The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-15

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From our Boston Correspondent
Judging from the conduct of men there seems
to be no rule of wisdom more difficult to fol-
low than that Of observing just mean, neither
being overcautious, which restrnins progress,
nor on the other hand, giving free scope to ex-
periments which end in anarchy and fanat-
ucism. If we cannot boldly hold
free from both errors, we had better on the
safe side, cling to the old land marks, reach
out and feel our way, making our changes
like those of Time, (which indeed innovateth
greatly, but quietly and by degrees scarce TO
be perceived"
This rs not the spirit of the age The earn
est, impatient cry is-Progress, the watch
wards-Liberty, Equality. Perfect liberty is
perfect anarchyj-perfect equality, n death
blow 10 independence and noble aspirations
Will people long and cruelty oppressed, now
bursting its sluvsh bonds, will they stop at the
true mean of moderation The fires which
TO consume the long established strong holds
ofpower are now bursting out with tenfold
fury, at first sweeping round the bases, but
soon TO wrap all Europe in wild and fearful
splendor God grant that in its fierceness it
may not lick up every green thing,
Ii is to be expected that Theatres shall pic
ture the glario rrnanent triumph of republic
can liberty that mass meetings should proclaim
'the hour of emancipation to the old world. ''
Disseminated agrarians should rejoice in the
general overthrow which gives division of
spoils The action worshippcr Carlyle should
pour out his burning words against King and
Counsel, protesting with his pen, ''as these
men in blouses with their hearts blood against
a universe of lies" But men of cooler vein,
who see some wisdom in the past, have some
fear for the future. they tremble while they
hope. They are disposed TO give q second
thought to a move which claims, at one bound,
leap from midnight to high noon Are we
source of day? Are there not some signs that
this is meteor splendor, which may dazzle TO
only burst with more hideous ruin, instead of
shedding the mild and healthy light offreedom;
Louis Philippe, prince of less genius than
Napoleon, but heaven high his superior in wis
dom and humanity, the great presiding genius
whose consummate skill was alone able To hold
in check the discordant elements of France
for Is full years, whose wisdom stood firm a.
gainst the rast counsels of Lafayette, whose
humare pGiIcy has ever been peace the strength
of y, nose arm alone saved Europe from del
uge of blood, when the hounds of war were
believing for their prey, who chose to dispense
the maddened rabble of Paris by a drenching
of foul water, rather than murderous fire, who
sent the Duke D'Orleans the open agent to
preach peace at Lyons, whilst he secretly fills
the mouths of the operatives with bread, who
condemned to death the conspirators against
his life, yet instructed the guard to let them
escape the country, in short, who having found
his country in the filthy slough of political
perdition, has raised and held her to be what
she now is, prudently yet boldly standing be-
tween the opposing counsels of Theirs and
Guizot,-th Louis Philippe this ''sham- king
has fed. That he has not been altogether wise
is certain. That he might have conceded
more liberty, is, perhaps, true. That he might
have more resolutely withstood the nation s
voice, and uttered giant No to war with AL
giers, he had before done with Russia and
England, might have thus saved himself and
the debt, for which they now so bitterly curse
him, is perhaps, also true. But what were the
elements with which he had to deal' Who
would have done SO well' Who could have
done betteri England's puppet,-whut farce!
where absolute cipher-compared with
him?-He has fed. IF any dare rejoice in that
event, they have brighter visions of the future
than others see. They have more faith
in Utopan principles than of slower
mould. The poisoned principles of George
Sand, rejoicing in her triumph, with wild en-.
ergy trampling down old customs, fascinating
by her genius, by the Intoxicating freedom of
her excuses, these frighten not them. Yet, Is
Il moi fearful that such spirits should rule -
Shall the mob rule? Cannot Lamartine him.
self hold them in check? is il 10 be the con,