The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-04-01

things which passionately charmed or
panied thee,-Sroy Leaves from the
German. ,lEA0lsz919g0t J
s-el,e6 a, M From the Washington Union.
sa 70 The News from France. qi
n The disafection towards the French
government, as administered by Louis
Philippe through the Guizot ministry,
which has long been growing, seems TO
have blazed out upon the resolute at
tempt Of his ministry TO suppress the
meetings and the popular agitation
which have been, for some time, in pro-
gress on the question of Electoral Re-
FORM The insuficiency and alleged
corruption OF The whole system Of pop
ular representation in the French Cham
Der Of Deputies, as at present organized,
has been the main topic in all the great
meetings which have taken place under
the name Of Reform Banquets. In
connection with this topic, the Guizot
ministry, and the system which it rep
resents, have been so formidably as
sauIted in these great reform demon.
strations, as, in the judgment Of the
French Government, impefativeIy TO
demand their suppression by military
force. The immediate result is before
our readers in the details which we give
below. The more remote result can
not yet be distinctly ioreseen. These
events may be the commandment of a
long and bloody struggle between the
people Of more than one Of the Euro
pean kingdoms and their governments.
In such an event, our own country,
while naturally and of course incIined
to look with sympathy upon every
rightful effort to extend and secure
popular freedom, would view with deep
regret the inevitable evils Of such war,
and would, doubtless, be most sedulous
to preserve that entire and absolute
neutrality between all the belligerents
which has hitherto marked the whole
course Of its foreign policy. rq-H4@i,
Notwithstanding the profound sagac.
lily Of the King Of the French, he has
been unfortunate, perhaps, in some ol
his views. He hos been behind the
spirit of the age. That spirit looks to
a modification OF the powers Of monar.
chical government, in favor of the
rights Of the people. He might have
yielded something,G perhaps much, to
their demands in regard to The exten.
sion Of the right of suffrage. He would
have secured much more Of personal
popularity, If, instead Of seeking thrones
and royal establishments for his family,
he had thought less Of his own interests
land especially Of the establishment Of
his dynasty--and more Of the people.
Among "a nation so sensitive as the
French areAof a generous and excita-
bIe character -familiarized with revo.
lutionsI-in the midst OF progressive
ages ome,hing more should have been
granted to the spirit Of liberty. afa ed
A movement had been made in
France in favor Of extending the right
Of suffrage to a greater body Of cleo
tors. The government opposed this
measure For The purpese Of rousing
the people to aasense Of their rights,
and to expedite this electoral move.
ment, banquets were gotten up. A.
gainst these the ministry set themselves
directly in opposition, fearing some en-.
counter from the people Of Paris. -
This very resistance produced the ca.
tastrophy which the ministers wished
to prevent. balGas9Tq aoGfdaiA ,1R.
These Reform Bdnguets, which have
recently been held in various parts OF
France, have caused so much alarm
that strenuous efforts for their suppress
sisu have been made by the govern!
ment.q Our own correspondents have
given very full and very striking de-
scriptivo sketches Of the scene Of tio-
Iehce and, confusion which attended
the discussion Of this subject in the
Chamber NJ Deputies, a discussion char
acterized blythe Courier des Etas u.
ms as Iathe most stormy in our parlia-
mshtary annals" The same able Jour
nal remarks that these occurrences
|"give sad omen for the presens and
siiIl sadder for the future.nsaeW IN
The point in dispute was the cohsti.
tu,ionality Of these popular assemblies;
which was denied BY theaminister, and
and affirmed by ySM.s Iiedn.Rolin and
|his party. The latter had quoted from,
1.-The constitution 81 1891 The guarantss,'