The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-16

forming their opinions OF men ana things Irom-
mere opinions Facts are the only safe basis OF
opinions. When we hear man called liar, q
thief, ascoundrel, &c, we should play the part OF
silly, credulous children five gave such epithsts
a moments regard or attention; for it generally
happens in ninety-nine cases out ola hundred,that
the persons thus vlllfied are the very reverse OF
what they are represented to be-if called cow
ard they are brave; it rogues, they are honest
men, SC. The only safe plan is to build up our
opinions upon the sure basis of undoubted and
ascertained facts. Thus, If we are informed that
such man is "monster," "ruffiap," evil
lsin," &c, instead of feeling disgust for him of
whom 1t is spoken, our disgust ought rather to
recoil with unmitigated intensity upon him only
who speaks such things. When we ascertain, by
established facts, that man has recklessly shed
the blood of a fellow creature-that he has de-
frauded, cheated, robbed, plundered, &c.-we
may believe the facts, and form an opinion upon
them but persons and opinions, without facts,
are never to be believed nor trusted, for one mo-
ment. We live In the age of false opinions, of
bold assertions and lying vituperations, and it
behoves every one to be on his guard.
We have been led to make the above just
and necessary observations, from perceiving
the vile and infamous system of poll
teal scandal, Of reckless vituperation, and
of character destruction, begun by the
fore ign correspondents of one of our ootempora.
ries towards several of the members of the
French provisional government, whose names,
by late events, have become distinguished and
familiar to the world. One of these correspon.
dents writes as folows:-
At the present moment Ledru Rolin is dictator Of
France; and more desperate, reckless and unprnoi
pied one 1t would not be easy to appoint.
This is the old style, the old epithets-"despe-
rate, reckless, unprincipled;" mere assertions,
ind vidual opinions, without one fact or deed
showing and establishing desperateness, reck-
lessness, or want of principle. The same cor
respondent, however. goes on and invents false
fac,s--utters gross falsehoods; for he says Of
Ledru Rollin =
H. threw the armed mob into the chamber, and
overpowered everything making poor imbece old Du-
pont de PEure his mouthpieoe and himself In fact
pointing every member Of the government, not one OF
Roin. and with the incuaSrsno. Of An under secrets.
ry who Is the creature and spy Of this demagogus
| As Rollin, or any one man, ''threw the mob"
| any where, or guided the impulses of the Parl-
sian people on that memorable day! And here,
toe, the venerable and respected Dupont de
l'Eure is politely called ga poor imbecile"-a
man whose noble independence of character, and
stern repubicanism, resisted all the courtly Sc
duc,ions of Louis Philippe, and made even his
political enemies venerate his character. Yet
even this noble patriot is not safe from this
letter writer ooh! shame, where Is thy
blushn
We had thought that the day we live in was
too liberal and enlightened for the revival of that
ofrc Of clo okroo nd
sentation, with which the mercenary minis
tiers and hirelings of monarchy in Europe fought
against the French at their first revolution. All
| the leading men of that day were "monsters,
rulIians atheists, inidels, scoundrels, wretches,
brigands," &c., &c, &c. BY such system ror
it was reduced to system) the English people
generally, (and many in America, W no were led
| by the English press, and took up their views
from English opinions,) were led cordially to
hate the French-to shudder at the idea of the
French revolution-and actually to believe thai
| Napoleon had pair OF hoofs and long tail con
cealcd behind the imperial sable We had hoped
the day of such Infamous delusion had gone by;
that men would learn to despise mere opinion!
and mere epithets, without any facts, levelled
against character, and high and public character
But on taking up the journal referred to, we were
grievously disappointed
In giving expression to this just indignation,
we do not speak as PARTY men, but simply al
MEAS social beings. It's nothing to US, in
this view of the case, whether France Is repub
| lican or Observation-Disclosures M. Rollin is utrs
or moderate whether the several opinions o
the various members of the provisional govern
ment are good or bad, right or wrong, extrem,
or moderate, abstracty. We speak only will
reference to this atrocious system and organized
plan of social murder and ASSASSINATION, in which
infamous epithets are the poisoned daggers used
and the refuse Of the press are the men who stall
with them, and stab maliciously, too.
We will conclude with the sentiment W.
expressed above, and that is, that no wise man
nay, no honest man, will give credit to slande
and calumny, nor judge of men by the dir
thrown at them. just man will hear and lis
ten only to facts-substantiated and undoubted-
and will reject with scorn, the arts, eplthets ant
opinions OF the slanderer.
NAvAL.-The U. s. ship Saratoga, under til,
command of Captain w. c. Nicholson, is now
lying off the Battery, and will sail in day OF
two for the Gulf, via Norfolk. Sh,
has a full aud an effective crewon board
The Saratoga presents a remarkably fns
appearance, and reflects great credit upor
the officers at the Brooklyn yard, who hav,
fitted her out Under the command Of Captain
Nicholson, she will prove valuable auxiliary
to our naval force sfoat.
The U. S. brig Dolphin is still at the yard
awaiting sailing orders-destination unknown
The other vessels there are the foil owing, viz
u. s. receiving ship North Carolina frgate
Savannah and Macedonian steamship Fulton
aud sloop Of war Vincennss; all of which are
laid up, besides the revenue steamer Polk, ane
several other small vessels.
The dry dock progresses but slo WY, apparent
ly Ian gushing for the want of that $780, 900 APP
preparation. New York appears to get but little
| aid from the general government and il il Z