The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-04


The accession of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte to
the Presidency OF the French Republic has been the
cause OF numerous predictions that the republic
has been virtually repud,ated by his election; and
many forebodlngs and wise shrugs of the shoulder
are INDUCED in, even this side OF the Atlantic,
when the subject is mentioned. We do net appre-
bend dissolution Of the new republic from this
cause.
The President elect of France is not, we
think, the vaIn-glonous, weak, and lmbecLe per-
sonage which the newspaper writer's of England
are striving 10 picture him. II we look at his
whole course of conduct since his name was men
toned in connecuo with the high Office to which
he has been elected we will find that it has been
directed by prudence, wisdom, and sagacity HIS
attempt al the invas en- OF that country few years
since, Is held up Ms proof strong holy writ that
he Is Of a rash, imperuous disposition, and m an
entirely incapable OF managing the affairs OF ma
ton. Ii must be borne in mnd, however, that the
Prince Is older now than he was then; and that in
all probability, he condemns hls on that oc-
casion now, as fully as his detactors do. Bat
since the downfall Of Louis Philippe, he GER
tainly has not exhibited any conduct that would
Justify the character attributed TO him. The only
act of Imprudence which he has been at all guilty
OF, was that which he prrpetrated, short time
since, in Attempting TO make speech in the Ma
iIonal Assembly, when he could not but have
known that he was incompetent for the duty
Even this was forced upon hun by his opponents.
Knowing his failing in that respect, they made II
incumbent on HIM To vIndicate his motives; and
when they found that he had more ideas than he
had words al command to express them, they ex-
tanned at once that he was an lmbecle, because
iorsooth he could not make speech Ii making
speech be test of greatness, then, indeed, great
ness Is more widely fused THAI we ever thought 1t
was. Every stump orator In the United States,
every iunersnt politician, who stumped 1t tor
"Tippecanoe and Tyler too," Ia our Presidential
election Of 1870 ale great men; and yet after the
occasion which called them out had passed away
those great men passed with 1t, and are no more
thought of. The inability TO make speech, or to
express our ideas huently or as freely as they
are foImed, Is very frequently an accompani-
ment Of genus, a, history proves. 1t is by no
means to be taken as d proof Of mbecillty or IN
teilectpal weakness.
The American ople must net allow themselves
To form their opinions Of the men whom the recent
revolutions in Europe have made prominent,
nor on the results which the startling movements
30 rapidly taking place there may ultimately pro-
duce, on what the English writers say. Tne press
OF England does not represent the people Of that
country or their sentiments IL Is the organ OF the
aIistocracy, the non producers, who not the toll
and labor OF the producers. These revolutions are
the greatest blows that have ever been struck at the
basis OF snsocracy IN Europe; aud lest the newly
aroused influence which produced them might
reach England and destroy the aristocracy OF that
Al. sh.af IN he nj N m.
tiers, and by distortion, misre presentat on, and
sorting to other base means, 20 as TO mislead the
pubic mnd-strives to stave of fora while longer,
the downfall OF those no pay them The truth Is,
we beiieve that the arstocracy of England, and of
course the press, are afraid oi Louis Napo-
leon. They look upon him as the representative of
that daring spirit which, in a lew hours, released
France from the thraIdom Of monarchy, and ele-
waited 1t to tie free dom OF democracy. They fear,
too, that young France, under the presidency Of
young Napoleon, will give AID aud assistance
TO the people Of other Nations. who are
struggling for the rights which she has already
achieved. They fear European war, IN which
they Knight be compelled to take part, and they
know that they are incapable OF conducting q
iengtht ned hostility with the ant republic within
sight Of their shores The old-fash,oned and con-
servatNe policy which characterized Cavaigoac
since he was proclaimed dictator, would SUIT their
views better; and hence they favored the election
OF that distinguished to the presidency, while
they opposed that OF Napoleon. From these con-
slderatlons, we think, spring the ISLANDERS that ap-
pear SO frequently in the English press about the
President elect of France and, II we reflect on
their source, we shall that they not worthy
OF the slightest consideration.
One thing is ceftaln-Young Bonapsrte has
been elected and he has the opportunity, II he pos
sess the ability, to make himself either Napoleon
or Washington. Never was there a wider field
before any who mad the ambition to be dis
nnguisheo, and to have his name 90 down to
poste rity