This effort of the dregs of revolution to inaugurate a reign of terror failed, and the provisional government felt so elated with its victory that it determined, to continue at the head of affairs and to oppose the calling of a chamber of national representatives. The members proclaimed oblivion for what had passed, broke off the negotiations for a truce begun by Thiers, and demanded a vote of confidence. The indomitable spirit shown by the French people did not, on the other hand, inspire the Germans with a very lenient or conciliatory temper. Bismarck declared in a despatch the reasons why the negotiations had failed: "The incredible demand that we should surrender the fruits of all our efforts during the last two months, and should go back to the conditions which existed at the beginning of the blockade of Paris, only affords fresh proof that in Paris pretexts are sought for refusing the nation the right of election." Thiers mournfully declared the failure of his undertaking, but in Paris the popular voting resulted in a ten-fold majority in favor of the government and the policy of postponement. [Illustration: KING OSCAR II. OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY. KING CHRISTIAN IX. OF DENMARK. EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA. KING HUMBERT OF ITALY. PRESENT KINGS OF FOUR COUNTRIES] [Illustration: LEON GAMBETTA LOUIS ADOLPHE THIERS FERDINAND DeLESSEPS PRESIDENT LOUBET GREAT MEN OF MODERN FRANCE] [=Famine and Misery in Paris=]