The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-08

the Constitution the conservation Of the popular yots
his OHIO It is duty to respect We have combat
ed the candidate aoospt the President II he
tha prove faithful the principles Of his origin hhs
ehsll se~k the COED Of France; II he shall in word
show himself bs worthy Of the post to which he hiss
been elevated We shall be among the drss to re-
jocs But deeds only can dispei our doubts and our
fears"
In order to arrive at an opinion as to whether the
French republic will be permanent or not, or
whether there Is any probability Of the people re-
tracing their steps and going back to monarchy |
again. it is necessary to study the characteristics
Of the people, and study their history for the last
half century or more. It cannot be questioned
that the French people were animated ny the hottest
Impulses W hen they overthrow their government,
and embarked on their first great revolution of
1880. An intense love tor liberty was the main-
spring OF that great event. This, however, is over.
looked in the tragic scenes and the bloodshed
which followed. People, while blaming and ce n
sunng those dreadful things, are apt to censure the
French people in body, forgetting that the masses
were as pure then as they are now. There must
be distinction drawn.
But even admitting that the people of France
are blanleable for the dreadful scenes which mark
ed the progress Of the first revolution surely there
was some palliation in the premises. In abiding
the radical guilt is in the tyranny which compels
the resistance; and they who are the authors of
the misery and the degradation, also RESPONSE
BILE for the acts of passion and debasement to which
they naturally tend" If we apply this reasoning,
which, we think ,s fairly applicable the guiltlness
of the crimes which were committed at that event.
full period, is transferred from the people to the
shoulders OF their Oppressors who drove them into
resistance AT all events, it will not be denied that
1t was love of liberty which destroyed the throne
and the'anstocracy IN those times and great as
was the price paid, yet liberty gained much from
that revolution.
At the present time, France has population of
thirtyive milllons the aggregate number OF voters
is about eight millions. Yet the government OF
Louis Philippe conducted for nearly twenty
years, with constituency of only about two hun.
bred thousand voters. This narrow basis of re-
presentation was, of course, cause Of weakness
and unpopularity.; and, to sustain himself, Louis
Philippe had to resort to strong measures to pre-
vent the spread OF dissatisfaction, and keep down
liberal principles. This he did by prosecuting the
press; but the time came when all his attempts to
continue his subjects in slavery failed, and he was
dethroned and sent about his business, The pre-
sent republic is founded on the broadcast basis of
universal suffrage. This extended suffrage having
been obtained by the people, we do not believe 1t
possible that it can be taken away from them.
This Is one element tending to strengthen the re-
public, and prevent any reactionary movement;
and another equal IN importance is the unbounded
liberty OF the press.
journalism in Paris and in the departments IS
very much in the same condition as il is in New |
York and throughout the United States. The
newspapers are cheap, and there are more of them
circulated In PARIS and throughout France than
there are distributed all the rest of Europe put
together, and almost as many as are circulated in
the United States Liberty of the PRESS therefore,
being firmly established, we do not believe that
either it or universal suffrage can be taken away
without bloody revolution.
There is another important feature which has
not yet, we believe, been taken into considera-
ten, and one which we must not overlook, If we
desire to form correct opinion on this subject. 1t
Is the diversity Of races, of climate, and of the
modes of life of the whole inhabitants of France.
There are two races of people in France, occu-
pyIng the northern, and the other the southern
provinces or departments. The two differ widely
taste, feelings, pursuits and habits, much as
the people of southern States differ from those
of the northern. The manufacturing, commercial,
and financial business of the country is confined
pretty much to the north, it ID with us, and in
the hands Of men of practical Skill great energy,
and much perseverance; very similar to the pract
cal of the northern States of this Union. The
southern departments are occupied by people who
are imaginative, poetlca, excltable, and passion
ate. These two characteristics will exercise
similar influence IN political action In France, to
that which is exercised in our Congress by the
North and the South.
In some respects similar diversity of character
exists among the Partisan population. The bulk of
the inhabitants Of that metropolis are composed of
persons from the country-from the northern and
southern departments, who have been thrown into
that great vortex of trade, industry, fashion, and
commerce.
" it'll such elements the social fabric of the
French republic there will probably be continual
permanent effervescence and agitation between
the two sections in the National Assembly; but all
Legislation will be conducted as it is with u.s. on
the principle of mutual compromise, coming from
apparently irreconcilable points of action. In the
recent presidential election, j: appears that General
Cavaignac was supported by the manufacturing,
commercial, and financial classes of the highest
rank; while, on the other hand, the agricultural,
vine growing, poetcal, and imaginative races OF
the southern departments, seem to have connected
themselves with portion of the lowest democracy
and voted for Louis Napoleon, as well as the same
classes in the large cities, including Paris.
Taking these things into consideration, 1t is very
obvious that the singular and startling events which
have happened since the revolution Of February,
are natural occurrences, such might be expected
to take place, and from the first efforts Of
disorganlzed population, trying to find the proper
channel to reach representative government. The
series of provisional governments that were in
existence between the downfall of LOUIS Philippe
and the recent presidential election, are nothing
but natural occurrences happening in the steps Of
a free people, making rude, sudden, and partial ef