Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-04-13
THE JOURNAL.
LAMARTINE.

position of President OF Council, appears as the
chief of the Provisional Government of France
it would seem that genius had asserted her
right, and Lamartine, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, is regarded as the ruling spirit among
those who direct the Affairs of the new repub-
lie. = -
Lamartine is too well known to all persons
in America who have the slightest tincture of
letters, to require description. He carries the
fame of a poet and historian into a lofty politi-
cal post, in which he has exhibited already
certain greatness of mind, with magnificent
traits of courage, philanthropy, frmness and
moderation, worthy of republican statesman
of the highest order. These qualities, itwould
seem, have enabled him, at a critical moment
TO prevent the revolution running into anarchy
AN achievement effected by the power of his
eloquence in the midst of armed men whose
pixies were aimed at his own throat
Lamartine's first State paper,-whch we
subjoin, is, in every sense, noble production
noble from the pacific sentiments itannounces
to all the European governments,-noble from
the calm assertion of the rights of nations to
change their governments with the progress of
liberal ideas,-noble from the equally calm
declaration of the ability, and, if necessary the
willingness OF the new republic, to meet the
enemies of France and of freedom IN the shock
of arms. This circular, in the nature of apub-
lie manifesto, has excited the particular admi-
ration of all the liberal journals in England;
an admiration in which we earnestly and hear
tily jOin.
Circular o. the Minister Of Foreign AGairs to
the Diplomatic 1t1sats Of the French Republic.
SIR:-You know the events of Paris, the
victory of the people, it's isercism, It's modera,
ton, its pacihcatlon, the orocr iE-es.doiiSheo
by the concurrence of the whole Oh the clllzehs'
as if, in that interregnum of the visible pow
ers, the reason of the public were alone the
government of France. ~
The French revolution has thus entered into
its definitive period. France is republican.
The French Republic has no occasion to be ac-
knowledged in order to exist. BY natural law
as well as by the law of nations, it exists: it is
the will ola great people, which does not de-
mand its title but from itself. Nevertheless,
the French Republic, desiring to enter into the
family of governments instituted as regular
powers, and not phenomenon coming to
you promptly make known to the government
10 which you are accredited the principles and
tendencies which will henceforth direct the
foreign policy of the French Government.
The proclamation OF the French Republic is
not an act of aggression against any form OF
government in the world The forms of gov
eminent have diversities as legitimate the
forms of haracter, the geographical situation,
the intellectual, moral and material develop
IS Notf IDAI dual
have. different ages. The principles which
govern them have successive phases-monar-
chical aristocratical constitutional, republi
can governments, are the expressions OF the
different nations They demand more liberty
in proportion as they feel the nseIves capabl,
of supporting more They demand more equal
ity and democracy in proportion as they art
the more inspired with the feeling of justice
and love for the people. 1t is question o
time. A nation goes asray III outrunnIng thu
hour of that maturity, as il dishonors itself il
allowing it 10 escape without Selling upon it
The monarchy and the republic are not in the
eyes OF true statesmen, absolute principle:
which are enemies to the death, they are fact
which are contrasted to each other, and whicl
can live face 10 face, while they understan
and respect each other.
War, then, is not the principle of the Frenc
Republic, as it became the fatal and glonou
necessity of the Republic in 1892. Betwee
1892 and 1913 there is half century. To re
turn, after the lapse of half century, to tn
principles of 1892 or to the principles of con
quest and empire, would not be TO advance,
would be to retrogade with the advance, c
time. The Revolution of yesterday is a ste
In advance, and not one backwards. TIL
world and ourselves wish TO march to fraternit
and peace,
If the situation of the Republic in 1892 e,
planned the war, the differences which ext:
between that period of our history and that i
which we live, explains the peace. Appl
yourself to the understanding of these differer
ces, and explain them to those around you.
In 1892 the nation was not one. Two nj
tons tpeuple8) existed on the same soil.
terrible struggle still prolonged itself betwee
the classes dispossessed OF their privileges. an
the classes who had just succeeded in achievin
equality and liberty. The latter classes dis
possessed united themselves with the captiy
royalty and with jealous foreigners to deny il
revolution in France, and to re-impose upon
the monarchy, the arlstocracy, and the theocr;
CT, by invasion. Al the present day there al
no longer any distinctions and inequality
classes. Liberty has freed all. Equality b.
fore the law has levelled everything. Frate
nifty, of which we proclaim the application
and of which the National Assembly is to o
garize the benefits, is about to unite ALL The
is not single citizen in France, TO whatev,
opinion he may belong, who does not rally
TO the principle of the country before ever
thing else, and who does not render, by tn;
very union, all attempts impregnable to Ii
attempt and the fears of invasion.
In 1892 it was not the entire population WI
entered into possession of the Government.
was the middle classes only who wished to e,
ercise liberty and enjoy it. The triumph
the middle class at that time was egotistical,
the triumps of every oligarchy must be.
wished TO retain for itself the rights achieve
for all It.was necessary for it to operate
strong diversion against the advance Of Il
people by precipitatingi it (the people) on Il
field of battle, in order TO prevent it from e
tering into the exercise of its own Cover
nlent This diversion was the war. War W
the idea, or the Monarchians and the Giro
dins. 1t was not the idea of the most advan
ed Democratics, who wished like us the 81