The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-19


rraoM An OCCASIONAL coxassrosDESr.
The Herald. Of New York, has been amusing
itself lately by = succession OF attacks upon the
French press. We did not think it worth while
taking any notice Of them, although, after read
ing its long ripmaroles of insufficient argument,
we could not help asking ourselves, what it all
meantg and what the writer could possibly
know on the subject!
Does the presumptuous author Of the articles
know anything of French! II he does, and can
actually spell and lisp few words what does he
know Of France! Has he ever been there =! or,
il ever has he ever spent five or ten years of his
life there! For il he has not he il no more fit to
express an opinion on the subject in question, or
upon the social historic, or linguistic influences,
which gives to nations much of their peculiarly,
than is the red Indian fit TO draw correct c0nclu-
sions respecting the origin and progress OF that
race, or mixture of races, which, calling itself
Angio-SaxOn, betrays its own ignorance OF its
own origin, in the assumption of such an appel
lation.
To comprehend any country whatever, there
are two essential conditions. First, to under
stand the language so perfectly, thatits influence
shall be felt, as we'll as the words be under.
stood and, secondly, to have resided for some
years, at least, among the people speaking that
language, SO as to participate in their opinions
and sentiments, and comprehend the full weight
Of all surrounding influences, undisturbed by
ones own peculiar prejudces, habits, and foreign
ignorance.
| Has the writer in the Herald done that! If
he has not, his disquisitiOns are about us wise as
are the ideas of the French respecting selling OF
wives in England. Some having read transla-
tons from English papers of such ever memo
L. A. oG s.I haLs I'LL.
down the people for barbarians, and believe the
practice universal. So wisely does the Herald
Two editors 6ght-concludes the Herald, all
editors fight in France No doubt American
editors never do, and never did fight Two
French editors abuse each other--concludes
the Herald, all French editors do the same !; not
SO Americans. Here and there, two French
editors use strong and abusive language, seem
| ing terrible at distance-thinks the Herald
French society is going to the dogs. France
once had a revolution, consequently the French
are always making revolutions. In short, all
these things misunderstood, and moreover seen
through the magnifying glass of distance, terrify
the timid nerves of the Herald.
i But who in Paris hears of half the horrors
that frighten children abroad? In LOUIS PHIL
LIrpE's time, street row, got up by the police,
az an excuse for passing some arbitrary measure
in the Chamber, would reach society only
through that pure organ of representative gov
ernment; or amuse the Parisians week after
by appearing in the French press in the form OF
a translation from the exaggerating press OF
, England.
The unfair and erroneous character Of all the
: statements respecting France, which appear in
the English language, betray such gross igno-
rance Of French institutions and society, that il
,ko.
habit that fair land, hold in such contempt the
per6de Albion" They naturally look upon
such statements as designedly false, since they
are inconsistent in themselves, and will not beal
{ the test of the shallowest examination.
! But what does the Herald know of the
+ French press? Is it jealous of its great pc.
litical influence! Ia it jealous of the unques-
S tionable and unequalled talent which it displays
e on all matters on which it treats?
No one, we'll acquainted with the French
o press can deny that in vigor talent, profundity
2 and versatility, it stands without rival. There
J. is no comparison to be made between it, anC
!, any other. The questions agitated in France
are wider, more important, and more interesting
than any the English and American press
8 will venture to treat upon. No matter what
subject is proposed, the French writer examines
and discusses every portion of it fairly and fear
W.
fles over it timidy, and where it trenches on any
one of the numerous prejudices of his unsocial
SYSTEM abuses it, to escape the necessity Of CIV
ing il fair examination. The American writer,
in general, touches upon everything, but is so
absorbed in the interests of party questions at
| home. and so contented with the working of
the social system under which he lives, that he
t treats but lightly the grave questions which
! have agitated the European world long time
past Hence, the newspapers OF the three coun-
tries are peculiarly distinct in their form, views
!, and talents. For correctness of language, for
elegance of STYLE for literary talent in fact, the
, French press stands the highest in Europe. For
gravity, for profundity of thought, for interest
e in all that concerns morals and political re-
t generation, this is equally true And, though
we do not pretend to agree with the opinions
e expressed one iota more than the Herald does
we shall not for that hesitate to give the French
| press its due, for the openness, honesty, vigor
t and talent with which it discusses the questions
of the day. This merritt has, and fully de-
serves credit for it.
If we would complain of anything, it would
be, that there is too little to anuse-all is
serious The "feuilletons," alone relieve the
monotory Of the political and social discussions.
These are written with great talent, and have n
moral, far more useful than the majority of the
! flimsy trash which appears every day in English.
The English novel writer and the French novel
writer compose under social influences and ex-
periences, dramatically opposite. The former
writes to please class always prosperous, and
DESTROYS, we may say, of keeping up the de-
ception. BY him. virtue is made to triumph, or
to peak more correctly, money and rank, which
among prosperous class, goes by the name of
virtue or morality, are always triumphant. All
his heroes and heroines come into fortunes and
live happily all the rest of their days" The
latter writes to please greater mass of the pub.
Iic-classes which have all suffered by social
changes; which have all had experience null
titude, thoroughly matter Of fact, and not imagi-
native on mere worldly affairs like children
people imaginative enough in all that constitutes
art, taste. science and mental development but
clear, simple, earnest and positive, in all that
relates to every day life. To such people, vir-
tue is mostly unfortunate, prosecuted and OPP
| preesed