The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-07
Lamartinc on the Religion Of ReveIutInary
1910 Men.

HI
know sigh when think of it--that hith-
erto the French people have been the least re-
ligious Of all the nations of Europe. II is be-
cause the idea Of God--which arises from all
the evidences of nature, and from the depth of
reflection, being the profoundest and weightiest
idea OF which human intelligence II capable
and the French mind being the most rapid, but
the most superficial, the lightest, the most re-
Elective of all European race--this mind has not
the force and severity necessary to carry far and
long the greatest conception Of the human UNI
derstanding
Is It because our governments have always
taken upon themselves to think for us, to be-
lieve for us, and pray for ms Is it because we
are aud have been military people, a soldier
nation, led by kings, heroes, and ambitious men,
from battlefield to battlefield, making con-
quests, and never keeping them, ravaging, daz-
ling, charming, and corrupting Europe; and
bringing home the manners, vices, bravery, light
ness and impiety Of the camp to the Preside Of
the people
| know not. but certain it is that the patton
has an immense progress to make in serious
thought if she wishes to remain free. II we
look ut the characters, compared as regards re-
ligious sentiments, Of the great nations Of Eu-
rope, America, even Asia, the advantage is not
for u.s. The great men Of other countries live
and die, forgetting completely the only idea for
which it is worth living and dying--they live
and die looking at the spectator, OF, at most, at
prosperity. M
Open the history of America, the history of
England, and the history Of France; read the
great lives the great deaths, the great martyr
ing thought of life reveals itself>in the last
xunvdo ~ dviuO nd np,rora Fits
Washington and Franklin fought, spoke, suf.
fered, and descended in their political life Of
popularity, in the ingratitude of glory, in the
contempt of their fellow-citizens--alway in the
name Of God, for whom they acted and the
liberator Of America died, confding to God the
liberty Of the people and his own soul.
Sidney, the young martyr Of patriotism,
guilty Of nothing but impatience, and who died
to expiate his country's dream Of liberty, said to
his jailer-s rejoice that dieinnocent towards
the king, but victim, resigned to the King on
High, to whom all life is due"
The Republicans of Cromwell only sought
the way Of God, even in the field of battles.
Their politics were their faith--their reign a
prayer-their dea h psalm. One hears, sees,
feels, that God was in all the movements of these
great people,
But cross the sea, traverse La Mancha, come
to our times, open our annals, and listen to the
last words of the great political actors Of the
drama Of our liberty. One would think that
God was eclpsed from the sonl. that His name
was unknown in the language. History will have
the air Of an atheist when she recounts to pos
terity these annihilations, rather than death, of
celebrated men in the greatest year Of France
The victims only have God the tribune and
lictors have none.
Look at Mirabeau on the bed Of death
Crown me with flowers" said he, " intoxicate
delicious music mot word or God OF Of his
soul Sensual philosopher, he desired only su-
preme sensualism, last righteousness in his
agony. Contemplate Madame Roland, the
strong-hearted woman Of the revolution, on the
cart that conveyed her to death. She looked
contemptuously on the besotted people who
killed their prophets and sibyls Not glance
towards heaven! Only one word for the earth
she was quitting Oh, libertyp
Approach the dungeon door of the Girondins
Their st night is banquet; the only hymn
the Marseillaisel
Follow Camille Desmorlins TO his execution
A cool and indecent pleasantly at the trial, and
a long imprecation on the road to the guillotine
We're the two last thoughts of this dying man
on his way to the last tribunal.
Hear Danton on the platform Of the scaffold
at the distance Of line from God and eternity
81 have had good time Of it; let me go to
Sleep" Then to the executioner-a you viii
show nv head to the people--it is worth the
troubler" His filth, annihiation; his last sigh
vanity. Behold the Frenchman of this latter
age!
What must one think Of the religious senti
meuts Of free people whose great figures seen
thus TO march in procession TO annihiation, and
TO whom that terrible NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
recalls neither the threatenings nor promises Of
God E
The republic Of these men without God has
quickly been stranded. The liberty, won by SC
much heroism and so much genius, has mol
found in France a conscience to shelter il, God
to aveage It, people to defend it against the
atheism which has been called glory. All ended
in soldier and some apostate republicans ira
vested into courtiers An atheistic republican.
ism cannot be heroic. When you terrify il, i
bends; when you would buv II. il sells itself
Who would take any heed! The people I'M
grateful and God non-existent! So finish athe
ist volutions-Bien Publique.
SOCIALISM IN HAyTI-THE LATE CONSPIRACY