The southern press., 1851-07-19
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Yha Herald, OF New York, has heeN 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 rigmaroles of insufficient argument,
we could not help asking ourselves, what it all
meant! and what the writer could possibly
know on the subject!
Does the presnmptuous 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,
ii ever, has he ever spent five or ten years of his
life there For if he has not, he is no more hit 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 concln-
sions respecting the origin and progress OF that
race, or mixture of races, which, calling itself
\ Anglo-Saxon, betrays its own ignorance OF its
own origin, in the assumption of such an appel
lation.
4 To comprehend any country whatever, there
are two essential conditions. First, to under
stand the language so perfectly, that its influence
shall be felt, as well as the words be under
stood; and, secondly, to have resided for some
years. at least, among the people speaking that
language, 80 as to participate in their opinions
and sentiments, and comprehend the full weight
Z. of all surrounding influences, undisturbed by
ones own peculiar prejudlces, habits, and foreign
4 Ignorance
Has the writer in the Herald done that? Ii
he has not, his dsquisitions are about as wise as
are the ideas of the French respecting selling OF
wives in England. Some having read transla.
4 tons from English papers Of suchever memo,
rable remnants Of English habits, coolly set
down the people for barbarians, and believe the
practice universal So wisely does the Herali,
i Two editors fight--concludes the Herald, all
4 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
ling terrible at distance-thinks the Herald,
4 French society is going to the dogs. France
once had a revolution, consequently the French
are always making revolutions. La 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
LIrPEs time, a street row, got up by the police,
as an excuse for passing some arbitrary measure
i in the Chamber would reach society only
through that pure organ of representative gov
eminent; or amuse the Pdrisians a,Week after,
by appearing in the French press in the form OF
translation from the exaggerating press Of
1 England
I The unfair and erroneous character Of all the
statements respecting France, which appear in
the English language, betray such a gross igno.
rance Of French institutions and society, that it
is not surprising the thirty-six millions who in
. habit that fair land, hold in such contempt the
i aperfide Albion" They naturally look upon
such statements as designedly false, since they
are inconsistent in themselves, and will not bear
the test of the shallowest examination.
4 But what does the Herald know of the
French press? Is it jealous of its great po-
Iitcal influence! Is it jealous of the unques-
tionable and unequalled talent which it displays,
on all matters on which it tFeatss
No one, well acquainted with the French
press, can deny that in vigor, talent, profundity
and versatility, it stands without rival. There
is no comparison to be made between it, and
any other The questions agitated in France
are wider, more important, and more interesting
than any the English and American press
will venture to treat upon. No matter what
subject il proposed the French writer examines
and discusses every portion of it fairly and fear
lessly The English writer, on the contrary, shut
hes overit timidly, and where il trenches on any
one of the numerous prejudices Of his unsocal
system ABUSES it, to escape The necessity of Civ.
inc it a fair examination. The American writer
in general, touches upon everything, but is so
absorbed in the interests Of party questions AZ
home, and so contented with the working Of
the social system under which he lives, that he
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
in all that concerns morals and political re-
generation, this is equally true And, though
we do not pretend to agree with the opinions
, 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
and talent, with which il discusses the questions
of the day. This merit il has, and fully de-.
serves credit for it.
IF we would complain Of anything, il would
be. that there is too little 10 anuse-al il
serious. The 'feuilletons," alone, relieve the
monotory Of the political and social discussions
, These are written with great talent, and have a
moral, far more useful than the majority Of the
fimsy trash which appears e7ery day in English
The English novel writer and tie French move
writer compose under social Influences and ex.
periences Numerically 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, OF
to peak more correctly, money aud rank, which
among prosperous class, goes by the name o.
, virtue or morality, are always triumphant. AL
his heroes and heroines come into fortunes anC
r live happily al the rest Of their days" Th,
latter writes to please greater mass Of the pub
lic--classes which have all suffered by socia
changes; which have all had experience a mul
\ ttpde thoroughly mailer Of fact, and not imagi
! native on mere worldly affiirs ike children
people imaginative enough in all that constitutes
art, taste. science, and mental development; bu
: clear, simple, earnest and positive, in all tina
relates 10 every day life. To such people, vir
tue il mostly unfortunate prosecuted aud oP
pressed.
' This does not suit the pampered taste Of tn
, English reading public and therefore il treat