Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-10-17

rahid spiri. for change, twice utterly de
moished her once magnificent building o.
state, roof, pillars, and subs'ructure. She
has twice laid low all her time-honoret
institutions. indiscrimiDateIy the good aud
the bad. She has twice abolished, by q
sudden convuIsion, royalty, nobility and
all the strong safeguards Of her once well.
ordered government. And all rbis was
done. to give place 10 anarchy, confusion
aud all their bloody consequences, and to
mock governments. as whimsical as they
were utterly worthless and (arcical. ltwa.
The fully Of the spcnd,hrift or Tho Parucnu
who would destroy splendid mansion Ol
commodious paris, to erect a new and
slender structure only to exhibit deceit
full and shnwy cxleriLr.
We do moi deny that France bad many
real grievances of which TO rid herself
but how much moro wisdom wonJ she
have displayed, had she effected reform
in hose, without breaking in so violently
upon the sound paris of her Constitution,
and lhe well-ordcred institutions of The
country! But she has already paid tho
penalry Of her hcndlong experiments. How
does she stand at present by the side of
England in point Of social happiness and
political liberty? The English, in a stale
Of superior political and social privileges,
are living quietly in.lhe mansion Of stale,
inhabited by their earliest ancestry, inn
proved, it is true, to suit The gradual de-
veIopments ofnalional prosperity, and hav-
ing yet some rudo appurtenances TO be
Topped olIby future reform, but still bear
Ing distinct traces Of tho admirable lnason-
ry OF its early founders.
The French, on the contrary, after rear
ing on the ruins of their ancestral dwelling,
in quick succession, various costly s,ruc-
lures, all fanciGul and queer, have again
recently demolished their palace Of state,
aud are actually liUing out Of doors, nn-
protected against tho storms OF lawless
confusion and riotous disorder.
Nor are they likely. we fear, soon 10 be
in much better condition. In establishing
a new Stale organization, as many tliI1e.
rent tastes are lu be consulted, as thcrc are
conlendinS factions in the land and, ii wo
arc to judge Of the future, by what We
know of the past history Of that chiyal-
rous but inconsanl people, we greatly fear.
that the new establishment will have no
durable basis on which to rest. Goycrnu
mcui has but Two sure guarantees of per-
manency, even when it is practically con-
ducive 10 liberty. One is, when ii rests
on religious, and the other. on an histori.
cal or ancestral principle. There must
be either firm religious feeling among a
people to cause Them to render respect and
obedience to government, or this respect
and obedieuco must bo inspired by the
successful operation Of government for
centuries, during which linio he virtues
and wisdom Of a long line Of ancestors,
have been happily displayed. There are
no other hopes for FREQ government.
Now, there will be none Of The latter feel.
ing in the now Republic Of tho French,
and candor cumpels US 10 acknowledge,
that, among tho ruling populotion-ho
educated and the wcaIlhy-lhero is very
llllo Of the former. Where, then, are tho
latleriDg prospects. of the Republic Of
Franco? We lcur, there is little chance
Of stable government id tLal unhappy land
except under tho strong rule OF rigid Mon
archy
An important lesson may be drawn from
these historical lacls. They teach us. that
TO reform, wo must preserrc; that il is
proper, if practicable, 10 lopp off that.
which is useless and injurious, but, that it
is paramount duty, to sarc that. which is
wise aud beneficial.
We lay it down, therefore, ns an nxio-
matte trtuh, that it is of the very nature OF
Reform, to improre and to preSerre. In
his efforts to get rid Of abuses, tho truo
reform or, should diligently search out all
that experience has proven to be valuable,
and buddy labor to preserve it against oil
the shocks Of innovation.
OHE OF THE PEOPLE.