The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-27


events 10 France, with soBle glances 70 those
elsewhere in Europe, which have gradually
brought about the recent revolution in Paris.
Every one acquainted with the nature of the
French people, or of human character, must
have come to the same conclusion that we have
frequently come to during the last few months
The principles, literature, and peculiar social
habits of the French people, have brought about
the union and determination which were exhibi-
ted between the troops of the line, the National
Guards and the people of Paris, in the recent
three days. Yet, although 1t is probable that an
attempt will be made to establish a republic, the
success Of such form of government, if they
initiate that of the United States, is very ques-
tionable, without some happy and unlocked for
circumstances in their favor. Who will be their
Washington 1t Is easy to find Napoleon-but
who will be their Washington?
From the accounts we have published, it is
very evident that out of Paris, and out of the
other large cities of France, the people are ex-
tremely ignorant, and almost incapable of form.
ing any judgment on political matters, or any
correct opinion on public 'ffairs Even in the
United States, the whole success of our system
of government has arisen from the happy divi-
sion of the people throughout the Union, into
two large and intelligent parties, almost nu.
mercially equal to each other. Our consti-
tuition distributes the government into the
Executive, the Senate, and the House of Rep
resentatives, elected for different periods of
time, aud by different system, but all origina-
ting with the people This is the mere paper
system of our government. 1t is all fancy-it is
not fact. Our real system of government, like the
system of nature is founded on two principles act
ing on each other; two intelligent masses of the
people acting against each other, reasoning, talk
ing and voting against each other, for public men
representing public measures, and one of them
succeeding while the other is defeated. The
party in power is not more an element in the GO
vernment than the party out of power, or the op-
position. Like the two forces in electricity-the
positive and the negative-the democratic and
the wing parties are really and truly the consti-
tuent elements of our government They act, it
is true, through the executive, Senate and House
of Representatives but these latter are merely
nominal divisions, and not real. These two
principles, or the two parties in action, produce
IN the House of Representatives majority for a
certain act, as they do also in the Senate-and
the executive merely carries those acts into exc
cution.
But to carry on such a government requires
comparatively intelligent people, acquainted with
political ideas and political systems; knowing
their own rights, and understanding the rights of
others We are much afraid that the French
people want all this previous knowledge and in
telligence. Even the establishment OF a republic
will take some time before the whole mass of
the people can be thrown into two parties, acting
constitutonally, without Emeutes, or attempts at
revolution by the minority, when the majority
dlspleases them. In the American system, we
know, that from the Presidency of Washington
to that of Jefferson, extraordinary political
excitement prevailed in the country, and
even after that time. During the whole of
this period, the popular elements of our 60
vernment were adjusting themselves to the
new mode of republican action. They had
to pass through many trying seasons, and
many years of excitement While the French
are attempting to accomplish this, they may be
assailed by the monarchies around them, as they
were in the old revolution; and then the attempts
to establish republic may be overcome by the
necessity of an energetic single handed power,
capable of repelling the aggressors. This will
breed another Napoleon.
We really and truly hope that we may be dis.
appointed; but we fear the worst. The French
reople are, no doubt, more intelligent, and better
acquainted with political habits and political
rights, than they were fifty years ago; but there
is great deal of ignorance yet in that country.
Even among the intelligent. classes, political
knowledge, like that in Lamartine's history Of
the Girondists, has more of poetry than of fact.
Who will be their Washington? Who?