The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-28
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE
To the Editor Of the Union:
Pans, April %, 1876.

To The Editor Of The Union:
, We have had another aiisHiai against the person
Of the king--the sixth ia number, and this time
again, as IN all preceding cases, special Providence
70 have saved not only his own life but also the
lives OF those who surrounded him. The assassin
had a double barrelled gun, was a hunter, never
missed stag at $50 feet, and this time fired three
bals, and about twenty buck shot, at distance OF
twelve PAGES only from his intended victim, who
was driving with about dozen others, in a species
OF car, called char d bane, and yet not one was
wounded or otherwise injured. The assassin is in
custody, and will no doubt meet with condign pun
ishment. " ss'At..
The Epoque, Mr.. Guizot's own paper, and the
Jounsi dss Dsbas, the irresponsible government
organ, insist that where kings concerned pm
vsie crimes become political ones, and thus argue,
with species Of logic altogether incomprehensibe
TO Saxon mind, that Lseompts-this is the name OF
the culPrit-must have accomploes. The opPosi-
hon papers very properly ridieule this notion, as,
were Il to receive general sanction, additional human
protection might be sought for the chief Of the State
IN the way Of legislation which would still further
fercumscribs French liberty, and make tho whole
nation expate the crimes Of few desperadoes. The
Equeen Of Great Britain was equally shot at, though
no one doubted the loyalty Of her subjects and il
was manly and wise In the ministry 10 declare al
once that they considered the laws Of Great Britain
as they stood quite sufficient protect the person Of
the sovereign and that therefore, proposition for
additional protection would be submitted to Parlla-
heroes, by gratifying their prlriant vanity with a
public execution, they were simply treated as
madmen, and locked up accordingly. Instead OF
ts Dsums being chanted for the queens preservation
instead OF reviews Of guards and soldiers, congra-
ulations OF both houses OF Parliament &c, all which
only serve to magnify the attempted cowsrdly act
into an event ofgreat moment (Which can never be
done without rejecting, in a certain degree, the
author the whole matter was dismissed from the
British mind with few newspaper paragraphs,
and consigned 10 the Newgate calendar, where it
properly belonged.
The French, or rather the French ministerial pa
pers, make out Of an act Of private vengeance, mean
and contemplate as it IA, and despised it be
by every wel-regulaIed mind, "a political eri,; ~
placing thereby the vulgar assassin by the side Of
the fanatcal but lawful opponent Of the government
or, what Is stll worse, degrading the latter TO a
criminal, and thereby pervertlng all correct
tons Of political ethics. The ineessant cry, "the
throne, the monarchy, the dynasty Of July are in
danger" do not impress the calm loOker-on with q
strong sense Of the solidty and permanence Of the
present institutions Of France, and ought, therefore,
us much a. possible, TO be hushed. They serve, as
far az can see, no reasonable purpose They neither
deter williams from the commission Of crimes nor in
crease the strength Of the government, which, when
IT assumes the attitude Of begging popularity, is sell
dom permanently successful That death has no
terror TO a Frenchman is a matter Of historical rec
ord, and proved every day by the devotion Of the
French army and navy. The execution Of the
criminal, therefore, To deter others from
similar wicked attempts; whereas, people so keen
ly alive public ridcule and disgrace as the
French, would be Mortified at seeing a man whip
ped with n switch, receiving number OF strokes
on the palm of his right hand (Which pulled the trig
ger) with ferule. Such public exhibition would
have salutary effect on all ncipient gslowsly he
roes, as the rioters Of former years put dswn
by streams Of cold water from the fire engines
quicker than by grape shot There was bravery in
exposing their breasts to the soldiers fire, but it
drowned rat, instead Of patriot in blaze Of brim-
stone.
Here in Paris the attempt the kings life has
created very little sensation among the Of the
population, who either believe Louis Philippe to be
impenetrabe, or well convinced Of the per-
= manency Of his dynasty, to believe impossible
tor the latter to he shaken by dastardly act OF
sassination. think the people are right. No other
government is at present possible in France, and
Louis Philippe is, indeed, much stronger among
the great bulk Of the French population than him
self and his ministers seem to be of and It is
indeed, great pity that certain party here should
asuey contrve to construe every opposition to the
different measures Of the administration into
; sion to the Orleans dynasty. The good cause and
= the true interests of France gain nothing by this
misrepresentation; the contrary they merely
serve to unnecessarily prolong the period Of pro-
baton which every nation passing from despotsm
to constitutional form Of government must go
through with before it can be permanently trusted
nobleae de quarter 81. Germain, not strictly the
legitimate sovereign of France is at least descended
from a legitimate branch, which must become the
legitimate royal stem fthe Duke of Bordeaux die
without male issue. OF this there is every like
hood, that is most probable that the Count Of
Paris will in this respect, have to encounter no oppo
sition. 1t is the present policy and diplomacy Of
, France, which cannot last, because they are not
national and becoming the dignity and power of the
French people, not the present dynasty, which
need only act IN different from what it does
at present, to be hailed with accama,ons by the
whole country The French people sick of the
D elder branch of the Bourbons. A republic in
France is at this moment out of the question:; and
I the heirs of Napoleon can at best but claim the
b., crown by the laws Of seniture. IF the throne Of
e France were vacant tomorrow, Louis Philippe
!, would PROFESSIONALLY be the strongest among all
the candidates for it; and in all probability the
: successful one. Why, then, should he himself
4 make the distinction between king de jure and
de facto? The present internal and external policy
of France is one Of fear and intimidation, entirely
unbecoming great nation. The government Of
Louis Philippe has done enough to reconcile all the
powers of Europe; 1t is now time for doing that
which shall reconcile the people. 1t is certainly
well to live good terms with ones neighbors;
but that ought not TO prevent man from fencing
: in his own house and garden, and making himself
comfortable at home. The truth is, that NJ. Guizo
himself has latterly come to this way of thinking
When recently the navy estimate came before the
chamber, Theirs and Guizot, the opposition and
the ministerial party voted alike, and cordially for
respectable increase. They want forty ships of the
line, of which twenty in commission a proportional
number of frgates and smaller vessels, and one hun
dred steamers. "For," says M. Guizot though
we are now on the very best footing with neigh
bors and there be to suppose that the
dial understanding will cease, still il becomes the
dignity Of France, and is consonant with sound
staesmanke views that we should be prepared for
a contingency" So, then, even Guizot thinks it
tn for thnnt Epo
land which does the same in regard to France, or
those whom il may concern presuming to take
offence at it. Only zoe ask at home, "what will
England say to III" Will not England take offence
tin which anxious questions Mr.. Webster very
properly compared to the Athenians asking "what
; does Philip sayw But | trust there will yet be
men in the United States whose patriotism and
courage will only ask ",cha, Is righii' and who, in
the council of the nation will prevail like their great
' prototype