The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-02

postpone the passage Of every resolution which would
appear to be an open expression of sympathy with the
present movement in France. We cannot understand
how the dignity Of this nation is compromised by any
such declaration. even il should be the hapless destiny
OF that great country to fall again under the rule of
monarch to sink down subjected to the power OF
military despot The nature Of their undertaking. up
this period, has been such as makes it, in humble
Judgment, the solemn duty of every country in which
the principles OF liberty prevail to hold out to France
the kndest Of friendship and admiration.
Never did any people, from first to last in an effort to re-
move from the throne an unpopular monarch, exhibit
such calmness, resolve, mercy, and generosity.
The course of the abdicaed King whether justified or
not by the position in which he found himself placed
has certainly been such outrage and put defiance
that popular sentiment which he owed his elevation
to the throne It may have been that had he adhered
to those promises which were exacted frem him after
the revolution of the barcades, his throne would have
been too poweress and unstable to resist the shocks
which it was frequently doomed to encounter. II may
have been that his permission of the liberty of the press
of the extension Of the right of outrage, and OF the lin
its Of reform, would have all tended to diminish that
perogative upon which he depended as the means OF
Transmitting to his family throne won and retained with
30 mueh difficulty by himself.
But although in his eyes, and even under the strict
construction of his legal powers he may have supposed
himself be justified in pursuing the arbitrary course that
he adopted still unlocked for by that people by
whom his power had been bestowed that it is not singu
lar they should have viewed his progress to despotc
authority with such aversion.
No man who has watched with attention the late
history Of France, can be insensble that there was
not within the Kings domnions being more unpopular
than himself. His reputation for courage and for sa
gacty his fortunate escapes from DANGERS the prosperity
and national greatness of his kingdom the state and
civic magnifcence OF the court, which have, in most
monarchies concentrated sort of admiration and en-
thusiasm produced such feeling towards the French
King Adjudged traitor by the royass for his assidu
court and betrayal of the throne of Charles X de-
cared mpostor by the republicans for having deluded
the nation TO resign its freedom for the shadow of con-
shtutiona government; hated by those advocates of
limited monarchy who had trusted his professions until it
was too late to acthe in the heart OF all France
excepting those few who derived their political ex
isence from his support the most hated feared and
'aspised How could generous people love and respect
King who seemed to study his interests more than
those Of his people Without the energy of Bonaparte
yet with all his selfish and despicabe passion of quarter
up his miserable dynasty at home, he fell into the
mischevous blunders of looking himself and his
own house instead of the country Prosperity too had
turned his head, it had done the Emperors and he
has fallen victim to his petty passions This mar
attempt to sacrifice all men for one man. is against
the very spirit of the age in which we hve-the age of
progress-rapdly becoming the age of liberty the age
of the people We in what country the error is
;ftod. olfo
republic. Men who have gained some character and
weight are too apt to think that the people are made for
them, and not they for the people. But the people will
yet teach them the great lesson that however they may
attempt to command the people for their interests
their position in this country, where the government
belongs the people, for whom it was created and for
whose benett is to be administered is to serve the peo
pie, and to bde their time, and wait till the people call
them into power.
Yet despite of this feeling which the French King had
produced among the French peoplea feeling so rancor
that he dared not trust his life one moment in the
keeping OF his own people, even when he was sur
rounded by the ensgns and of his solderyhe has
lived to realize that it the against whom the
public vengeance was directed but the potver which he
had built up and maintained For despite of the exas
peration which had impelled vast multitude, half
armed, and led by beardess boys to march boldly on to
the attack of palace defended by thousands of regular
troops armed and waiting to oppose themdespte of the
fury which they must have felt at seeing some of their
comrades fall, murdered by the fire of the mary-the
King under whose orders the deed had been DONE had
no sooner abdcated than the popular vengeance stood
STILL Even the masses of that infuriated mob dsdained
to visit upon the head of helpless old man the fearful
consequences of the acts which he had committed
when clothed with regal authority They believed him
to have been an arbitrary yant using the liberty of the
people for his own benefit during seventeen years They
believed him to have sacrificed the reputation of France
at home and abroad to the advancement of the interests
of his own family. They believed him to have stained
his hands with their blood, they were assembling
to exercise the right Of peaeeaby petionng And yet
notwithstanding all this. when they had him absolutely
in their power they suffered him pass out unframed.
That property which he had painfully accumulated and
which he said to have esteemed than his CROWN
was carefully protected from page and his private
rights and condolences respected truly if he
had not sinned so deeply against the people
This mercy, this generosity would have been wonder
full had solitary man exercised dominion that null
ttude OF angry men, But do know how to admire
sufficiently the conduct of men, who distracted by passions
various and multiplied their own numbers were
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