The republic., 1851-08-06
THE REPUBLIC.
Foreign Correspondence.
PARIS. July 81. 1851.

fARis, July Il, 1901.
As was about to dip my pen in ink this
morning my eyes caught the magic date of
"JtIly 4' at the head of an American newspaper
which was lying at my side. My mind natu-
rally wandered back to our happy country, and
realized for an instant the joy that yibrates in
every bosom at the annual return of that ma
tional jubilee. Looking down the columns of
the aforesaid paper | saw, under the head of
European News" the following paragraphs,
taken from the English journals brought by
the Africa, which had just arrived at New York:
"FRANcE.-The debate on the revision Of the
constitution is going on with increased violence
General Cavaignac has made up his mind, il is
substantially stated in the Steele to draw the sword
in Louis Napoleon attempts to override the
constitution and prolong his powers.
f'M. Tocqueville evidently despairs OF any salts
factory solution, sc.
"M Leon Faucher, the Minister Of the Interior
applied the word 'abominabe' to a speech of M
Lepelleter, who had attacked him; and also de-
Tended the instructions at Lyons in 1881 andlS34,
when the whole body of the Left rushed towards
the tribune, and threatened Leon Faucher with
personal violence. The men of the Right advanced
to the rescue, and an actual melee took place in
the hemicycle."
In the midst, then, of our own jubilations, such
was the picture of the great European republic as
spread before the American people by leading
JOURNALS. anu 10 5uCn tue stuIo
of things in France? Are the Republicans in the
embly-incuding such men Cavagnac and
De Tocquevle-i this state Of nurderous terrorism
or ignominious despair Are the great body Of
Republicans in the Assembly 80 lost to decency as
to play the part of black guards and rufians in the
senatorial chamber
Let me tell you, Mr.. Editor and all your readers,
that the above paragraphs. though really foir sam
nln 0f If
line by line, tissue of falsehoods gross peryer
sions; such violence is stated had taken place;
Gen. Cavaignac never uttered the sentiments inn
putod to him; De Tocqueville never expressed any
such despair is represented ; no such scene of
threatened personal violence to M. Faucher ever
occurred.
At the time referred to in the preceding extracts
the discussion upon the revision had not actually
begun. Gen. Cavaignac had said that if an attempt
were made to usurp power in violation of the fun
damental law of the land, his belief was that the
people would not endure it, and that insurrection
anarchy, and blood would follow. This was
ala warming, not threat. Nj. De Tocque-
ville's imputed despair ia sufficiently refuted by
his subsequent report, as the organ of the Commit
tee on Revision. The rush of the Republicans upon
nj. Faucher, and his deiverance by the Legitimists
it simply melo-dramatic romance.
Now, why is it that in our country where we
enjoy the blessings of republican government
where we have proved its virtue and realized it's
advantages, we should have no sympathy for it
and for its champions in France? Why should we
rather sympathize with the enemies of liberty
here? Why should we take up and spread over
our country, and seek to infuse into the hearts of
the American people the falsehoods, misrepresen-
tations, and perversions manufactured by
archy and it's minons, for the sake of disgracing
and trampling under foot the cause of human lib
erty and human progress in Europe?
am we'll aware that il is exceedingly cheap and
exceedingly convenient for American newspapers
to fill up their columns from English journals. 1t
requires labor, investigation, and money to pene-
trate through this cloud Of false witnesses, and
seek out the truth from careful translation,
parison, and verifcation of French authorities
This is difficult for minds accustomed to follow the
railroad track of British thought opinion, and
dctaton. 1t is hard to burst the bands of long
intellectual slavery, and to stand up, emancipated
and regenerated, in the vgor Of truth and the
manhood of independence. But it is time-ti is full
time-that this should be done by the American
press, the great leader of t he American people.
1t appears to me that there is plain common
sense view of this matter which ought to press for
France is successful in establishing republic,
monarchy in Europe is doomed. Hence it is OBJ
vous that all the governments of Europe. being
monsrchical, must seek to avert what would be to
them dire calamity. There is, therefore, nothing
which diplomacy, money, authority, and artiice
can do to battle the success of the republic which is
left undone. Repubhcanism in France is in the
vortex of the maelstrom, contending against the
swelling and surging waters with which the EN-
battled monarches of Europe, from Russia to
Great Britain, are seeking to overwhelm it. The
arts of courts and cabinets-the tricks, plots and
cabals OF diplomacy-are like the sunken rocks,
hidden, and, to the superficial observer, perchance
unknown 1t ia only the fretfu and foamng surface
which discloses the truths which lie below. The
British press furnishes with clue to the actual
position and certain movements of the Legitimist
governments in Europe. 1t goes farther, and,
while carrying out the policy of monarchy, it dis
plays at once the habitual and hereditary English
dislike of the French people, quickened by anx-
ious dread Of the consequences to their cher
ished aristocratc institutions should republican
ism be vindicated by a successful experiment
across the channel.
1t is impossible therefore, to conceive of higher
state of partisanship than that which now exists
with the British press in relation to French affairs
tors constantly to appeal to it as authority upon
this subject? Do not know how false and per-
verse it habually is in respect to country?
Have not the London papers very recently fur
nished with telling evidence of their injustice and
malignity in respect to the United States Do we
trust them when they speak of the Mexican war,
or any other great event in history Do we
accept their representations of people,
manners, or institutions? And are they any
more to be trusted when they speak of republican
ism in France?
When they spoke of General Taylor, during his
campaign, with reproach and contempt; when they
depicted General Scott butcher, and described
our army in Mexico a rabble of cutthroats and
ruians, did we adopt their record as veritabe his
tory? And now, when they impute the cry Of
blood and havoc TO Cayaignac, and charge the
whole body of Republicans here with brutality and
violence, shall take up the tale and propagate it
as gospel truth among own people,
But enough-perhaps too much of this. The
Right will at last triumph, even though it have to
naeo Al nm ordeal tnore deadly than that of