The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-02-18

from the Boston Courier.]
Condition and Prospects OF the French
Republic:


Condition and Prospects OF the French
Republic:
France has been tranquil for an unusual space,
in an unnatural position perhaps but still tranquil
Speculation was never more at fault than il now is
in looking for tbs end continuance of this state
of repose. 1t was brought about by unexpected
means, for no one supposed Louis Napoleon was
the man to put Frenchmen to sleep. How long
will their present doze contnue-what dreams OF
empire, what realities Of usurpaton may take place
ere they awake? Will another violent overturn put
new face upon the Republic? Will it quietly
dissolve and settle into solid monarchy, or will
the French people, the National Assembly, and the
President, be contented to have the present forms
of the Government untouched, and make the best
OF their condition?
All these things are possible. The President
may govern France, or the Assembly may govern
the President this point is not settled and neither
party is yet quite sure how it stands. AT this mo-
ment, the President seems-to have the vantage
ground He has felt his way to supreme power
for short distance ahead and finds his footing sure
for one step, perhaps for two. Another cautious
grope will re-assure him bold push, and then
decisive blow afterward, may secure all that he
wishes for. One word said Danton contains the
secret of all lrevoutons-D0re. Frenchmen, above
all other men, believe in success Hardly do they
believe in any thing else.
All we can gather from the prevailing tone Of the
French press, and the general complexion of the
accounts from Paris is, that nothing is more likely
than the rise Of Louis Napoleon and the fall of the
popular elementin the French Government. Presi-
dent for ten years-President for hfe-and then
Emperor, seem to be easy, natural, and in man.
ner necessary steps in the of this new man
OF destiny" as the common apprehension repre-
sents. Louis Napoleon, indeed, is not strong
man by nature education, but he is strong by ac-
cident. His strength consists in the widey-spread
persuasion that he is necessary to France and that
II he falls, order and property will fall with him
The immense majority of the people simply de-
mand tranquility. They are, comparatively in.
different as to the donor the means. The facl
that Louis Napoleon is in the possession of power
and that it cannot be torn from him without strug,
gle Will insure him the support of ALL except those
extravagant political fanatics called the Red Repub.
lcans, and the equally extravagant Legitimists
IL he remains quiet steadily eniorces the law
maintains good order, and contents himself with
laying well-considered schemes of social improve
ment before the Assembly, the chances are that,
rather than run the risks of new election.
the people will call for revisal of the Constitution
and make him President for ten years, or Presi-
dent for life Let him be successful in war though
he never sees battlefield, and he will have the
army on his side, The army, not the people, made
Napoleon Emperor; it may place the crown on the
head of his nephew.
Many will ask, how can the French do these
things, or permit them to be done How can they
consent to that fabric of political liberty which
they have reared at such expense, completely over
thrown Nthe labor of years scattered to the winds
in single day. and no help left them but to begin
all their experiments anew? The truth is thai
selfgovernment, in the proper of the word il
thing utterly impossible in France at the present
moment. The materials for it do not exist in the
temper and disposition Of the people. We do bu
repeat the statements Of cool and impartial obser
vers on the spot, when we say the public mind in
France is unhinged and unsettled to an extent al
VnNe ef fannE aIiol,1 Ill r
thing is regarded as fixed permanent. Every
KIND OF civil authority is dscredited. The law i.
grudgngly obeyed as matter of temporary expe.
dlency, instead OF commanding cheerful and habit
ual obedience as principle. The true objects and
limited capabilities OF government are universally
healthy sense of duty. The ambitious and enter.
| prising look to it for the means of advancement
and the laboring class for bread. Reliance on reg.
ular industry is rarity and considering how often
the scum OF society has been thrown to the surface
to glitter for period, during revolutionary disturb.
ances, we can hardly wonder at the prevalent de.
moralized and morbid state of mems minds. Thi.
Generalization is faithfully reflected in the Legisla
tive Assembly. We look round it in vain for fxet
principles, comprehensive views, or uncompFom
sing integrity. Almost every statesman or orator
oil first rate eminence, pretension is notor
| ously engaged in some intrigue or other, for hi.
own personal aggrandzement or is carefully hold
premature indulgence of patriotism or generosity
All individuals and all parties stand in false posi-
tons with regard to each other they neither CO.
| operate, check, nor balance, in manner TO helT
the course of government, or evolve any clear ant
| appreciabe system of political order There is il
fact, no system of government in France-there i.
only an apology for one.
Aware Of all these facts as the French people
must be, a considerable extent at least they de
| spair Of achieving political and social millennium
| by new revolutions. Barrcades have not purchased
bliss for the builders, and they no profit in pull
| ing down government that another may start uE
to be pulled down likewise. They begin to discover
a truth which they should have had in possession
at starting-that liberty is valuable not as an end
| but means that life and property, and public
order, are of more value than theories and papei
constitutions in one word, they find that revolu
| tions do not pay.
| In the days of Julius Cesar the Gauls wer,
tickle; they are tickle still. They will probabl,
keep up the forms and symbols OF republic som.
| time longer; but the tendency OF things among
| them is decidedly toward one-man power Wha
accidental influences from German wars Austrian
| intrigues Museovite encroachments, may com,
in to disturb the existing current Of feeling il il
impossible TO say; but France wants master, ans
if she cannot find it in an ogarchy of statesmen
she must look for it in an emperor
| A PARAPHRAsE-"G Go it while YOU ara voung
| for when you get old you can't"
Make sundry evolutions with thy perambula
tors while The sanguin0us fluid of iuvenitv rushe
warmly through the arteral structure Of thy physi
cal organizatiun; for when the roral congeaion o
many hybernsl seasons has silvered the capilaciou
inegument OF thy craniam, tie ultima thule of thy
farther advancement " VI hays hRen reached"