The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-16
Analysis OF European ana American De-
mOcracv.

the establishment of well ordered and complete
government, within the short space OF three years,
Is q phenomenon which Europeans cannot under
stand or explain In fact, it cannot be phioso
phically accounted for, except by analyzing the
difference between European and American demo-
crazy. DURING the very period this astonishing
phenomenon has been working itself out on the
shores Of the Pacific, Europe has been convulsed
by political earthquake, which for months set
most Of its governments and thrones reehng to the
eonvulsion; and in the old world, we saw two
hundred millions of men making what has turned
ont to be futile attempt to achieve the liberty Of the
people, and the establishment of democratic sys-
TENS Of government. In the one case, we discover
few thousand adveHturers landing upon a wild
and unknown coast, most of them desperate in for
tune, and many Of them desperate in character, but
all bent upon the great object OF winning the smiles
Of fortune, and accomplishing the great purpose of
life In a solitary and desolate territory, with
none of "the appliances or means to boot" except
those resources which lay within themselves, their
early education in the principles of democracy,
and their unconquerable love Of independence, they
give existence in day to the thirty-irst republic
OF the United States, and the day following send
its representatives to gam admission for their new
State into the confederacy. That such a State
should Gene from nothing, and leap into existence
like Minerva from the head of Jove, IN armed per-
lection, never could have been done, except by
men who had been thoroughly educated In the
principles of American democracy. In Europe,
democracy never shows itself, except violent
form. Here, il is the natural order OF society
There, 1t is a volcanic eruption-a strugglc-a con-
spiracy-a battle of life and DEATH of blood and
despair. Here, II is a practical system of every
day life, wrought into the American character 1t
is with US philosophical system. 1t corresponds
in some degree, in the permanence Of its basis, to
the primary geological formation of the earth, on
whose everlasting basis reared other
strata and formations, admitting OF end
less advancement, unto absolute perfection.
In Europe democracy is extraneous. Ii Is
foreign substance. II may be called into ex-
istence by a CONFUSION; but society is not fitted
for IL II finds itself surrounded by hostile ele
men,s, which at once begin to work Its overthrow.
IL is UNNATURAL; 1t is exception TO their system,
and II rusbes at once into every manner OF extra
yagance, violence and excess. All classes become
dissatisfied with the new state of things. Dreamers
begin TO scheme, and impracticable theories are
set ahoat. Fanatics in their zeal-dreamers IN
their illusions egotsis, and sensualists, and dema
pogues IN their uliraisms jostle together in the
great game Of experiment. The ordinary system
Of life ceases-the hand of labor is paralyzed siits
,oil-alarm spreads over the public mind-money
ceases to find ITS usual avenues of commerce and
trade and in the general paralysis Of society which
follows the shock that gave origin to democracy,
such as il il. either one OF two results must fol-
low-the despotsm Of one man or the despotism
Of the mob.
In such a state Of affairs, well ordered and
firmly established democracy cannot exist, because
il has no basis. Nobody has been educated for
such a system OF government or for such system
Of life. Princes, mobiles, and aristocrats may
smile upon people whom they fear, convulsed by
the electric shock Of freedom, and transported by
the inde6ned but glowing hope Of liberty, send
log up their shouts Of triumph over the fall OF
kings and thrones; but before the popular mind has
grown calm aristocrats have been able TO plot the
overthrow Of the new republic, and by force of
corruption, intimidation, intrigue and foreign inter-
yenton the will Of the multitude is made at last TO
yield to the power Of the few But the main cause
why these intngues are so generally successful,
can be traced to the existence Of false system Of
democracy, which, in France, has shown It's fear
fol foim in the share Of socialism. When we use
tins term. we mean the great doctrine which, UNI
oh been reduced to practice, IN France, Of chang
ing the entire structure Of society, and subvert-
ing all the foundations upon which organized
governments have rested Socialism has been
the bane Of true reformation abroad. The
doctrines that were advocated Il France by
those fanatics. frightened the real friends
Of liberty throughout the continent; for in the
general alarm, even such men as had for quarter
u. -. Ill
s,anty advocated the great principles OF republican
Ism, foresaw that Europe was not ready to carry
their principles into effect, without rushing fero-
ciously into those excuses which, during the frs,
French revoluuon, made the nations turn pale with
horror, and which came near delsging that
country with bleed during the fierce struggle |
pf Is4s
Any one who will take the pains to read Lamar !
ines history Of that revolution, may see for him.
'ef that from the hour the provisional government
vas proclaimed until the election Of the President.
France was resting on volcano. An organiza.
ion had taken place in Paris, and through all the
arr, provincial towns, under the management OF
The leading socialists, which, but for the irressii-
bic force Of half a million Of armed men, brought |
10 suppress IT. would have ended in such scenes Of
convulsion and distress ne have probably not been
since the Eruption Of the barbanans inio
Italy, to effect the fall q the Roman empire. There
were, probably, hundreds Of thousands Of intsl-
gent men throughout the continent, who enter
tsined up TO that reiod, the brightes, hopes that
the day was At hand when democracy would pass
its last struggle, and achieve Its great victory
who were prepared to aid any movement that
promised a fair hope Of success to establish the
democratic pnnciple on the continent, and who
were alarmed by the painful discovery that, il
monarchy was abolished on the continent, a, that
inc, il would be sure to be followed by socialism,
and that socialism must Inevitably end 10 chaos.
Then was witnessed, on a larger scale than was
ever before seen in the world, the truth Of that
great principle, which has in all sges been found
True, namely, that the mass Of mankind every
where, will choose protection and security TO their
u. lc--n...., ..h..