Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-20


the age. He was a political opiimisi and SO
conservative as to be absolutely immovable.-
His political maxim was peace, unity and i'm
prescriptble right In his foreign admnistra-
ton his mind was wholly occupied with schemes
whereby to preserve the European balance of
power. In his domestic policy, his great aim
was to prevent troubles, agtations and factions,
and his way to effect this was to keep every
thing in Stdtn quo, not only laws, usages and
traditions, but prejudices, mlschiefs and abuses
He was far behind the times, and did not rightly
appreciate the elements at work around him. In
the debate upon the Italian question he declared
that it was not question of constitutions in the
Peninsula, and perhaps would not be for ten or
twenty years That very day, Ferdinand of Ma
pies was forced to give a constitution to his vic
torous subjects. However admirable were Cur
zoT's qualities as man, he was the enemy of
popular sovereignty, and therefore eminently
fitted TO serve in the councils of Louis Philippe
Many sincere republicans will rejoice over the
fall of the late dynasty, and yet regard the gov
eminent that succeeds it with distruss and an.
prehension They will call up the scenes Of the
first revolution, and Involuntary shudder But
the circumstances of the two periods are alto
gether dissimilar After the overthrow of roy
atty in 1892, the nation had still to contend a.
gainst most formidable body of nobility who
would not be dispossessed of their privileges with
out resistance. In lSiS 10 hereditary peerare
exists, and all classes concur in the new order
Of things with the most cordial unanmty. Then
the clergy combated the republic with all their
energies; now they have proved warm sympa.
tbizers and efficient auxiliaries. Then the great
mass of the people was entirely ignorant of the
real nature and limits of their political rights
and duties; now they are comparatively enght-
cned, and both know and feel their civil respon.
slbilltes. Then nfdelty and atheism blasted
all the moral sentiments, and converted men into
devils; now, although mingled with much SUI
perstition, universal respect prevails for reli.
gon and sacred things.
The leading spirits of the two periods differ
widely in their character. Iamartne, Arapo.
and their associates, have neither the amiable
weakness of Brissot and the Girondins, nor the
savage ferocty of Robespierrc and the Terror
lists, but they are gifted, learned, experienced
aud vlrtuous men, with energy guided by fore
thought, and enthusiasm tempered with discre-
ton Among the first acts of 1892, were the
public denial of the existence of God, and the
unsparing butchery of all who differed in poiti
cal faith. Among the first acts of 1915 are a
request to the churches of all denominations to
invoke the blessings of Heaven upon the work
of the people, and the abolition of the punish
ment of death for all political offences. The
foreign relations of France, in the two periods
are altogether different War was universally
proclaimed against the old republic, as a Euro
pean pest that must be eXtermnated. England
and Belgium have already assured the new re-
public OF their kindness and good will, and the
force OF circumstances will restrain the Other
continental powers from taking the aggressive
Austria has already enough to employ all of hei
resources in suppressing the discontents of LON
hardy, Gallicia, and Bohemia. The maintenance
OF quiet in the Rhenish provinces, and the dis
membered portion of Poland, will require the
best energies of Prussia, The Emperor Mich
olns, the champion of teraditarI right Aevc
ceased to regard the Orleans government as
usurpation, and will shed no tears over its down
fall. Besides, he has an unending war to main
tain in Circassia, and deep-laid plans to work on
on the Bosphorus. France, instead of being
hemmed in by enemies, she was in '92, ant
rouslng all her deadliest passions in frantic effort
to repuse them, will remain unmolested, ant
have full opportunity to mature her plans, ant
wisely reorganize her political system. N
country in Europe has such facilities for success
fully realizing the benefits Of republican insti
tutlons, She has a homogeneousness of popu
laton, oneness of lineage, language, religion
public sentiment, and historical association tina
no other nation possesses and which preemi
nenty adapts her to self government She ha
for more than sixty years struggled for freedom
has overturned three dynasties, and drenche
her soil with the blood of her children. Ate
having been 50 long batiled, believe she is o
! the point of realizing her sublime aspiration:
Every days developments strengthen my conf
dence in her final success. She has got arduou
difficulties yet to surmount, and will doubles
commit many, and, perhaps, commit grievous er
rors but she will gather strength by age, an,
wisdom by experience, and will ultimately be
/ come great and glorious republic, whose infli
| ence upon Europe and the wide world no min
/ can calculate. Let her have the warmest sym
/ pathies of evry true American. SIGMA.