The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-11
How they Manage In Europe.
ICOrTINUED. |

III Will DO inmoulately seen Dy the RAPID STATE
ment we made in our last of the organization of
the police system, that an engine of power, 80
constituted and so completely under control, can
do almost anything European governments wish.
Hence, among other things, its use in Kidding
those in power of political or personal enemies
and the abuse of its power which is made against
the liberal party. No man upon whom it fixes,
with an intention of running him, can well es-
cape; and this is so we'll known, that many
persons, when finding themselves the object of
police attack, at once seek safety in fight to
some other locality, where they can live in CON-
paratve quiet, known, though unmolested, in
their partial concealment.
The very name of police is word of terror;
and the apprehension which it causes, is equally
felt by rich and poor. tits in every ones mouth
and the stranger is equally annoyed by its in
quisitiveness regarding himself, as surprised at
the lamb-like submissiveness and fear which it
universally inspires.
No one therefore, who comprehends the per.
lection of its organization and working, can be
surprised that revolutions have had no influence
in breaking ii up. On the contraryitis only more
active and more treacherous, and is the most
powerful engine for the restoration of despotism
that the old parties can WELD. 1t naturally re-
mains attached to its chiefs, and to the system
by which it lives and prospers. And thus, in the
very heat and violence of the late revolution,
although under the apparent direction of re-
publican Project, it was in full correspondence
with, and under the direction Of the reactionists
1t was used first for the special purpose of
deprecating the moral character of the revolu-
ton. The whole movement commenced and
continued for while 80 happily, that Europe
was astounded and enamoured in a measure
by the magnamity of the event. Secret agents
were soon set at work to foment dscord, and
create disgust by exaggerated repubicanism. and
menaces of violence. And, on many occasions,
the good tempered workingmen of France had
to turn out of their meetings and festivals, men
of suspicious appearance. whose exaltation"
and shonts of vive lie guillotine," tended to in.
jure the Democratic cause.
Another mode of blghting the cause, was the
fomenting irritation among unemployed work.
men, by exaggerating Socialist principles, and
by the formation of plots and conspiracies for
overturning the republic, under pretence of es'
tablishing Socialist government.
The abundant use of money redoubled their
influence and power.
Theae mapnuvros wara Int foo euccesafu1
and, although the secret agents were frequently
caught and punished by the people, so well was
considerable portion of the press prepared for
reaction, that few Of these facts were made
known, while the words used by these men were
published and republished exaggerated and
commented upon, for the purpose of inspiring
the middle class with apprehension of new
reign of terror. And that, too, in France, a land
of proprietors, where almost every workman
possesses something, and has an interest in tran
guilty!
1t is almost needless to say, the secret police
was the great means of fomenting the insurrec-
ton of June, l848. 1t alone knew where to find
those numerous bands of felops who were bro't
up to Paris from all parts of France, to fight
the battle of repubcanism against the republic.
II alone was the means for bringing the two par
ties into conflict, the majority in each one think
ing it was fighting the battle of liberty, and
alone was the means of distributing the money
necessary to the completion of this vast crime.
The conflict Observation-Disclosures were ar
rested, and Immediately shot, aud vast num-
Der sent, as every one knows, to various fort
resses, without trial, or attempt made to identify
them or their acts. The reason of this was,
that a great many men, who had been summarily
shot, and arrested and imprisoned, had, in fact
fought on The (so-called) side Of order but being
ardent republicans, and among the prescribed,
were seized and got rid of at once
To complete this system of purifying France
of influential republicans, nothing has been
spared-neither legal chicaine, imaginary con-
spiracies, or prosecutions. The police agents
track out the devoted individuals, and unless
they could reduce themselves to absolute nullity
in speech or action, and avoid even the convival
meetings Of friends they can hardly avoid case
being got up against them sufficient, under judi
cial management, to convict them.
The knowledge of this power, and its con-
slant use, is the source of the universal terror
the police inspires and the hatred and dstrust Of
the government.
In Austria, Italy, and elsewhere the action of
the police, founded as it is on similar principles,
and similarly constituted, has been equally eff
Gent in re-establishing the old party. Its agents
took the same exaggerated course, as republi.
cans and have been abundantly rewarded with
honors and plumber for their devotion and nc.
tiyity.
The police system is necessarily most expen.
sive; yet the employees nre largely rewarded
And as many of them are men of infamous and
desperate charscter--chosen from among the
most skful thieves and bandts--tbey man