The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-11

The following is from the Paris correspondence Of
the New Orleans Picaytine, and is written by G..
w. KEspALL, esq, one of the editors Of that paper,
now sojourning in France:
al know that a great many writers in the United
States will have Il that democracy is progressive
here In France-still progressive and hourishng-
and that he who happens TO think and say, from
the evidence Immediately before him, that il is re-
Progressive, is forthwith bounced on as having no
sympathy with liberal movements, else is but a
retailer of reactionary falsehoods AT the risk of
drawing down upon myself fresh avalanche Of
animadversion, must call attention to the follow
ing sentence from the columns of the AsssHbiss Ma
tionaie. But before introducing il, il may be ne.
cessary to state that some ten days since number
Of persons were tried, by the Paris court Of as
sizes, for having printed and distributed petition
praying for an appeai 10 The people az 10 The form
Of government most desirable. founded on the fact,
according to the petition, that the present Republic
had been surprise, and the confirmation OF il by
the Constituent Assembly n coercion. These per-
sons, thus accused, were acquitted, whereupon the
Assesabiee Rationale says:
1.-THE jury has opened new and fruitful path TO
intelligence. The country will no longer permit
the Government 10 be escamote, Cheated or Jug
gled.) We may now freely appreciate the divers
may be ADDRESSED 70 ,bs AssembIy and universal
suffrage may be called upon 10 pronounce France
may ask, "what is the best social form in order to
get rid, by illegal vote, OF the system and the men
Of the oath Of February" This principle has been
happily consecrated by the verdict Of the jury, and
we arc rejoiced at this conquest over Tho revo-
luton
"The democratic and social journals Of Paris
were up in arms the moment they got bold Of the
above petition, and called loudly for the punish
ment Of those who bad printed and distributed IT,
In their excessive zeal they seemed entirely 10 for
get that the authors and promugators Of the obnox
ious document were only calling for the exercise Of
that great democratic principle and prcrogativc-
the undoubted and unquestionablc right Of the peo-
pie TO choose their own form Of government. They,
the democratic Socialists, day set up universal
suffrage tho basis and foundation Of all true lib
erty and the next fearful 10 IL exercised lest
IL may upset the bungling structure they have
erected. lf the real vote Of France could be taken
TO- morrow, honestly believe that return to some
kind Of a monarchy would be the result And IL
the ultra Democrats and Socialists did not think so,
why do they eternally preach the doctrine that the
republic IL above the will Of the Majority Yet the
republic, such IL IL, will continue FOR space,
perhaps for two years, its great strength lying in
the divisions in the ranks Of its opponents. And
when il does fall, and men inquire the real cause,
they will find that all has been owing 10 the reck
essness, extravaganza, and incapaciy Of those who
called II into being. But the men Of the Oath Feb
ruary-the Louis Blancs, Lcdru Rollins, Sobriers,
Blanquis, and all Of that classin their obstinscy
fortunately IL some Of the characteristics Of tho
who in ls4s sought 10 regcneratc Francc-to over
throw the old despotism, and build up and
liberal insttutions-that they either have not the
candor to avow, the capacity 10 discover, the
causes Of their own failure. II would always have
been more satisfactory 10 me, and TO my readers as
well, had been able, in my letters, to give more
e. the Of hd free and ,h6. liberal
readers will in the end thank me for giving them
the truth Az all events, TO the extent OF my hum
BILE abilities, shall continue 10 deal in IL.