The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-09

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
PARIS, April II, 1850.
To he Editor of The National Era:
Languor and indecision are now reigning at
Paris. The Conservative msjoriiy aStse Assem-
bly, are unwilling to strike down the popular lib
ertes ,mtheiiStShy SsefOre an ersS,OSs. -.
would he prompt answer Of the people. Thus
the bill placing the nomination Of the mayors in
the hands Of the President the bill giving the
Administration the right TO dispense or forbid
any political meeting, the bill for the destruction
of the liberty of the press, all lie tranquil in the
committee rooms. After the election, they will
be resuscitated, and, perhaps, enacted into laws
The moral power Of the last vote of the people of
Paris has shaken the courage of the tmd MAORI.
ty. They now profess supreme devotion to the
Republic. The Legislative club of the Rue Richie
lieu, composed Of Royalists of all colors has re-
solved to hoist.he banner of the Republic for the
time being The Conservatives are discouraged,
and begin to think Of being more democratic
Even M. Theirs is now willing to see M. Dufaure
made Minister. You remember the couplet
Nhth the Devil was SICK the DeNil saint would he;
When the Devil was we'll the devil a saint was he
Which means, that if the approaching election at
Paris should give majority in favor Of the Con-
servatves, we shall see this sick party filed with
new life and vigor, and ready to attack and crush
not only its enemies, but the Constitution as soon
as that may be practicable.
The present republican pretensions Of the Roy
alsts in the Assembly are satirized and exposed
by some of their own papers La Patre reminds
them that cowardice is always the precursor Of
defeat. Most of their organs, however, take very
hi-Ai~- = 'hA ~Au lilo, ana ARE n-oaoal of profes-
sions of respect to the laws and Constitution All
that persuasion, menaces and arguments can do, is
done in order to effect separation between the
bourgeoisie and the operatives. The meetings of
the Socialists are caricatured, misrepresented,
and slandered the most abominable sentiments
are put into the mouths Of the orators who are
made to chant in every tone, the praises Of piage
and the guillotine II Is useless to say that these
accounts are fabricated out Of whole cloth The
meetings are held in the presence of police officers
Any word which could give the least possible pre-
text to the Government, would occasion the i'm
mediate arrest of the orator. The tone of the
Socialist journals is moderate and reserved, while
that of many Of their enemies is seditous, violent,
and revolutionary. But the fact which shows
more clearly than any other the spirit of concilia-
ton abroad in the Socialist party is the intention
TO nominate as their candidate the venerable Du-
pont, (de pEure,) formerly President of the Pro
visory Government, and one Of the founders of
tba Col,, II. 4 4.
name for, in long political, judicial, and minis
terial career, his name has been synonymous with
moderation and probity. The versatile and talent
ed editor of La Presse M. de Girardin, announced
himself as candidate Immediately after the option
of Vidal for the Rhine department. His recent
services to the democracy have certainly been
great, but his past career offers too many exam.
pies Of changes to permit the democracy to have
full faith in him. Besides, he holds one principle
which is essentially anti-repubican. lie says
that the majority has right to adopt any govern
ment it may think proper, aud that were the
majority TO vote for an absolute monarchy, he
should think himself bound to assist in the ress-
tablisbment Of that form Of government
This doctrine, too common among American
democrats, assumes that the individual has no
rights whatever, but that society has all. Ii Is
the Socialism of M. Louis Blanc, who would an
initiate the man and aggrandize the mass How
different Is the American doctrine of rights inhe-
rent to humanity, Of rights which the man cannot
ALLEVIATE II he would, and Of which others cannot
deprive him without crime Girardin says that
other people, who wish 10 be slaves to m absolute
master, have the right to force me to become one,
too the American declaration asserts that they
are criminal, not only in robbng me Of my free.
dom, but In wishing TO ALLEVIATE their owaI-and
that any contract for this purpose would be void
Girardin's doctrine Is the Catholic one, the So
cialist one, that man has n right TO put another
or others between himself and God, AZ interpreter
and director the American IL the republican
and Protestant doctrine, that, ms every man Is d.
rectly and personally accountable for himself, no
one has right to subject himself to the arbitrary
control Of another-no man can serve two
masters.
NJ Grardin's republicanism has this dark
spot on IT, and, although 10 all other respects he
Is evidently the man for the hour, his candidaturc
will probably give way to that Of Dupont de
rEure Mr.. @. holds about the same relative po-
sition to monarchy that Mr.. Greeley holds TO sla-
very--attacking It very vigorously, but interPos-
ing no objection to the peoples establishing IL for
themselves. M. Dupont may be compared 70 Mr..
Chase-both attack the evil as crime, let 1t be
committed by whom it may, people or rulers,
and keep themselves clear Of oil completely In it.
The people Of Paris, being thoroughly devoted
to the Republic, object to Nj. Girsrdin this de-
feet in bis philosophy on q point which has, by
the progress Of public sentiment, become almost
an abstract one They will lay him on the shelf
the proper place In the present age for every poll
tican who does not consider the rights Of society
TO end where the rights Of the individual COM
mence.
The Conservative party here, as we'll as else
where, does not trouble itself about the symmetry
and hsrsnsny OF mans opinions, but about his