The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-07

Sentinel.
Lamarllne on the Religion Of Revolutionary
! know | sigh when think Of t--that hith-
erto the French people have been the least re-
ligious of all the nations of Europe 1t is be-
cause the idea of GOd-which arises from all
the evidences of nature, and from the depth of
| reflection, being the pTofOundest and weghtiest
idea of which human intelligence is capabe--
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 I'M
derstanding!
| Is it because our governments have always
| taken upon themselves to think for us, to be-
lieve for us, and pray for us! Is it because we
are and have been military people, soldier
nation, led by kings, heroes, and ambitious men,
from battlefield to battle field, making con-
quests, and never keeping them, ravaging, daz-
ling, charming and corrupting Europe and
bringing home the manners, vices, bravery, light
ness and mpety of the camp to the freside of
the people?
| know not, but certain it is that the nation
has an immense progress to make in serious
thought if she wishes to remain free. If we
| look at the characters, compared rs regards re-
ligious sentiments, of the great nations of Eu-
rope, America, even Asia, the advantage is not
for US. 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, or, at most, at
prosperity.
Open the history of America, the history of
!, England, and the history of France; read the
great lives the great deaths, the great martyr
doms, the great words at the hour when the ul-
} ing thought of life reveals itself in the last
words of dyng-and compare.
Washington and Franklin fought, spoke, suf
d fered, and descended in their political life of
! popularity, in the ingratitude of glory, in the
contempt Of their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the
: name of God, for whom they acted; and the
t, liberator Of America died, confding to God the
n liberty of the people and his own soul.
re Sidney, the young martyr of patriotism
Of guilty Of nothing but Impotence, and who died
D. to Gate his countrys dream Of liberty, said to
p his jaler-" rejoice that dieinnocent towards
the king, but victim, resigned to the King on
Of High, to whom all life is due"
,r The Republicans of Cromwell only sought
d the way of God, even in the field of battles.
Their politics were their faith-tIeir reign a
n prayer-their death psalm. One hears sees,
!, 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
i drama of our liberty. One would think that
l. God was eclipsed from the soul. that His name
: was unknown in the language History will have
Y 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
y The victims only have God the tribune and
lictors have none.
n Look at Mirabeau on the bed of death
n Crown me with flowers" said he, "ntoxicate
IT me with perfumes. Let me die to the sound of
delicious music"-not word Of God or of his
soul. Sensual philosopher, he desired only SUI
preme sensualism, last vouptuousness in his
agony. Contemplate Madame Roland the
y strong-hearted woman of the revolution, on the
r 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, liberty"
Approach the dungeon door of the Girondins.
Their LIST night is banquet; the only hymn,
the Marseillaise
Follow Camille Desmoulins to his execution
cool and indecent pleasantly at the trial, and
long imprecation on the road to the gullotine,
were the two last thoughts of this dying man
on his way to the last tribunal.
Hear Danton on the platform Of the scatiold,
at the distance of line from God and eternity
81 have had good time of it; let me go TO
l sleep" Then to the exeeutioner-" you will
show NY head to the people-it is worth the
trouble !" His faith, annihiation his last sigh,
vanity. Behold the Frenchman Of this latter
age
What must one think Of the religious senti
ments of free people whose great figures seem
, thus to march in procession to humiliation, and
to whom that terrible mnster--death--its elf
recalls neither the threatenngs nor promises of
God
The republic Of these men without G cd has
c quickly been stranded. The liberty won by so
!. much heroism and so much genius, has not
l. found in France conscience to shelter it, God
~ to avenge it. people to defend IL against the
: atheism which has been called glory. All ended
Is in soldier and some apostate republicans ira
e. vested into courters. An atheistic republican
+ ism cannot be heroic When you terrify it, il
g bends when you would buy it, II sells itself
Who would take any heed The people I'M
grateful and God non-existentl So finish athe
n list revoutions-Bien Publique
:, OCEAN STEAMERs-Seveneen ocean steam
ers are announced to sail from the ports of New
York, Boston, and Philadelphia, during tn,
n month of May. OF these eight are for Liver
pool, three for Chagres, one for Southampton
n and Bremen, one for Southampton and Havre
one for Bermuda and St Thomas, and one eacl
for New Orleans, Savannah. and Charleston.
e The steamship America left Boston on Wed
nesday with 10 passengers for Halifax, ami 10.
9 for Liverpool. The America takes out 8 10000
in American gold, and $500 Mexican dollars.
The Arctic arrived at Liverpool on the l4tl
!, Of April, and not on the 10th, as previously
u stated
Collins steamer Pacific is advertised to sai
Of from New York for Liverpool on the 10th inst
The report that her berths are all taken, The
= Tribune says, is incorrect, MS accommodation
can still be Ind for fifteen or twenty more pas.
sengers
& The steamship Soutbernor arrived at New
". aft n,p mi III