The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27
NO. 1872.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
Paris, June 6, 1850.

PARIS, June 6, 1850.
To HE Editor Of the National Era:
The Government and Reaction has accom-
nlshed the grand act of treason against the popu-
lar sovereignty The law limiting the right of
suffrsge has been passed. Four millions of votes
have been excluded from the polls, and the nation
sppears to slumber on the usually restless CAPT.
tsl of European democracy is as placid as sum-
wsr sea. Not the least symptom Of civil war can
10 discovered what exclams some hasty
reader, the French do not fight for their rights
They are unworthy to enjoy themp Not so fast,
Hotspur. Do you wish to assert that when
tyranny has succeeded in imbruting its unhappy
victim, it is justihable7 That because privi-
lp0ed class has succeeded in debasing the masses
until they hug their chains, no protest is to be
m,de in the name Of humanity, no effort made ct
aavatoul Indifference is not the sole cause OF this
;ractiyity. The world is growing more humane
whv should the French people in uniform and
-. =, Il slaughter each other, because class Of
;n,,;rusrs who would hide in cellars until the
sgbt was over, are singing them TO madness
An, # these intriguers could only be got at
pn. they always take good care Of themselves In
- ,,sn,,.etiou, sn6 v{sttESe az every kind, It
.,ns ,OOOcsnt who suffer for the guilty Sub
,n;..ion for time is better than the massacre OF
,,;.o,;ded brethren, who make themselves the
rampant of unprincpled rulers. You recommend
the virtue of patience to the oppressed OF your
own land; Won do not think Of saying to the dis
francbised whites of Georgia, Virginia, and
South Carolina or TO those who are even more
ornreszed. " To arms !" Be tolerant, then, to the
natient of other lands A nation Is eternal, ana
can wait.
Enthusiasts have not been wanting who have
urged the people to rise. But great nation is
not like a powder magazine, which any boy may
explode by throwing in a spark. Revolutions do
not come at the bidding Of leaders, they are not
made to order, nor can their course be mapped
out in advance. No leader can say, " i will have
one on such or such day" Ledru Rollin tried
this ON the 18th of june and failed. revoiu-
ton comes when least expected, like other great
commissions in nature Who can predict the
moment when yesuvius will spit it's angry lava
against thesky? The traveller who throws him
self down on its barren side vay near the distxns
rumbling of the fermenting elements below, but
be cannot foretell the epoch when the hollow
caverns will vomt forth their glowing waves.
The next French revolution will come soon
enough. A delay will lessen its task and mitigate
its horrors Half of those DISTINGUISHED by the late
law are not yet aware of it. The peasants, the
workmen, the ignorant of all classes, conscious Of
honesty of character, cannot believe that any
party could be SO foolhardy, so insulting, as to
rank them with defrauders, thieves, penitentiary
convicts, and murderers The inhabitants of ten
principal towns of France-Paris, Lyons, Mar
settles, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, Cherbourg,
Granville, Torrent, Toulon, Versailles, and Gull
lotere--paying no personal taxes, do not yet un-
derstand that they are all disfranchised and that
not one of them will be permitted to vote, except
at the discretion of the Government. When the
Jaw is put in execution, the people will begin to
understand it, and not before Then all the dis
franchised will be ready for the contest and prob
ably will be aided by the majority of the author
lied voters. The work Of the revolution win be
trifing, in comparison with what it would be at
asaashlA Now, there would be two equal and hos
- saurPs, two banners, and two armies; then,
tAsre msy be little more to do than to kick the
crspulous, occupant of the Elysee down the back
stairs, send his gaudy troops Of liveried varlets
after him, and to constitute Government of hon.
est men, if they can be found among the celebri-
ties Of France. In this last will lie the rub. Un-
happy country her prominent men are all so
profoundly corrupted by three reigus of unbridled
corruption, and one of despotism, that each revo-
luton is betrayed by the very men 1t brings into
power
The law just passed is an attempt to inaugurate
a new principle of government, and is in itself
revolution Napoeon's principle was that of
pure despotism of one for the glory of the nation
the civil rights and equality of the citizens, the
internal improvement Of the country, and the de-
velopment Of its agricultural and manufacturing
resources. He was welcomed as n deliverer from
the anarchy and corruption of five debauchees.
He fell amid the apathy and dislike of the people
as soon as his glory began to grow more dim, and
his heart to seek the interests of his own dynasty
and person, instead of those of the people.
The principle of government adopted by Louis
XVIII and Charles X was that Of the divine
right of kings to rule. According to them, they
we're anOinted by the Deity to rule ever France;
rebellion against them was sacrilege, and disre-
spect profanity But these corpulent gentlemen
gave no evidence of their divine mission. They
may have been commissioned for some country of
the East, where men bow down and worship the
Grand Lama but Frenchmen are not SO credu-
ious as Tarars. The time for such puerilities as
the divine right Of an old dolt to misgovern CIV
ilized people had passed away in France, and
Charles X was swept from the throne.
The treachery of some, and feebleness of others,
placed the helm of State in the hands of the able
and unscrupulous Louis Philippe. He devised
principle OF government which bears the marks OF
his character. He resolved to take the most In
huential men in France, to the number of three
hundred thousand, and reign through them
With these all the spoils Of power were to be d.
Wded' They were to be peers, ministers ambas-
sailors, members Of the Chamber of Deputies
sQunseors OF State, voters their sons and kin of
SySsy degree were to have Offices in the army.
MY, colonies, and departments; colleges were to
he founded for their sons and proifges: pensions
we're to be given to themselves and, in short
all the favors of Government were to pass
through the hands Of the privileged class. The
number Of this class was great enough to make it's
influence felt in all the qualifications of society
out not 50 great but that each member Of it could
receive his share Of favor and have strong Fer
sonaI interest In sustaining the king Never was
GpThrrru:puon more shameless To the reignof Louis
ihniPPe' ana It's systematic government by means
OF the personal interests of the privileged c,asa
may De safely ascribed that remorseless and nm,
serupaious selfshness which now cbaracterizes
wnss called the highest class in France and
wnlca makes patriotism an sffair of Office. or of
franco and Nsnoleoa piaa.a - IL. ~, =. Va