The native American., 1838-05-12
THE GLOBE.

be? and does Nature really assert her empire over MS
affections We most sincerely hope and mat mere
after we shalt abuse OF Naive hmeltah
Associations OF the 'pesent print IN the u'ooe'
We have been contending for the very pfhciPies 81
eoquenty EXPRESSED and urged in the extract We are
or applying an andoe TO 'he = subtle poison OF lot
eign influence. so .shurtli to just American eeng;"
and we are for breaking the feters that cank upon
our minds" and hold in state of Hassaage to En
rome We say with The eloquent writer" Let ms have
/ head let US have heart, of Let the old
Greek household proverb-'Spara is thine, adorn her
| be stamped uron breasIpate. Let American
lag be upIiled and unfured under which the young
mind of county may muster and rally, and fight
and conquer!'
"The French philosophy of the present day
seems admirably fitted to exert wholesome in
nuence in this country. It's deeply Democratic
but its Democracy is not that of the French Rev
olu,ion. The philosophy of that era was the
product ofits age. 1t uttered the crv of that age
and having done So was destined to disappear
As the portentous cloud thickened and lowered
philosophy helped to drawt the electric fluid down.
At length the impending tempest burst; Heavens
messengers performed their errand, and society
was uphcaved. But the storm rolls on, and in the
eye of hope the bow of promise spans the skies.
Philosophy now speaks in another tone, and pre-
lscnts a different aspect 1t is not conservative,
but constructive. 1t wishes not to destroy, but to
build; and prohtng by the experience of the past,
strives to lay the foundations of the social edifice
where alone they can securely rest-in the aflcc-
tons of the popular heart, and in those primal in
destructlble truths which are at the bottom of that
heart. 1t no longer seeks to throw the different
members of the body polite into wild confusion
and uproar, but would rather clasp them all in
bonds OF kindred synpathes, equal rights, and a
common destiny. Its trust is in generous sys-
tenn of public education. Its war with the
Christian religion is now ended. 1t finds in
that religion a friend and an ally. Modern French
philosophy is in the highest sense eclectcism.
1t is more anxious to get at facts than to form a
system. 1t finds some golden ore in all systems
1t is thus very tolerant; tolerant of opinions, to-
lerant of men. 1t distrusts that braggart virtue
or braggart knowledge which vaunts itself. 1t is
slow to believe; it is slow to disbelieve tjoins
the caravan which Milton has so beautifully de-
lneated; and over sea, and over land, gathers up
the limbs of torn and mangled truth. Alas! that
whole divine and perfect form it never expects to
see. ct it is scientific rather than speculative.
German mysticism strained through the French
mind becomes transparent and runs clear. Cou-
sin and Joutfroy proclaim doctrine in regard to
the facts OF consciousness rigorous as that of
Louis in regard to medicine. This doctrine is,
disgust for theory, and an uprising from slow OBJ
servaton to pervadng laws. TocqueviIle has
applied the same philosophy to the science of hu-
man affairs to politics. His late work on this
country is destined, believe, like the great
works of Grotius and Montesquieu, to mark a
starting point and era. We speak of the spirit
III which it is composed. 1t recognises the De-
mocracy of the age like a law of Nature, and ana
llx--x.. e,In A.,
would take to pieces plant or a crystal. Then
this French mind in its highest form is in its own
way practical. 1t weds sentiment to fact, ro-
nance to duty, enthusiasm to action. Parent
Duchaet groping beneath the streets of Paris in
the selt-consumng and benevolent tolls of science
Armand Carrel at the head of his press, WELD
ing his pen like a sword, what ideal men thew
were They judged not of worldly success by a
vulgar standard 1t was not lucre, it was not
fame, which stirred these men. They caught the
inspiration Of holier instincts. They died, ere
the dew OF the morning was dried from every
green thing. Life with them was crowded into
a few breathing years. But though they did not
reach the goal, bright glowed the track beneath
their fervent wheels. Not in vain did they live;
not in vain did they die; for they have left an ey-
ample which is light, and hope, and iov,
and treasure, and full of secret refreshing to
many hungry, many thirsty soul
''Such is the general character Of the French
philosophy of the present day, and we think it
well suited to this country, because its tendency
is to give us faith in the principles on which our
popular institutions rest, and fearlessness in carry
ing them out. We need that faith and fearless
ness. The strongest thinker of antiquity, who
had perhaps the greatest intellect the world has
ever known, declared that Government to be the
best which showed the greatest number of citi-
zens who were neither rich nor poor. Herein
lies the secret of strength and glory Pow
or, too, in this country, is destined to follow land
This is that true balance of which theoretical wri-
ters make SO much account; and so long as they
who hold that balance, are neither rich nor poor,
the Commonwealth may osclae, but it is self
poised, and cannot be overturned. Now since
the laws Of descent in France, have equalizcd the
division Of property, France and the United
States are placed upon the same platform. Not
50 England, and yet from similarity Of descent
and language, we are constantly looking for ana
logles to that country. These analoges, in most
cases, attract but to mslcad Perhaps it NAV be
SAID truly, that lawyers, from the necessities of
their professional training are more inclined than
any other class of men, to draw them. In MANY
OF our forms OF society, we poor copysts of