The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-17

France. - The Future.

the spirit OF the old prophets, nsructs US in the future Of
the 'great nation" With the advance OF civilization
have lost the science OF astrology We can no longer
tell the fate OF nations individuals from the conjunc
ton or opposition OF the planes-from the iowns OF
Mars, the smiles OF Venus, the winged intelligence of
Mercury by their ascendency in the heavens and
consequent control over The earth. The flaming meteor
the falling stars the blood red moon the length and hu
of the comets tall longer reveal the poentous or
happy future Nor has the Divinity endowed us with
the godike prerogaye OF prescience but in these "lat
ter days has usurped the power of faith and we
deduce consequences from facts and hisorywe the
future in the past and present II the mind be engh-
ened and free from preudices, will understand the
"signs OF the times" unerringly the husbantman
predicts The coming shower from the gathering clouds IN
the east
We have seen France always great--great under the
monarchy, under the empire, and under the republics
the most chivarous in chivalrc age, the most literary in
age Of literature in times OF war she has engaged the
allied world the battle field and though she lost millions
OF the Hover OF her The plains OF Russia and
deserts OF Arabia, under the walls OF Lsipsc and the
field OF Waterloo, she had such recuperave nature
that she still remained and stands foremost power
We have seen France take the initiative in philosophy, IN
science, In ART and in the OF liberty in modern Eu
rope; have the extraordinary influence OF The
French mind in the world we have seen Paris, like an
earthquake shake the old societies. and despotsms, and
aristocracies of Europe to their foundations have
traced events to their and followed causes TO
their results; have watched their succession from
the birth OF the republic to the present ,imeun-
der the provisional government under the reaction, and
under the royalist and Bonapariis factions; we have
witnessed the revolt OF the and their subugalion
and we see France, under the present reign OF COM
PRESTON sanctonng the worst tyranny, both at home
and abroad and feel deeply interested-Amercans
especially, for love this France, who aided us so Ell
ecuay to establish liberty hereto know what will be
the end OF all this greatness, power and these changes
and Developments The eyes OF the world are liked
upon Paris, for her movements will determine the fate
of Europe. Despots watch her, recruit and move
their immense armies, as chessp players their men, ac-
cordng TO her movements. They tIembe at the terri.
BILE democracy in her bosom. The conquered Hunga-
rans, the imprisoned Italians, the eypeclant Germans,
the suffering Brtsh-all The prescribed, exed and OPP
pressed victims Of bad government and of the deception
and terror OF rampant reacton-all look with intense
anxiety to the political action OF Paris in the future
Will the republic stand And will it be democratic
republic, aud not quasi mperast royais despotism
under that name These questions the lips of
every one, and the solution of which is pregnant with
mighty events and consequences TO the human family.
Let endeavo to unve the future by just deductions
from the past and present.
The idea OF equality burst from its embryo state in
Europe in 79s and this beautiful chrysalis has never
ceased develop itself in France, and throughout the
world Every year, by The power OF the printing press
the idea has been and mere difased il has taken
deep root in the minds OF the masses It's growth is in
tVtable What were deemed matters OF profound phil
osophy, and which few could understand in bygone
ages, conprehenied and discussed By the com
mon mind. The mysteries OF political science and po
tical jugglery revealed TO the people The night
is pastioreyer pastand the morning has broken upon
us bright and clear, and beautful the glorious orb
day marches from his aurora 10 his brilliant zenith the
day spring" approaches. no, the inhabitants OF the
East only. but those of the West, The North, and the
South shall his merriam. splendor nothing can
his glorious progress; the fiat of the Almighty
has gone forth" Enlgalen ye, enlighten ye my peo
pie" And could the despots OF the earth collect
all the literature and make Alexandran pile, and
annihilae the press (Which is impossible,) still the
idea of equality is true, just and has
such hold of the public mind that remembrance and ira
diuon would perpeuate it 10 the downfall OF tyranny
But we shall never be reduced to this necessity The
offspring OF Guttenburg il more than Titan and has
greater power OF existence than the hydra whose
heads If off, replaced by others and though they
may chain Pro netheus to the Caucasus The north POLE
Zeus himself cannot exiingush the sacred fire. The
lire OF intelligence burns and burns with increasing in
tensity, and with intelligence, the idea OF equality Look
back century ago. less than that, and what do
you see The entire world speaking OF the OF the
people, was stepped in ignorance and was in the most alb
ect submission physically and mentally. Now, what
DO you see The lahorer reads the laborer writes the
working men become your senators AM rulers; genius
delights to dwell with the lowy the profoundes depths
of philosophy and the highest fights of Imagination
becoming the common paths OF the lowest classes; the
masses must govern the world-for the world not
made for the few. though long usurped b. them knowl
edge takes the lightning speed of the telegraph and ouruns
the winged Pegasus ii spreads and muples itself to
n6ny. And this cdge-what do say OF III Truly
knowledge is power" Why should you, them des pair
OF the future! II is knowledge that gives France
Parissuch pre- eninence and pc in the world. But
you slyIor you mpltient-il is not the distant IA
ure--we all that-but the immediate future we waat
TO know Your mind impeuous; the fast character Of
the age has impressed itself upon you the rush OF the
locomotive, snorting, and despsns all obstacles in its
rapid conrse-the leviahans OF the which meisur
their distant voyages by minueshe quick pulsl,ons OF
the magnetic wire-the dem gols who eleave the air to
heights beyond the eagles kea OF daring-thcse have
stimulated your faculties and desires and you would jump
over all difficulties 10 the future. Have care-he fault
of the age is pecptincy. TIE French democracy, the
American aboonsts, and the Cuban sympathizers have
committed this fault We cannot, however, do any harm
by merely looking far see, into the future
on the contrary, il will instruct and help US. What,
them far may judge is the immediate future OF
France
Can the present republic standi | have shown in ny
former letters that the reaction had attained its climate
rc-that il hal committed the fault OF the extreme pro-
gressonsts in pushing its principles too far, in u,upn
all the powers OF government, aal violating the con'titu
ton, to compress the public mnd-that had made vio-
lent aud futile against ideas the Of orle bat
" dam hu