Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-07-10
From lhe Ctrisliaa IlIeIIlrel.er.
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

From The Christian Iueiigeteer.
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
/ No event in the history of modern Europe,
has produced consequences 50 momcntous, or G.
Involved principles so interesting as the French
y fsReyoution. 1t was not mere political crcH.
~ overturned the very foundations Of the civil
c and then laid its ruthless hand on the deep
I'd purest principles Of our nature.
q3Oh rope had watched the American struggle
hoff athcss interest, and had just welcomed
Of Al republic into life, when she was called
tho i, TO engage in stirring conflict. The dark
IF war. which hung SO poronhously o.
7hllsle" Western Hemisphere was indeed scatter
thds he bright dawn Of lroodom but twas on
.@t it might gather in thicker pail over de-
voted France.
The two great events of modern times, are the
Ancricaa aud French Revolutions. They stand
outin bold relief on the page OF history as bea-
g5ocoko guide future ages through the troubled
A.eh3 of political convulsons. The one shines
lAforh like the polar star, with calm and living
.lioht. the other sheds the fierce, the Pickering
glare of the meteor. The one exhibited The gem
nine spirit of liberty, the other developed the le-
q gitimate tendencies of uncontrolled democracy.
H-The one laid the foundations of free govern
5ment in those immutablo principles which Jcho-
yah has established, the other, in ovcrturnlng Il
" ,,umbrous monarchy, uprootcd the elements OF
Y all rghtiul authority.
The American Revolution was like a vernal
Y torn, porentous and dark for the time, but au-
! spcclous in rasults-purlying the fountains OF
\ society, opening channels for the diffusion ofuue
n equality. vivifying and refreshing every part OF
4 the social system. , The French Revolution was
Il like the hurricane sweeping over the face OF So
y coty with the besom Of destruction, tearing up
and shivering in pedes the firm pillars of ma
TONS security, and leaving in its wild track the
, :, marks Of utter desoadon.
Tho French Revolution was one vast drama
lin which kings, princes and master spirits OF ey-
I tnry rank were the actors. 1t opens with faint
% kgIimmering in the political horizon, we seem 10
ttlch the bright dawnings of that light which
flad ushared in such glorious day IN the Wes'
? a1rn world. But the scene changes. Black
chlouds gather and thicken in the heavens. One
fAy one each passing scene fits before us till d
N darker ono comes. monarch is led forth from
y. grated celia royal head is laid on the learIu
@block, and the curtain drops!-For an instant
q there was pause-the hot wheel ofroyolunon i,
STAYED moment, while men gaze aghast on the
. spectacle of murdered king and start al the
image of their own wickedness. But it Is only
fora moment. Again the curtain rises, and tn,
car of democracy rolls on in its bloody triumph
Robaspierrc, Danton and Marat, fit before us like
the ghastly spectres Of a dream. Then darl
4 form rises-lrom that moment Bonaparte is tht
fierce spirit of the storm! With the naughty
| men of u conqueror, he strides through Italy
and Austria, and then plants his standard on tn,
/ Libian sands. The hoary dynastcs of contu
ries crumble into dust before him, and the triple
crown is laid submissiyely at his leet.-At thu
glance of his dark eye the proudest monarch
cover, at the power of his stern brow, all En-
rope uembles. lie lays his curbing hand on tn
7 raging ocean of strife in France, and compose
1 its heaying elements but it is only that he ma
A LAUGH his own proud bark on the restless main
4 With giant steps he marches from the camp t
the consuate-from the consulate to the throne
He raises the cringing Paris from the dust, tho
consecrated hands may place the blood-saine
l:adem on his brow. AT that moment Bonapart
seems omnipotent Fromhis lone eyry elook
down and fixes his terrible gaze on a tributar
X woAdl But again, the scene changes. A MAJ
tal field is spread out before us. On one sid
L the embattled hosts of the allied soveregns bur,
upon our view-5eeming an ocean of living va
or. On the other side, all the pride and chiya
ry of France CLEAN forth-in that blazing ARA
we seem to see but one mighty heart, painting ic
glory and victory. They meet in the ferc
Shock of battle, and again the curtain drops-th
mighty drama is overl The dcspot whose no
had been for so many years the law of nation
rules only in his rock bound prison.-With hiI
Il the best empire which he had cemented with tn
Il proudest blood of Europe, melts away like a
ice palace beneath a torrid sun. At least Forum
was weary with crowning her favorite son, an
Fate cut the thread with which the Nan of DeSt
ny was wont to bind victory to his standard.
n Aferthe lapse of thirty years. we gazeh
the calm light of history on the stirring events
the French Revolution, we read lesson for ii
N philosopher, the statesman and christian. lin
A has set his stern signet on events which ono
1 seemed but the fitting phantasm OF dream.
needs but the lapse Of years TO stamp them WI
an air of romance more thrilling than that whic
invests the Trojan war; its heroes are more sh