The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-22
About Revolutions, etc.


. general We are always pleased to gain informa-
ton whencesoever may come and for the kindness
which prompted its offer In the present instance,
we are sincerely grateful But we cannot forbear
the remark, that the pleasure would have been
much increased, and the gratitude not at all dimin
ished, if our worthy contemporary had devoted a
few minutes to the acquisition of the knowledge
necessary to proper understanding of the subject
of his lecture. 1t is true thai if he had done So he
might not have spoken with quite much assur-
ance, or given forth his censures in a manner so
dogmatical but imagine, at the same time.
that the course would have been attended with
some advantages to his readers, if not to himself
Particularly would we recommend to our Mentor
in mis- future reprimands, take the trouble of read
ing all article before he proceeds to the demolition
Of the writer on account of it. SO far from the
Crescent seeming to regard the election of Louis
Napoleon as the grave of the French Republic it
announced that by the election, France had been
fairly launched for the republican experiment; nor
yet did we say, that every ballot cast for Napo
leon is protest against the Republic but on the
contrary did say that if it be true that every
ballot cast for Napoleon was protest against the
Republic, we may consider that form of govern
ment virtually at an end in France But the best
evidence that we did not consider this assertion of
the English press true, is that the whole article
which follows is based upon the supposi,ion of the
Republics continuance. These matters, however,
are trites to man of the enlarged views and dis
| cursive genius of our contemporary. His articles,
generally, are somewhat similar 10 the philosophy
of modern cosmographer, who, when informed
that his theory did accord with the facts, logi
cally proposed to adapt the facts to his theory.
h., rS.,rIf,r III ,f no Nal
rather the reason for his effort to enlighten us poor
fellows of the Crescent, seems to be that we are
not impressed with profound veneration for The
present rulers in France appears to affect HIMSELF
and that we do not clearly perceive what great
benefits the people have yet derived from the revo
luton And here the editor, after abiding TO what
he considers heresy in this respect, bursts out
in fit of enthusiasm " Have they not gained a
thoroughly democratic constitution Have they
not obtained a fair and full representation Of the
peOple-universa suffrage and the right of choosing
their own political agents Are these mat
tiers Of form - To which, with all due Difference
to superior wisdom, answer yes! matters of
form, and of form only! What man of sense ever
looked TO paper constitution as an end, to univer
sal suffrage, the equality of representation the cleo
ion of Legislators, or judges presidents as any
more than means for accomplishing something
different and beyond these Who ever thought of
buying rifle to look at, or considered it useful for
the blaze and smoke and noise that it would help
to make 1t is the accuracy and effect with which
it propels the bullet that gives it all its value-and
so these governmental forms only so far valua
bic as they contribute to produce the permanent
happiness of the people This happiness depends
not upon political rights except so far they may
be made instrumental in bringing about social en-
joyments.
Indeed, although it may have escaped the acute OBJ
servaon and aborous research OF the editor of the
Delta, most, if not all political questions, however
imposing In appearance or complicated in their cir
cumstances, when rgidly analysed, only worthy
ofatention because they are, to the great body the
people, questions of bread and butter. Whatever
changes may be made in government which do not
ameliorate the condition of the aboring classes, the
vast body of the people, and aid in relieving them
of the necessity of unremitting toll to support ex
isence, are of no real importance to society Such
changes may put down Guzot and put up Barrot,
may call Louis Napoleon from exile to the presi-
dency, and drive Louis Philippe from the throne to
exle-may overthrow titled nobility Of birth and
elevate an untitled aristocracy of wealth-but they
w iiot utiieut people. we nave StIu diiu we
repeat it-that this mere change of forms and of
men is all that the French revolution has yet pro-
duced-although our worthy instructor, had he read
the articles which he comments upon, might have
found in them the hope expressed that the form of
universal suffrage" contained within it the
'germ - of some beneficial reality.
But our worthy contemporary and kind guide
through the mazes of political science, after init
mating that we 6 apply rules to the French people
that we dare not apply to ourselves displays our
culpability by the following imposing paragraph:
But if nothing has been done in France because these
social reforms have not been ACCOMPLISHED ask in what
reforms yet to be achieved in this country Their pro-
that we have made adyancesrthat by throwing off the
yoke OF George I'LL, and establishing Republic " the
step o.
After reading thus far we felt inclined to surren-
der at discretion but little reflection caused us to
pause We repeated the question, SIN what
spect are we ahead Of the French people! 20 And
we were obliged honestly to reply, in nothing! 1t
is true that we have not the Of pauper-
ism and ignorance, Of organized vice. and of neces-
sary crime-not the same extremity Of want and
misery on the one hand or Of overgrown wealth On
the other; but we need not render many thanks to
our political system for the exemption The bound
less extent of our public domain, the sparsity of
our population, the abundance which the earth
yields to the highest toll, have hitherto preserved
us from the pressure Of the social ills under which
| Europe is groanng. But the causes which pro-
duced those Ills are here too in operation. The
test between capital and labor has here too begun,
and long before this country has become as thickiy
populated as France, unless wisdom and foresight
shall direct the counsels of both our General and
State Governments, it will be found that republican,
ism in America is powerless to avert, as we fear
| it will be in France to cure the evils inherent in
modern civilization.
What advance have we made since the revolution
since, in the language of our contemporary, we
threw off the yoke of George III."9 The revolu-
ton itself was an advance. 1t overthrew so far as
this country was concerned. the absurd colonial