Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-30
miscellaneous.
LETTERS FROM FRANCE.
From the New York Courier & Enquirer,
GUIzOT AND THEIRS.
PARIs, February 3. 1915

deavor to to forward You, at as regular intervals
as possible, the leading events of the day, com
blned with my own Impressions and conclusions
in relation to men and things as they fall within
the scone OF my observation. | shall try to avoid
oil hackneyed ground, or at least all hackneyed
description. 1t will be my aim to portray socie-
ty and ITS Institutions, rather than to describe
rivers and mountains or palaces and churches.
The active phenomena OF tho present will re-
ceive attention, rather than the dead monuments
of the past aud shall concern myself with
the moral and intellectual much more than with
the natural world.
The exciting scenes of which it has been the
theatre, have made the Chamber of Deputies the
great central point of attraction in Paris, the
present winter The building occupied by the
Representative Branch of the French Govern
ment is, as you know, situated on the left bank
OF The Seine, and nearly opposite the Clamps
EtySeeS. II is an imposing structure, and adinl-
raoy adapted to purposes of legislation. Iiav-
Ing, the day previous, as Is necessary obtained
n ticket of admission from the Quaeslur let us
enter We find ourselves in spacious gallery,
capsble OF containing SIX bundled persons, and
looking down upon IA semi circular floor covered
with desks, rising in regular graduation from the
centre, and containing the four hundred and for
ty-nlne Deputies, who compose the great poili-
Cal body of the Kingdom. Reserving TO some
fulure time, the consideration of the general
physognoniy of the assembly, and lis peculiar
mode OF conducting lis deliberations, we will let
our eyes wander over those seats covered with
velvet and gold, ill out of the dark heavng mass
they single out that pale face and thcughful
brow, which belong to the greatest man in the
French nation. lie sits upon the beuch occu-
pied by the ministers. He himself is the Prime
Minister OF the realm. Surely, if we would
wish To know something Of the movn,, powers
French a,,I II
TO stop awhile and contemplate that man for he
Yields an influence second 10 that of none but
The KIhg himself.
Solely by the force of his own resplendent
laiehI, ne mas risen to his present eunence from
Inc humbiest station. AT the tender age of sew
Ell years deprived of hls iaher by the unsparinu
guillotlne OF the Revolution-a fugitive with his
widowed mother from the land of his birth to the
peaceful shores OF The Leman--a young, fair
proved student at Geneva, whose passion was
history and classic lore--a graduate beloved bv
all, aud loaGel with the proudest distinctions his
coiiese could conier--an adventurer to Paris.
wMhcre the CITY was ringing with acclunations
ior ther ne" " created emperor-a poor friend
Tess law-Student, struggling against adversely
win unconquerhOe resolUtOn--a modest writer
Tor The magazines, whose productions BY their
eloquence and philosophy soon charmed the
reading world around hm---a professor of histo.
ry III the French Academy, whose lectures speed
NY became The basis of national rcputation-a
Secretary in the Home Otlice, where his active
political life first commemorate distinguished
Constitutional RoyaIlst during the memorable
reign OF Charles the Tenth--a historical lectur-
er at the University, whose dIscourses on the
principles of representative governments by
their surprising power and eloquence knded
an enthusiasm In all Paris that made The gov
eminent dread the dscourses at the Sorbonne
more than ull the tumuts and violence of the
Chanbers-a Deputy during the famous Polir
nae Administration, distinguished alike as a
fearless hsscrto OF The right of public resistance
10 arbitrary DEGREES and as devoted advocate
OF order and modera,ion-a Commissioner who
read to The Chamber the proclamation that made
LOUIS Philippe Lieutenant General Of the King
dom regIser as Head of the Home Department
OF The French charter under The new dynasty
Minister Of Public Instruction, who did more
Tor national education than all his predecessors
coIhUlhed-and finally Minister of Foreign
Allalfs and Chlet OF the Cabinet, who by the a.
blIl'v OF his Administration has commanded the
admiration Of the civilized world his career has
certainly been that OF no ordinary individual.
NO man upon the stage of political action in
any country has more noby achieved greatness
than Francois Pierre GuIzot. BY his own I'M
aided efforts, he has earned the fame of a most
found political philosopher, of great parIiamen.
tary orator. and Of u statesman worthy TO be the
niasler-spit IN the councils of the ablesl Sever
eIgn OF Europe. AS in pu0lc life he is uulver-
sally admired Tor his talents, 50 IN private life he
Is universally esteemed for his virtues. He was
oarly instructed in the doctrines of Protestant
ism, the religion Of his parents and has ever re-
NAMED true To his hereditary faith. Yet he ls
the friend OF universal tolerance, believing. as he
expressed II the other day in the great debate on
the Italian question, TINT "while every well con
sti'ued stale has religious policy to observe
and nalnliin, yet religion is a matter of indivld-
ual concern, for his manner of di,chargng the
duties OF which every man must render account
TO God and his own conscience" A sentence
IRON circular issued by him to teachers, while
Minister OF Public Instruction, admirably illus
rales the leading ideas Of his mind. "Fuith in
Providence, holiness of life, submission to paler-
nal authority, respect TO the laws Of The Sever
eign and tie rights OF all men, these are the
sediments which II is your duty to develope."
Such is cursory outline OF the character of
the great champion Of the Conservatives. The
recent debates nave furnished us with rare op-
portLmty of comparing him with Theirs, The dis
tinguised leader of The Opposition. But how
shall we do it when between them there ure no
points OF resemblance, except thar both have
seen much, both have studied much both are
eminent historians, both are indlspu,ably uncom.
mon men, and both In turn have presided over
the affairs OF the French Kingdom Their re-
specliye characters are much more easily drawn
by contrast Than by comparison. They are OPP
pusiles not only IN political sympalhies, opinions,
, aud doctrines, but IN modes Of thinking speak
ing and acting, and in the whole extent OF their
intellectual ana physical organizations.
Theirs, # not demagogue, as his opponent
charges, Is admirably qualified to be one. Ar
dent, husty, aud volubie, the passing quarrels
which agnute society are his element. He takes
pleasure IN facts rather Than in distractions, and
more earnestly c0nsus temporary expediency
than permanent advantage. lie is the apostle OF
progress, change, and il need be, resistance. lie
began MS career as an eloquent and yet unscru
pulous defender Of revolutionary governments,
continued 1t as The apoogisl of Danlon and INC
enormltles oil HE French Revolution, and has
consistently pegsevered IN it up to at least three
days since, when he exclaimed IN his seni in The
Chambers, :" am OF the party of revolution /;
and though the party may iall into the hands OF
Incorporate men, will not abandon it," Gnlzol
is philosopher, calm and cautions, the siudsuf
of universal principles and innnutable truths
Win a heart slngUarly free from The fire OF NOR
tai passions, and with mind thoroughly schooled
III the great lessons which history teaches, he
believes that truth and justice have a moral ow /.
er superior 10 brute force, and therefore, is the
abhorrer Of violence, aud the uncompromisina
defender OF loyalty, and law and ORDER. As was