The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-05
PARIS AND ITS INFLUENCE OVER
ERANCE

42evolutcn, describes as follows, the influence of
the French capital on the affairs of the country.
"But it is not the government alone, not even
the national representation alone, that teelS the
power of the populace, in whose perilous vicinity
they act. That is a substantial force, directly ex-
ercsed-a force applied to control Immediately.
There is less direct influence, but more pow
eriul one, exercised by the same Partisan people
over the whole OF France, and the respectable
portion OF that capital are under the more imme-
date Influence OF the meaner portion-the mere
populacn The sway of Paris all over France is
almost unbounded; but it is not unaccountable.
The French are people peculiarly susceptible
oil national sentiments and sympathies. The ideas
OF gory,ot splendor,o of whatever daZZes the mind,
ind ready access TO their Imagination and easily
fill their whole souls. But all these things be-
long to the nation at large, to the ideal being,
called France; and as France, adored by the
French. Then Paris is the concentration OF that
lustre Paris is as it were France personihed
and every Frenchman is vain OF Paris The vo-
cabulary OF admiration is exhausted in phrases to
express its varied merits, its rich gifts its count
less charms, all the ideas Of the most refined So
cial enjoyments, the most brilliant festivals, the
most exquisite qualifications of sense, the most
delightful recreatons Of taste-all are insepara-
bly, connected with the capital, and TO the capital
every admiring smile, as well as each longing
glance, points from a thousand towns, as well as
thousand wales. The having been or the not
having been at Paris forms distinction OF rank
in all provincial society; the once seeing Paris
before they taste OF DEATHS the hope that through
life fingers in all mems bosoms. | well recollect
being with Madame de Stael, then in the closest
alliance with the powers that were invading
France. She had accompanied one of their mis-
sion to London. She was discussing the chances
OF the campaign, when our friend Lord Dudley,
in his manner, said he expected to hear that the
Cossacks had reached Paris, and nailed horse.
shoe on the door Of the Tuieries, | shall never
forget the electric effect which this imagery pro-
duced on the true French feeling that found vent
in her exclamation of horror at the bare idea of
such catastrophe. Qu0l! Cette belle France!
Eft Paris! TWhat! that beautiful France and
Paris! But cetfe belle France had long been
entered by the allies; and it was hostile, tyran.
nical, prosecuting Paris, under which she had
suffered SO severely -where, iRdeed she never
was liked, or even reshed-it was Paris in the
hands OF her barbarian protectors that gave her
pang, which all the sufferings OF France had
failed to make her feel.
'But such are the French. The pride OF coun.
try, that patriotic feeling which ever nantes 10
the heart most accessible to personal vanity, adds
its steady influence; and the not harmless exag-
gerations of national enthusiasm pronounce Paris
the metropolis of the civilized world For all this
there is so much solid foundation, and foreigners
have so generally adopted the French, that is the
Parlslan, modes In graver matters as well as in
trities that we perfectly comprehend, and
partly forgive, these fancies as only realities ex
aggerated in the outline, and adorned in the COL
oring. But am now only speaking of the fact,
and the fact easily explains the prodigious influ-
ence exercised by the capital over the Provinces
this disposition to take the law from the banks of
the Seine as tar as the Channel, even the Pyre.
nees, and the Var, the tenderness with which the
atrocities OF Paris are overlooked or excused like
the Maynard tricks OF child by maternal fond.
ness, or yelled by filial piety hiding parents
shame. The voice OF opposition is still, when
Paris has issued the command; ynd that COM
mand res0unds over the length and breadth of
the land. This is the real secret of French rev
olutions; in some respects OF the first revolution
as well as OF the last; for although all France
bore part in the earliest stages OF that great
event, and took deep interest in the procee diugs
OF the Assembly, under the reign of the Conven-
ton, the law was dictated from Paris This, too.
is the meaning of Danton's important saving, so
many years ago. you've got republic tits
true; but you have no republicans He could
not doubt that there were many in Paris. He
.meant TO say, and he said truly, that they formed
very inconsiderable minority in France; but
then he we'll knew that Paris was all in all. |
repeated the same dictum last April, from nv
place in Parliament, on returning from the scene
OF the recent revolution, and can take upon me
to affirm that even before the change had pung-
ed France in its present wretchedness, while as
yet the lamentable experience of its fruits had
not commended their bitter flavor to MEMS lips,
without any view to their noxious quality, with
out any calculating of the price paid, as mere
matter of opinion and of feeling, the tree OF lib.
erty was the object universally of popular dis
like. But then the parties for and against it were
very differently circumstanced, and animated
with feelings very unlike, else had il assuredly
been hewn down and cast into the FIRE. No two
adversaries could be worse matched for the few
Republicans would cherish the tree, nav, water
1t with their blood, while they who abhorred it
did SO speculatively, and told you they were
against the Republic il you asked chem, but
would not walk across the street to see the hated
plant destroyed Paris, evil minded, was up aud
stirring; the country, we'll disposed, was passive
and AFFECT"
letter from Washington to the N. Y. Mirror
the original aud leading Taylor paper in New
York-says:-
Seen Taylor has been elected by the votes
OF both parties. On the one hand, he has been
elected by the abandonment OF ultra wbig nrin.
cipies on the other, by the withdrawal Of dem.
Ocratlc votes from the nominee ri A.. p.i..