Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-02-24


alw.s. you
now tho IN, do
not rememD lie remark
Better late thar :. "a, Better new
er late" But if the latter is impossible, the for
mer is good.
Kossuth has come and gone. 1t is impossi-
ole to foresee the result of his visit tothe capitol
but one thing is beyond dispute. He has
left his mark not only upon the people, but up
on Congress itself. Some eloquent speeches
have been made on the great subject of his mis-
sion, and if / understand it more are forthcom-
ing. No class of men seems free from the con-
tagion he disseminates. The sacred fire of free
dom burns more brilliantly, kindled anew by
his elective eloquence. You will see from the
papers all he has said and done, described far
better than / can do it. What Congress will do
remains to be seen. There is so much Presi-
dent making on the tapis, such determination
favor my particular candidate, that there is much
less room to hope for good from our influence
upon the liberties of Europe, than there would
have been last year, or might be next. am
afraid we have some prominent politicians, who
like The hero of certain notable epic, would
rather reign in hell than serve in heaven"
How has the winter been with you at the
mouth? The weather here has been colder it
is said than was ever known before. According
to the meteorological register of the Smithso-
Mon Institute, the mercury stood at half past
10 p. NJ, Jan. 10, at 10 and degrees below
zero and at six o'clock A. NJ, Of the Goth at
5 and below. How much lower than that
have you gone in the cold Northwest?
You have doubtless seen the correspondence
between Kossuth and John A. Hodge, U. S.
Consul at Marseilles, and Capt. Long and other
officers of the steamer Mississippi. What a des-
picable apology for representation of freedom,
and free Republic, is that Consul The Gov
eminent ought to remove him forthwith. For
pty's sake-for freedoms sake-for consisten-
cy's sake-if we must acknowledge the gov
ernments of such despots as Nicholas, Francis
Joseph and Louis Napoleon, let us 60 no fur
ther than mpervious necessity requires. Let
us send men abroad who will every where and
on all suitable occasions, show they have re-
publican hearts, and that they hold the freedom
of humanity paramount to every other political
consideration. Shame should burn to cinders
the cheek of him who dares perpetrate such q
libel upon American character and sympathies
shall write again soon. Yours, G X X x X e
- The N. Y. Times of the 10th inst. dis
courses as follows upon the political sentiment
and late usurpation in France:
The best part of the French people,-th par
which comprises the most intelligence, the mos
courage, and the most principle, is thoroughly
Republican. 1t believes in Repubicanisn upor
principle. 1t has a firm faith in the sovereign
right of the people to choose their own rulers
and it never will settle down quietly under the
arbitrary dominion Of any man or of and family
Why then, it is asked, are they now so tame
Why have they submitted to the high-handeC
tyranny of Louis Napoleon! And above all
why have they sanctioned that tyranny by the
votes!
Those who ask these questions forget the po
sition and political history of France Louis
Napoleon was elected as a Republican in lS4S
by universal suffrage. After his election, he be-
gan intriguing with the monarchists for pro
longation of his power. Failing in that, h,
went back to the Republicans, and demanded
universal suffrage. His usurpation was achiev
ed in the name of democracy, and for the resto
ration of popular suffrage. And what possible
chance was there for resisting, on the instant,
man with half million bayonets at his com
mand, who stole upon them like thief in thu
night, and whose first notice of his purposes
was the blow which fulfilled them! AS for tn,
election, the letters of ;" An Englishman," show
it to have been simply farce. Half of Franc,
in state of seige,-bayonets at every corner,-
agents of the government vigilant in every
town,-its tools in charge ofevery poll,-no op
posing candidate, the will of the army proclaim
ed in advance,-the press suppressed discus
sion ted,-everything put under tn,
strictest constraint,-how can any one speak o
an election, under such circumstances, as an ex
preston of the popular will!
The Times correspondent anticipates from
Louis Napoleon warlike designs against Eng
land. Some employment for his army he vii
find essental,-some grand movement in The
field of European politics will alone divert ths
attention of the French people from his tyranny
Expressions he has used are pointed out, show
ing that his thoughts and schemes tend tina
way. Whether he will carry them out anG
plunge France into war with England, canno
be foretold. But his proceedings will have ar