The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-01-14
THE FRENCH EMPIRE.


berated through the United States, in exulta-
ton at the triumphs of Liberty and Republi.
canism, over I'yrany and Despotism. France
is freep shouted the sons of Liberty. France
is freen groaned despots upon their tottering
thrones. The impetus that was then given
to liberal principles and to the rights of man,
made glad the hearts of all who love to be-
hold man in his glory, free and untrammelled
by lordly distinctions, accidents of birth, or
by arbitrary power, welded for the glory of
the few and the oppression Of the masses
Louis Philippe was driven into exile, and
nearly all the crowned heads of Europe
trcmblcd in dismay. But what n change
The iron heel of despotism is again upon the
necks of the people throughout continental
Europe. Russia, the colossus of the north,
has crushed every symptom of liberty in the
Germanc States; and the cunning Louis
Napoleon has seated himself upon an imperi-
al throne. r.....
Who, that regarded the glowing harangues
made by the leading spirits of the revolution,
in freedoms cause, could have anticipated so
speedy return to the rule of u despot !!
France is not fit for liberty; she has volun-
tarily surrendered that prerogative, and bows
her neck to a tyrants yoke, Well, perhaps
we ought not to be surprised, the vascillating
character of the French people, in all that
relates to government should prepare us for
any freak however ridiculous and abasing.- -
They appear to lack the attributes of sane
men, constantly flying from one extreme to
another; there appears to be no resting place
for them. At one fine they are the most
abjcct slaves to priest-cratt, and then almost
in the next moment, they not only throw off
the yoke to which they submitted, but hasten
to the opposite extreme and declare that,
there is no God and death is an eternal Sleep
With such materials to make up a nation,
no form of government is secure, nor can
liberty have an abiding place with them AS
well might we expect vegetation to flourish
upon Sahara's desert, where the winds toss
the scorching sands and no genial dews or
fructifying rains fall, to slake the thirst OF
the famished earth, as to suppose that peo-
pie, who are constantly wavering, tossed
about by superstition and infdety, would
prosper under free institutions. They cannot
be free; give them a kingly government, and
they yield up all to the monarch and to those
who claim the right to dictate their religion,
and stand between them and their God. And
when they have liberal government, they
appear to cast off all restraint, and wildly
trampe upon all laws, human and divine.
But few years since, the earth was Grim
soned with the blood of those whose reli-
gous opinions were obnoxious to the reigning
mob; and then as quickly the scene changed,
and those who for a season triumphed, were
banished, enchaincd, and in prison.
Napoleon the iii, has just ascended the
imperial throne, apparently, with almost the
entire appreciation of the people. In any
other country we might predict long and
successful reign, but not so in France; per-
haps at the moment the people were shouting
rire FEmpereur, they were plotting his de-
thronement and exile, or death. There are
those around him, who would consider their
own lives as well sold, could they accomplish
the death of the tyrant. Among such peo-
pie no form of government can be durable;
other excitcments may, for short period,
attract the attention of the people and keep
them from turning upon their Emperor, and
hurlng him from the throne, to which they in
their folly elevated him. but so sure as they
10 not change their natures, so sure will the
same fantastic tricks, that have astonished
and diverted the world, be re-enacted in Ia
belle France. ........ .n.. O. ...