POTTER United Families

Assuming that these people were until fairly recently members of the
illiterate peasantry, they would not have had the educational level to
participate in petitioning. Assuming also that displacement had
lessened their intimate contact with the clergy, they would not have
had the assistance of the clerics' literacy.
This might explain why the rural peasantry, while economically
slightly more advantaged than their city brothers, was politically
involved, while the urban proletariat was not.
King William's address to the States-General on the opening of the
legislative session of 1829-30, October 19, 1829, was so bland, that
journalist-publisher Jottrand said: "It is impossible to imagine the
ardent fights that were occupying the whole country, following to
Louis’ trial and numerous publications”.
Louis’ "State of the Union", an expression which he invented and
which will become famous, appeared on November 15, 1829. It was
addressed to Minister Van Gobbelschroy, for whom Louis claimed
to have still admiration and respect, as friend and democratic ally,
although he had already called for his resignation as minister.
This pamphlet was entitled “Letter of Demophile”, which means in
Greek “the citizen’s friend”.
This letter indicated that Louis thought the Kingdom of the
Netherlands was still, with modification, a viable institution. Louis
supported this conviction as a warning for better democratic
practices with the support of a peaceful revolution.
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