The Ottawa free trader., 1852-01-31

Romans trample for awhile on oppressed nations
but ambition without glory--ambition without
a principle to lean upon-Dever yet was borne
by mankind, even when mankind was but a child
it will not be borne now, when it is grown up
to be q man. To use a characteristic word Of
your own--"humbug" never ruled nation. and
the ambition Of Louis Napoleon is humbug and
q criminal and ridiculous one, too 1t would be
a great mistake to believe that the momentary
success Of the first DAYS has any lasting impor
tance; no, it has none. vii! explain this sue
cess and the real nature Of it. Existing govern
ments always have power in q standing army
that is logical consequence of the principle Of
passive obedience and Of discipline. Nova DAYS
even bayonett think. The Russo. Austrian advis
ers of Louis Napoleon did very well know that
to strike the first blow Of attack against despis
ed, chatteriDg Assembly, often hated by soldiers,
and never with more reason than now in France
that to such purpose Of attack even that ar
my will submit to the IRON rule of discipline,
which, when the people strike the first blow be-
comes citizen, and lowers its bayonet before its
fellow citizens
An army which would not support a govern
ment attacked by the people, obeys, of course
his leaders, when led to attack an Assembly de.
spised 10y the people itself--There is some KEY
to Louis Napoleons first days success. Some
men talked so much about the spring of 1852 AS
the appointed moment Of action that it became
quite natural for the people not to be prepared
to act in December, 1851.
And you know he who is not prepared TO de-
fend himself Is easily taken by surprise Since
rescued by your generous aid from captivity,
am free to Judge circumstances by myself of.
ten foretold this surprise, because beating the
drum is not the best means for catching fowl
This is the second key of Naposon's momentary
success. The third is the prestige Of centraliIa
tion in France. They were wont to look to Par
is as all in all now, when we know that our ene-
my has only one camp, and that camp is neither
prepared nor watchful. !, is easily taken by sur.
prise in fair night. All this of course was very
natural. | knew it would come thus. have
foretcd it openly. II WAS as clear as summers
moonlight. But it would be the greatest mistake
to believe because that the stroke by surprise
did succeed, the people are beaten, and the vico
ry of ridiculous ambition achieved. No, its de.
feat s insured
Without Louis Napoleon's impiou. stroke there
was yet possibility that the church yard peace
of oppression might yet go on for while Now
the alarm bell has rung-War has broke out
II appears that there is mournfu fatality in the
destlnles OF freedom 10 be baptized in blood. We
may regret this fatality. but accept it we must.
And Louis NaPoleons stroke made this fatality
fact. The blow is struck Thus the partizans
Of peace, at any price, must come to speedy
decision what course they will adopt. Every
thing is possible but irresoluton, and the delay
Of decision is impossible.
And there is one thing against which public
opinion in the United States must be warned,
tina: is, to attach any value to the circumstance
that Louis Napoleon Bonaparte has appealed to
the universal suffrage, ami declared to submit to
the will Of the people. That is nothing-worse
than nothing-t is a too well known humbug
and too often tried crime TO deceive