The daily union., 1852-03-10
Drowning men catch at straws.

Of Representatives for the past few days by ndisposton
Drowning men catch at straws.
Some ons-probably an attacht desrous of conciatng
his superors at Washing ton-has picked up isolated
sentence from letter of correspondent H., and
has thrown ii into the columns of the Constitutional at
Pars with suitable comments, which sent back to the
special organ of this administration as proof of the aid
and comfort which "the sole organ Of the democratic
party OF the United States has given to the dictator Louis
Napoleon Now, no one can look a, the facts in this
without feeling Of disgust that the great whig
party OF this country, claiming TO have Washington in
the person Of Mr. Fillmore and godlike statesman in
the person OF Mr.. Webster in the State Department,
should descend to such tricks for the purpose of gulng
the American people correspondent of the Union in
Inmates in letter that Louis Napoleon had averted
bloody civil by the coup dksat which has given him
absolute power--an idea not all inconsistent with the
utmost adherence for the bad faith Of this DICTATOR and
OF pity for the people who had fallen low submit
to such abuse. This is put into French in leading
Journal held up TO the world the judgment of the dem
ocrac party OF the United States. and Immediately
translated for the purpose OF serving the whg party in its
miserable effort TO manufacture the opinion that it, the
whg party is the true liberty party OF this country If
the Co,stutionnel at Paris wished 10 consult the Wash
ingon Union the organ OF party, is not probable
that it would have gone beyond its editorial articles II
is moi probable that would have gene into the essays Of
correspondent TO garble sentences and alsy sent.
ments. French journals do not commit such blunders.
But, that our readers may the full character Of
this trick, subjoin the editorial which expressed
our general view OF the coup dstat referred TO at
the time that the editor OF the Republic would have
the world believe tha, the Washington Union
apologzing for garing outrage all the principles
of representative government Comparing this editorial
with that in the Republic of yesterday, which also
publish is all that is needed to expose the trick We
have no idea that the editor of the Constitutional any
other organ official of the French government has any
thing more do with this matter than they had with the
contradictory specuaiions which appeared in the Rtpub
Hc and Iasigeneer about the character of Kossuh and
the cause OF Hungary.
From the Washington Union, December 81, 1851.
THK RECENT IsrELLIaEScK FRANCE In 1880, when
the reached that the people Of France had called
Louis Philippe TO the throne, and had made him the
ecuiive OF written constitution, there up from all
parties in land universal burst Of applause the
success OF the principle which had Iumphcd The idea
that France had recognised the authority OF the
public will was enough TO make all rejoice and, with
out nqurng into the particular merits OF the constitution
which tina, will had adopted, regarded a step
the progress Of the Of freedom, and happy prc,agc
Of the ameoraons that to take place in other Euro
pean States But, ALA. how unsubstantia have proved
the aniicipatons Of that day Since then Louis Philippe
and his constitution have passed away like dream. The
people Of France moved by influences, have acknowl
edged other revolutions, have called into existence other
forms Of government and have tried experiments which
settled nothing but the great fact that the OF self
yet problem to be solved in that land Of
mysterious civilization and power
but the other day that extreme French radical
spoke OF the conflict which took place the law OF the
tr4, Yx.x,
presidency OF Louis Napoleon, duel befoeen hs rong
and ths rfght-bctween peri'habe form and eternal
principle In other words, this nirai thought IL harm
to appeal higher law than that OF the constitution OF
his county, and hance the restraints which
imposed by existing laws thus Initiating those counselos
Of Prussan and Austrian princes who have taught them
TO consider their pledges 70 the reforms OF lsS not bind
ing only In they accorded with the ghfhs
old divine right Of kings 10 they pleas. IL is thus
that in politics, In other things Radical
ism and sbsoutism employ dogmss that equally ropug
The pes Of social safety and practicable lib
lery. This, In fact Is the disease OF European society
Not only ia France but in all her neghborng States 4,
ne fashion to proclaim higher law than that which
is established by constitutions and the solemn obpa
ons are degarded in the pursuit Of theories which be-
wilder the imagination, and terminate invariably in the
tyranny OF mobs OF some fortunate aaoerat II is for
gotten that government is not theory, and that
ciey cannot live upon distractions any than man
can upon the mere creations OF his mindthst there
be actual laws-laws obeyod-in the same that
there must be bread and meat to sustain life.
- only the iaw-n Is not the night. IN The pursuit Of
The latter absovtd from obligations the former
With this fatal dogma in his hand Louis Napoleon has
overturned the constitution Of France calls himself the
representative OF order and appeals the people con
firm and the army to enforce his decrees That such
usupaon could take place only proves the fearful progress
which the spirit Of anarchy and disorder has made among
the people Of France, and how difficult II to check such
evil by forms Of government which in harmony
with the habits and usages of the society upon which they
are to operate.
This usurpaon 10 precisely the same, if applied to tho
United Staies though the President should by military
force dspcrse Congress, silence the press and declare
himself absolute IL Is hardly possible for us to realize
suoh an enormiy yet tapPcsrs from the which
roach us that II may be tolerated. IL excused by the
very people who thus outraged. Should thi. be the
case, Il viii be deep misfortune to them and the
world.
We must however, wait for before we undertake
10 decide haw far such usurpation be considered
The sobversion Of all true liberty In France few weeks
will disclose whether there s any sentiment capable
,f escaping the ihrsdom into which every vesge of po
ticsl freedom IL placed by the despots Europe The
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