The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-31

OF law and order, destroyed the FIRST and fundamental
principle of the constitution The details OF the law
would be interesting, 10 by what political legerdeman
this result has been obtained but they are not necessary
to object | give the result in figures, which take
from lie National Thus has the reaction marched from
step 10 step, till il accomplished this great antrepubcan
measure.
The right OF meeting 10 discuss political measures is
held sacred IN all free or constitutional countries 10
preserve this night the immediate cause OF the col.
lsion between Louis Philippe and the people which de-
throned him And yet the very who loudes
in their defence OF the banquets and who by their deter
minaon 10 hold them in opposition to The monarch
precipated the revolution OF February, turn round and
under the republic forbid the citizens those reunions
which they destroyed monarchy 10 obtain. The
ton does not permit the exercise OF the right to assemble
The French people may thank their political weather
cocks-heir heretofore flaming liberals, Baroche Bar
rot Faucher, and othersfor this spoation. The ever
lasting curse OF France is that she can never ust-never
have the least confidence in her public men.
To enumerae all the repressve and counter-revolu-
onary acts OF this dynasty OF renegades short as has
been its existence, would be great and unnecessary la
Dor Sufficient has been said show its character and
tendency But there act worth noticing having
most important bearing the future OF France, and
being 80 recently before mnds-that is the attempt
to revise the constitution. The motives OF the different
parties who proposed and supported this measure
various wished to prepare the way for Henry the
Fifth another to lay again the foundation OF the
throne for the family of Orleans, in the person OF
the young Count de Paris; while another, but a
small party. favored the ambitious pretensons of Louis
Napoleon to the empire. All. however, Of these par
ties had obect-the destruction OF the republic
Some of them fear, but most hate democracy Foru-
nately, the democratic element 10 the Assembly was
strong enough defeat their nearious purpose The
argument Of the able reporer-M. Tocquevie-of the
committee for revision, who might have been sincere
when he spoke OF the dangers 10 France from the de-
ecs of the constitution could disguise from the
republicans the still greater danger to the republic ITSELF
and the ambitious designs of the factions, in revision
The democracy had grown in spite of all the repressve
measures, and it repused the wicked proposition
know the arguments used in defence of this measure
as in defence of all the others, matter how
tyranncal reacionary, are based upon this one
dea-the safety of society. For instance, the Revue
DIES Dsu1 Mondes OF the able periodicals in the
world, says of the defeat of this project Of revision
Ia Our republican constitution, then, is condemned TO
place the rising republic into the hands of demagogue
if not into those OF prince The election OF prince
is the overthrow of the constitution, and the election OF
demagogue is the ruin of society,"" What sort of
public is that which must have prince over it con-
sanly! What is the difference between this and roy
altyi And why must all others-the Cavagndcs, The
Ianartines the Carrots, the Hugos-be demagogues
All the honest and moderate repubcans-all the world
pTlnCe-must
after examine what value to be attached to these cries
Iof "socety! "orier :" and "law" and how far
sao system of repressive is calculated TO eff
feet or arrest ideas of anarchy and the dissolution OF So
Getty But al present will take summary glance at the
consequences OF reaction out OF France
We have seen something OF its acts in France let us
now look abroad. nterrogate the patriot exiles who
came to find home among us-the refugees from Hun
gary Germany Italy, and France ask the spirits OF the
slaughtered victims of a Haynau hear the accusing
voice OF murdered Blum and The cries OF the desolae
widow and fatherless children the vndcve oppres
sion of the people by enrsged despo,s all the conti
nent OF Europe and all will answer il is the reaction in
France Had France remained democratic in spirit and
in fact the tyrants would have dared commit such
outrages and violated their oahs and the constitutions
they had granted promised Would democratic France
have destroyed the aspirations of young Italy, blasted
the hopes OF the world in the resurrection of old Rome
No but what has reactonary France done under her
Prince President She has destroyed liberty there under
the pretence OF supporting II against Austrian inerfer
ence She has sanctioned the conduct and given pre-
cedent the despotsm, OF all the monarchs and yrans
in the world. What fratricda war this war of Rome
and how repugnant 10 the feelings OF the French soldier
The nations had looked to France the rising sun Of
liberty and when they saw her eclipsed, what gloom
and despair seized them Oh may they still, look up
The sun is not botted Quite but an eclipse the dark
ness will pass away and the glorious orb of liberty will
shine again in full spendor. WBP