The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-11
From The New York Herald.
NVI II RENcH REpIIRI,IC.

In order 10 arrive AZ an opinion as 10 Wnetncr tne
French republic viii be permanent or not or wheth-
or there Is any probability of the people rotracing
their steps and going back 10 monarchy again. IL Is
necessary to study the characteristics of the people,
and study their history for the last half century or
more Ii cannot be questioned that the French peo-
pewere animated by the hottest impulses when they
overthrow their government, and embarked on their
first great revolution of 1880. An intense love for
liberty Fwas the handspring OF that great event
THIS however Is overlooked in the tragic scenes
and the bloodshed which followed People, while
blaming and censuring those dreadful things are apt
TO censure the French people in a body, forgetting
that the masses were pure then us they are now
There must be distinction drawn,
But even admitting that the people OF France are
bameable for the dreadful scenes which marked the
progress or the first revolution, surely there was
some pallaIon in the premises. In abiding to this
subject, Lord Jeffrey said: I'm al cases The radical
guilt is In the tyranny which compes the reslsance
and they who the authors OF the misery and the
degradation are also responsible for the acts OF pas
sion and debasement to which they naturally tend"
If we apply this reasoning which, we think is fairly
applicable, the outlines OF the crimes which were
committed at that evenul period is transferred from
the people to the shoulders of their oppressors who
drove them into resistance. Atall events, it will not
be denied that 1t was love OF liberty which destroyed
the throne and the aristocracy IN those times; and
great rs was the price paid, yet liberty gained much
from that revolution.
Al the present time, France has population Of
thirty five millions; the aggregate number OF voters Is
about eight millions. Yet the government oil Louis
Philippe was conducted for nearly twenty years,
with a constituency OF only about Two hundred
thousand voters. This narrow basis of represents
ton was, Of course, cause OF weakness and unpop-
ularity; and to sustain himself, Louis Philippe had
TO resort 10 strong measures to prevent the spread oil
dissatisfaction, and Keep down liberal principles.
This he did by prosecuting the press, but the time
came when all his attempts 10 continue his subjects
In slavery failed and he was dethroned and sent
about his business The present republic is founded
on the broadcast basis Of universal suffrage. This
tended suffrage having been obtained by the people,
do not believe II possible that It ever can be taken
away from them. This is one element tending 10
strengthen the republic, and prevent any reactionhry
movement; and another equal in importance is the
unbounded liberty of the press
journalism in Pario and In the departments Is We
ry much in the same condition as it is in New ork
and throughout the United States. The newspapers
are cheap, and there are more Of them circulated In
Paris and throughout France than there are dislri
bnted in all the rest of Europe put together and
almost many are circulated In the United states.
Liberty OF the presp therefore, being firmly esfab-
shed we do no; believe that either II universal
suffrage can be taken away without bloody reyo-
luton
There is another important feature which has not
ne YET, we believe, been taken into consideration,
and one which we muol not overlook, II we desire
to form correct opinion on this subject. u 10 the
diversity OF races, of climate and OF the modes OF
life of the whole nhabiIants Of France. There are
Two races OF people in France, one occupying the
northern, and the other the southern provinces or
departments The two differ widely In taste feel
ing, pursuits, and hablla ~ much as The people Of
southern States ditier from those OF the north,
ern. The manufacturing, commercial ami financial
business Of the country Is confined pretty much 10
the north as It IL with us and Is IN The hands Of
men Of practical skill great energy, and much per-
severance: very similar to the practical race Oh the
northern Stltes of this Union. The southern de-
partmenis are occupied BY II people who are mag
NATIVE, poetical excitablf, and passionate These
two characteristics viii exercise simi lnr influence
in political action In France to that which s eSer-
"a IN, hy tho North and thr Soufh
In some respects similar diversity OF character
exists among the Partisan population The bulk Of
the inhabitants OF that metropolis are composed OF
persons ffome the country--from tho northern
and southern departments. who have been thrown
into that great vortex trade, industry fashion, and
commerce. S."
With such elements in the sociel fabric OF the
French republic, there will probably be continual
permanent efieryesence and sglaton between the
two sections In the National Assembly but all leg
slalion will be conducted US il Is with us, on the
principle OF mutual compromise, coming from APP
parenty irreconcable points Of action. In the re-
cent presidential election, il appears that General
Cayniunug was supported by The manufacturing
commercial, hnl financial classes OF the highest rank:
while on the otkn, hand, the agricultural yine9r0W
ing. poecal and Imaginative races OF the southern
departments seem 10 hive connected themselves
with portion of the lowest democracy, and voted
for Louis Napoleon as well as the same glasses in
the large cities, including Paris.
Taking these things into consideration, II Is very
obvious that the singular and startling events which
have happened since the revolution OF February are
natural occurrences, such az might be expected to
take place, and arise from the first efforts Of dlso-
ganzed population trying to find the proper channel
! To reach representative government The series OF
| provisional governments that were in existence be-
tween the downfall Of Louis Philippe and the recent
presidential election are nothing but natural occur
rences happening in the steps OF free people, max
ing ride, sudden and partial Efforts to reach some
distinct and marked course OF action. All tboss gov
errImen.s and nh those steps have been set down by
,ha oli Iiefa ly u1au In the
States as falnres ms II, forsooth, a people can ina
day jump from monarchy 10 repiblieanisn We do
not apply any such term to their government, In
our opinion they were necessary experiments all Of
them tending to develop the materials of French So
ciety and arrange thelii in republican order--as
species of etitrvescing which would cease whenever
| the balance was restored as we believe 1t has been
| by he recent presidential election. Every day Of
their history adds TO this settling process throws
more light Oh the subject and enables the statesmen
of that country ~ ascertain more distinctly the Pc
culiar position of the country, and to find out The
bes, means 10 pye 10 France democratic govern
| ment Of the highest and best rank, one cupabe Of
sustaining tsef in the centre OF Europe, as signal
light to the struggling nations around them AS an
evidence Of this eieryescng and settling down, we
need only mention the level which the party known
as the Socialists have reached. Previous 10 the cleo
ton, they kept France in a continual state OF inr-
MOL and agitation; but the number OF votes thrown
| shows that they are rs insignificant In point Of
strength MS the same class In the United States.
| There Is yet another point which has not been
touched upon In contemplating the permanence Of
the French republic aud which certainly must
exercise favorable influence in the preservation Of
order and of republicnnism We ande to the diyis
ion of property, Of the soil, which owes us origin 70
the first revolution. Property is as equally divided
in France aa 1t Is in this country There is no land
monopoly there, as there is IN England, and other
European countries.
| 10 sum upthe people Of France have universal
suffrage In the widest sense Of he term; the press
has unlimited froedomi the people are diversified in
their pursuits, in much the same way those OF the
United States are. The circulation Of newspapers is
immense; every man has become poiuciani there
is no land monopoly; property is pretty equally dis.
tribnled and the people have the advantage Of their
own experience under the old revolution, as well as
that Of the American republic In addition to all
these the people Of France more intelligent than
they ever were; they think more than they ever did;
and the peculiar and revolutionary condition of the
rest Of Europe forbds the idea that the great powers
which combined to put down the first republic, OF
the empire, can do so again. They are just well
balanced in every particular as we in the United
States are. Taking these things into view therefore,
We no reason to doubt the permnnenee Of the
French republic, under Louis Napoleon. On the
contrary, we.hayo abundant ground on which 10 be.
eve that Il will Last, aud that reaction ia out Of the
question. The orderly and quiet manner In which
N - ~ - II H.