Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-08-18
Fer the Sentinel,

lsssE}-zEEa9 aaa Fer the Sentinel
SiR:-The reason why the lower orders
or the common people Of France, in 17s9
accomplished q revolution so easily, ane
obtained that sovereignty in affairs which
had been so long withheld, was because tht
arstocrats Of France were then SO few il
numbers compared with the whole popula'
ton. The census Of .he higher orders was
small; and though they welded enormou.
privileges and wealth, and had had all thing.
their own way for some three hundred years
yet they were unble 10 cope with the mighty
nambers that surrounded them. Their OK.
cessise wealth, and unlimited extravaganza,
instead Of being any benefit to the owners
when the day Of reckoning came, furnished
the most obvious reasons and arguments for
q change, md for, stripping them of their
unjust acquisitions. When Louis 10Th in
1859 called an assembly Of the lower or
ders, or ''tiers etat." nothing startled the
general mind more than the revelation Of
the fact of the vast numbers enlisted on, the
enc e2sde, and the vast aceumula.ions, and
masnifcence, on the other. The rich robes
and guady tra2pings Of the two higher .or>
ders, the clergy and nobility, as they walk.
ed to the church of Notre Dame in the
same procession with the plain black coats,
and broad brimed hats, Of the deputies Of
the lower estate, proved to be NO auxiliasies
to the retention Of that power which was
just about SO easily 10 escape from their
hands. New and strange questions were
about TO be put and answered; ;-an embar>
rassed and ruined country, was 10 be saved
the whole united voice Of France was about
to9tb be- consulted; and the lower orders had
been invited 10 take part in The deiibeiaaion.
In doing So, il was Impossible thai, the I'M.
mense disparity between the rulers and The
ruled should not be known and felt. by q
people whose eyes had butlately fallen upon
The pages Of some Of the greatest writer's Of
either past or medern times. - p, 5,@e sS
II know there are yervs few who do not
pretend TO q full and perfect knowledge of
oil the motives, objects, aims, and hopes, Of
the actors in the French revolution Of 's9.
] know the eonceii there is on this subject
among all classes in this country, from the
youngest convert to theology, 10 the most
hoary embodiment in the ranks Of conser.
.yatisrn.a YET Think shall. encounter no
opposing sentiment in the statement am
about 10 make. am not particular. in
deed, whether they be considered simply MS
fac.s, or as results. Since 1889 in France
the number Of the aristocracy has considera.
BY increased, Itinay be shorn somewhat Of
its unbounded wealth and barberous mag>
nifcence. Yetawhat It has lost in this re.
spect, has been more than made up ia
numbers. So tha, as a body the aristocra.
ey Of FRANCE is stronger TO day than il ever
was before b All the changes and reforms,
OF ameliorations, amount ieahis;s the aris.
tocracy aas consented and agreed 10 enlarge
lis limits, and share It's privileges, until
through rank, wealth, and numbers, it can
keepaihe, country steady. ssThe1most. diff.
cult andsperplexing ques,ionsfor the rulers
hot osly Of France, but also IF continental
Europe, p settle now, is; y. what is is The exact
and true proportion that should be- carefully
observed between those; who GOVERN and
those who are governed -between those
who work and those who never mean 10
WoTkia sihads sAfaYo7 ssoga or tsdt tfgiaq
Upon this question the Statesmen of Eng.
IA have appeared 70 bezauite clear most
d the lime since The day oT croarnnve ell. Il +
lhe lowefsclasses. through indps.r ,. and un-
common snergy,s could occasionally court
irf their ifanks few names that had risen
too tboba obauulehce d and Positions Of influence, ana
vhess msa l .lnil ipg btlood, NIGH
justly claim some share in thesprofils and
honors Of governmsn,s measdfesihhse been
taken 10 provide for such uni ortttnate loc>
cdrrences. The elective franchise. has Fals
been extended 10 such as thought they bad bad
learned enough to vote-a few more seafs
were provided somewhere for such as
thought they could make laws, or pass upon
Them after made; representation was in
creased; new officers were created in the
army or navy, or new emPioymenis in the
colonies. Possibly the King would create
a near or two. from the lower classes; and