For the Representatives of the People,
"VICTOR HUGO, President.
"SCHOELCHER, Secretary."
This last placard, printed on little squares of paper, was distributed abroad, says an historian of the coup d'état, by thousands of copies.
For their part the criminals installed in the Government offices replied by threats: the great white placards, that is to say, the official bills, were largely multiplied. On one could be read:—
"WE, PREFECT OF THE POLICE,
"Decree as follows:—
"ARTICLE I. All meetings are rigorously prohibited. They will be
immediately dispersed by force.
"ARTICLE II. All seditious shouts, all reading in public, all posting
of political documents not emanating from a regularly constituted
authority, are equally prohibited.
"ARTICLE III. The agents of the Public Police will enforce the execution
of the present decree.
"Given at the Prefecture of Police, December 3, 1851.
"DE MAUPAS, Prefect of Police.
"Seen and approved,
"DE MORNY, Minister of the Interior."
On another could be read,—
"THE MINISTER OF WAR,
"By virtue of the Law on the State of Siege,
"Decrees:—
"Every person taken constructing or defending a barricade, or carrying
arms, WILL BE SHOT.
"General of Division,
"Minister of war,
"DE SAINT-ARNAUD."