The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-05-01
Tho Partisan Press.


by the democratic portion of the Partisan press is
sign of the peculiar influence that the Paris papers
have over the mind and politics of France. 1t
would require more time than we now have at our
disposal to 20 into the reasons of the great power
which the press has over the national affairs OF
France 1t would be necessary to 60 into an anay-
sis of the national characteristics, as well as into
an examination of the peculiar social and political
relations existing between the capital and the coun
try at large. We can only give at present slight
sketch of him who may be considered as the head
and type of the existing democratic press of Paris
We refer to ProudhOn.
1t is the fashion among those who regard all pro-
gress as Utopian and all improvement innova-
ton, to speak of NJ. ProudhOn not only as rough
and destructive radical, but also as an ignorant
visionary, halfmaddened by too constant contem-
plation of the social evils and political corruption
which he observes around him. Catching up few
of the paradoxical expressions into which strong
mind is apt to run when attempting to convey strong
convictions, the opponents of Proudhon try to
make him appear not only impracticable and lea
ran but also silly and ridiculous. For example,
his saying that property is theft has been repeat
ed in notes of horror and Indignation by all the
conservative lips of Europe and America, until
men have got to believe that the maxim contains
something absolutely new, strange and startling.
But the idea contained in the words Of Proudhon
is 10 be found in many book on law, regarded as
the highest of all authority by the superannuated
intellecs which consider the past perfection and
the present as perdition. Proudhon meant no more
than to say, in very forcible manner, that the
right of property was not natural right; and this
ho vic doI hyu yxbn
processes himself shocked by the paradoxical maxim
of the French reformer.
The life of Pr6udhon though simple and almost
barren of incident, shows in a remarkable manner
the strong traits of the mans character. Born of
poor parents and yet carefully educated, he might,
with a less firm and powerful spirit, have been
what so many others similarly circumstanced have
let themselves become-the. shuttlecock between
the battledores of narrow means and ambitious
aspirations. But though pressed to enter upon
profession, Proudhon feeling that his stern and
rather savage nature had need of the largest liberty
and the most absolute independence, determined to
acquire mechanical art and led, no doubt, by
the secret instinct which directs the man of genius
toward the field most favorable for the development
of his faculties, he chose to become printer His
knowledge of the Oriental languages soon enabled
him to earn extra wages as proOf-reader and
thus assured of means of subsistence, the young
typographer plunged into all the abstrusities of
German metaphysics and politico-economical spec
ulation. In the intervals of labor he acquired an
immense amount of ancient lore and Oriental learn
ing, as well as found time for profound reflection
on the great social questions which force themselves
on the attention of every Frenchman.
But it was after the revolution that he came
most prominently before the public. On the Is. of
April, 1913, he established LIE Rfprtsen!ant du
Peuple, which was, after the days of June, sup
pressed by Cavaignac; but was, under the title of
LIE Peuple, revived by the indefatigable editor as
soon as the restrictions the press were removed
lie Peupte has met with immense success its circu--
lation having expanded with almost magical ra.
pidity in the course of few weeks. And now,
although worried by the prosecutions of the Attor
ney General, and attacked by all the pensioned
myrmidons of a government that would be reac-
tionary if it could, the dauntess Proudhon still
marches on, with step firm and head erect, his life
a proof of how much opposition can be overcome by
a high, bold, open, fearless, honest mind, and of
how much fear one press, conducted by such a
soul, inspire into those who endeavor to steal
away insidiously the rights and privileges of the
people.
Though We may not share many of the peculiar
opinions of NJ. Proudhon-though we may find in
his political theories much that is vague and unsat-
cannot but admire the courage and
he spirit with which he maintains his ground
against jeering Assembly and a threatening Gov
eminent. 1t is the struggle of noble soul painting
for the attainment of an ideal good, against the
earthly bodies that banker only after the flesh-pos
Of Egypt" And though Proudhon may utter
many crudities, and contend for some social doc
rines that would. when brought to the test of ex-
aerience, end in discontinue and detriment to many
IF the dearest interests of society, still we cannot
out sympathize with the noble aspirations of the
thinker, rather than with the downward bent look
IF those who admire more
The riches of Heavens pavement, trodden gold
Than aught divine or holy ese enjoyed
In vision beatific.'
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