I believe that the majority understands that the most prudent approach is to remain constituted as a republic.

Frédéric Bastiat
Complete Works, Volume 7, pages 406 to 407 (in French)
February 18th, 1850

Frédéric Bastiat writes today’s quote slightly less than two years before the Second Empire (which he will not live to see) was proclaimed.

In this short letter, he expresses despair towards the politicking that is more or less sincere around him. Obviously, some of it aimed at destroying any credit the republic may have had. Frédéric Bastiat shows here with moderation that he was a supporter of the republic. He believes that he is aligned with the majority on this topic. I note with interest the word “prudent” – the republic is clearly not a panacea and having a republic is not sufficient for “everything [to be] good in the best of possible worlds”. However, in the same way as Winston Churchill will have no illusions about democracy (“the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried”), Frédéric Bastiat was a supporter of the republic against the monarchy or the empire (that had been autocratic in France), and not because it would have been a way to fulfil all the dreams and passions of the people as some may have thought.