The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-05 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

POPULAR COM riTUTTIONS.

Popular Constitutions seem to be the element
of the Jacouins. All the dernocratical party be-
longs to them, and as that party represents phy-
sical force, it will not fail to overthrow the moral
force of Aristocracy, if Aristocracy is not com-
bined with force, and supported by all the moral
cailses which operate upon the minds of the

People.
The Constituent Assembly of France, in mak-
ing, a Cons. itution, destroyed at the same time
all the mural virtues, Religion, parental autho-
rity, the reverence of intetiors towards those of
higher rank, whilst all the foundations of social
order were held in ridicule, awl treated with con-
tempt. The Leaders of the new Sect, seeing their
party and principles so well established in France,
speedily diffused their doctrines everywhere, anti,
strong in the example and the power of France,
they proceeded more or less openly to the radical
rerorta of Europe. The Aristocracy were every-
where attacked, and are so at the present moment ;
for were we to listen to what is said around es,
we should hear repeated this Jacobin phrase,
" Popular Constitutions are become an °NNW:4
OF EURorE to I.7lticit it nittst submit:* This opi-
niem once avowed (to make use of the vulgar ex-
pression) " we howl with the wolves," that is to
say, we half smite with the Jacobins to raise
their edifies., stied to pail down our own. Have
People well veil-coed on this opinion, which is
laid down berme hand, as a rule of conduct ?
Let Elltal•e well remember that it was also Opt-
NiON in which was (wooled a title in France to
resolve on that terrible Revolution which conti-
nues to harass .the civilized world. Thus what
has latest done in France in the name of ()emote,
it is wished to do througbout Europe under
the same sanction, and if credit is given to such
a notion, the same credulity will precipitate the
same consecrences. Oristoon is certainly some-
thisig, but we must distinguish between that
which is the echo of truth, and that which is the
reverberation of falsehood. The duty of those
who are entrusted with the higher public func-
tions, is to conform to one, and to repress the
ocher. Yet, at this momeut, it is sufficiently
proved, that what is honoured with the pompous
title of the Oetnton OF Euaore, is nothing more
than the audacity of some, exagee rated by the
weakness of others.---People, we find, are in
teeth y tether disposed to caress the monster, titan
to combat with him. Everywhere, at present,
fear is t ea for pi advice, and imagination creates
Guints, where, in fact, there is nothing extraordi-
nary, bat the horrible atrocity of a few miscreants,
vile, base, aud incapable. The sympathy ob-
servable between the Jacobin principles and po-
pular Consitutions merits all the attention at
Statesmen ; for, if they are well informed, they
on ht t.. kuow, that io France it is not for the
aecnri'y at Freedom that a popular Constitution
is (lea-witted, but that in reality that form of
Constitution which may procure them the enjoy.
tent of the vice, di,order, and licentiousness,
witieh for nearly thiry years have characterized
revolutionary Frenchmen. We refer on this sub-
ject to all imparti el observers, who will unani-
mously acknowledge that Liberty is only the
pretext, and that licentiousness is the object in
view. it is, in reality, the GENIUS OF EVIL that
wishes to reign at whatever hazard.* If such be
the effect of popular Constitutions, is it not the
fits! duty which European Sovereigns owe to their
people, to modify the Constitutions of their
own Statta in such a manner, that all access to
the horrible doctrines of Jacobins should be
precluded% To give them an asylum, under
any Legislature whatever, is to give them
the power of increasing and multiplying.—
To allow them such an asylum in the French
Constitution, is to give them a lever to overturn
11. e world. England is not and cannot be in-
cluded in these reflections. The moral and phy-
sical circumstances which insulate and distinguish
her from other Sovereignties, render it a country
by itself, The men of property in England:,
whose number and riches have rendered it the
best constituted Aristocracy that ever existed, are
a hody not to be found elsewhere. The People
of the Continent cannot imitate England, because
England possesses materials which they want,
but which they nevertheless arc endeavouring to
acquire, without perceiving that the English Con-
st notion is like the Enigma of the SPH tr,lx ; it
ontti seem that England gives this Enigma for
all Ealope to interpret under the pain of Death,
and it is much to be feared that, in fact, it will
lead to the destruclion of Europe, if the Nations
of the Continent persist in the error which seems
to le preleloiatteate among them—that of imitating
a Constitution, which the Want of similar ele-
&octal retitle' s it impossible for theta to attain.
A. D.