The New York herald., 1851-12-25
The Revol utiOa I'm Fr'
q~sr ~ncs---lts Cesse-

E..,;.h rra,, IL extracts and articles from the
-. n Fr,. IN the subject Of the recent revolu-
-. IN ace, and the coSp a'sat Of Louis Nspo'
49,. Of which are highly interesting. From
a documents, which, with the others we have
sablishsd furnish complete history Of these extra
ordinary events in the history of France, read
ers will be enabled to form their own conclusions
and draw their own inierences respecting the
chances Of Louis Napoleon's continuance in power
the cad of the French nation and the future of
Europe.
There is no doubt that the character Of France,
by the act Of Louis Napoleon, has been changed.
She is no longera republic. BY the eoxp fetat of
the President, she has been changed to military
despotsm like Austria and Russia, and will, in all
probability, remain such for long and indefinite
| period Of time Louis Napoleon will sustain him
self as long the army remains faithful to him.
Hereafter, France will be ruled by the srmy-as
the Roman empire was by tie Pretorian guards.
Their favorite for the time being will be the EN-
peror, or Dictator, or President, as the case may
be. When they get tired Of one, they will put him
out Of the way, and place another in power in his
! stead Indeed, it required only the coup dstat of
| Napoleon to hasten this change in the political
character of France. Events were hurrying her
on to that fate. Immense standing armies,
commanded by aspiring and ambitious chiefs,
are inconsistent with republicanism; and Louis
Napoleon only adopted policy which, sooner
| or later would have been followed by others in
France. Now, it will virtually compose the 60
vernment. Heretofore, the army had no share in
| the government; and men who. under other circum-
stances, would be mere soldiers, viii now be Of i'm
pertance in other capacities The generals who
made so much noise, and figured so conspicuously
in tho National Assembly, excited the jealousy Of
others, who, in their places, At the head of their
soldiers, were comparatively unknown. Their
vanity being offended, Louis Napoleon found in
| them faithful allies for the furtherance Of his
views.
But, although Louis Napoleon effected his pur-
! pose by these means, he may, by proper and
judicious policy, retain power for q considerable
period Of time. II he is wise, he will pursue
course calculated to please the people, and
reconcile them to his measures. By pre-
serving peace, he will be supported by all
the mercantile and trading interests, which are in
every country, strong element of influence and
strength. By opening railroads and prosecuting
works of internal improvement, he will concentrate
the agricultural interests. By preserving peace hs
will likewise make it advantageous to the other
despotic powers of the Continent to support him in
his position There is very little doubt indeed that
in making his coup Fet1 in the manner he did, he
acted under the advice of all the other powers and
received promise Of support from them in case he
should need it.
The revolution in France viii have a very i'm
portant effect the whole of Europe. The revo-
lutionists Of Germany, and Italy, and England, by
this act of Louis Napoleon, are deprived of great
deal of the strength which they confidently re-
lied upon besides having the programme OF opera
ons entirely deranged and their designs frustrated
They are now like a building withouta corner
stone. The whole of Europe will, in all probabili-
~ become . vast military despotism-en imperial
Rome on an extended scale-in which the people
viii be ruled by the military. Even England viii
be affected in q similar manner. That country
never ct made any concession to the people
without being forced into it, andve would not be
at all surprised if the reforms promised by Lord
John Russell were withheld, and sn extension Of
the elective franchise denied. The reirs Of govern
ment will no doubt be drawn tighter instead Of
being loosened.
In regard to the United States, the only effect OF
the French revolution will be to silence the agita-
tion concerning foreign policy. The discussion
Of the propriety or necessity sf Intervention is
virtually at an end; fer II military despotism is to
prevail in Europe, II would be sheer madness to in
tervere in the sightes. degree. Instead of having
to contend with enc nation, We would have to con-
tend with all Kouu:h's mission, too, and Kinkers,
and that of all the revolutionists in England and
in this country, may be said to be ended, and con-
tributiens viii cease to fow into their treasures.
There will be nothing left for us to do but to pre-
glorious insttutiops-to keep down treason
and disunion at home-to prosecute our works Of
iaternal mprovenen.-promote our interests in
every possible way, and to 90 into the election for
next President az soon ss possible
DESTRUCTION OF TIE National (oR Conc eREss)
LIBRARY AT wASHISe roS.-The burning Of the
Library Of Congress, a. Washington, viii cause
deep feeling Of regret throughout the United
States, among the friends ofEtsrature and science,
and Will be keenly felt By all who can appreciate
the irrerarable less which the nation has eus
tsined by che deplorable event we are called upon
to record. The Library Of Congress, purchased
wit b the funds Of Ae natio and accum 1lated by
the wants, experience, and taste Of the ablest poll
tical and learned minds in the nation, was, per-
haps, the very best collection, although not the
largest, in the United states. The books in the
various branches Of literature selected in this
country and in Europe, with remarkable judgmen; |
and skill, and great care had been bestoW we'd on |
the bin ling and Arrangement Of the volumes; and |
no library that we have ever seen, w~ kept in |
such ine order-the Librarian, Mr.. Mehan, having
been Ia the station about twenty-five years.
This is the second time the Library Of Congress
has been destroyed. After the erection Of the frs,
Capitol, and the removal Of the seat Of government
from Philadelphia to Washington, IN 100, annual |
spprepria lions were made BY Congress towards |
pur,hasing and collecting a national library for |
the use Of Congress. In August, isli, when tie \
Capitol and other public bulldogs were destroyed /
By ere by the British invading army, the Library
Of Congress shared the same fate The loss Of |
tba: collection severely felt aud regretted 9;
the time, By intelligent citizens as it had already