The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-28
NO. $50.

union a merely civil tie. or che depending upon
the simple appreciation Of the parties and thciy
friends There " unb!cssedh unions as tEey
have been called are considered binding on
both parties, and deeency and correctness OF
conduct quite necessary, as under more
solemn forms. frequently large families arc,
reared thus, and the parents, # they acquire
property, afterwards marry, in order TO give
their children certain legal advantage
These pecullarltles no more alter the fact Oc
great moral improvement in France, than
they would do among the Turks. great
moral and religious reformation has been for
years past working in Europe, and is fast
growing up in France. under the protection of
that material prosperity which at all times ia
the main source Of selErespect and moral con
duct
There is no "incapacity in the French ma
ton to be Free" but da in,poSsiJility of haJitu-
ating the ruling classes 90 on equality Of polrer
lCuh The people
Most exaggerated statements are put forth
OF the extent of pauperism in France One
French author says there are Seuen miiltoas
OF paupers; others talk of various amounts.
down to a very low cipher These statements
are oil based on official returns A man
whose bit of land produces him according to
his own showing probably to avoid taxes) ten
francs year, may be considered q pauper
But his land produces enough materially to
support his family, and his gains, as a work
man, can ill up easily any deficit Indeed
many peasants, owning exceedingly small par
GELS of land, have, by selling the produce and
using great economy, amassed q great deal of
money. In a village of 800 souls fourteen
miles from Paris, there is only one pauper old
If tbo
many thousand francs each Yet their portions
of land are SO small as to be valued at an ex-
tremely low rate BY judicious cultivation,
great profit may be made on very small hold
ings.
Az a general rule, large cities contain the
greatest amount Of paupers relatively to popu
laton Taking the year of scarcity, (1S47)we
find, that out Of l,057,0O0 people in Paris
10000 were receiving entire or partial reliet
At this rate, We should have rather over
100000 peupers for SO, 600 900 people, or one
in eighteen persons Soon after the war, when
population was less the proportion was about
one in twelve: it is now said to be one in SIX
teen, which is proof of an amelorated condi-
ton Of the nation. And it comedies with gen
eral returns
In England, a few years ago, the official re-
turns showed over 100000 paupers, out of
100000 of population in England and
Wales--or one in eight, nearly. There are
now l8, 900 there; and, from various eau
ses, less of pauperism Ireland is here left out
In France, however there is no poor law.
The calculation of pauporism is based upon u
supposition Of inability to live on certain
sum. The French, now farther advanced than
most nations in their ideas of human rights,
are desirous OF removing poverty, such as it
is, for the people, being unsuppoi'od W q 10"
Us in England clamor for work, freedom from
restrictions, and useless taxes and seek rene
dies for the evil in Socialism" Not that So
oialism spoken OF by the gagged press and
travellers nor do the people alone devise such
plans for the greatest schemers in that line
are the philanthropists and politicians, who
have in vain been seeking for many years some
remedy less degrading than a poor laio The
people get wind of these projects find much
| good In them, and still greater promise, and
become infatuated with the las yeti underlined
and impractcable idea.
The senseless opposition of Government to
| Socialist schemes has tended to make them
only more popular Ii would have been better
to have given encouragement to experiments;
some practical good might have been elected.
But the idea Of a dwelling principle, connected
with them, prejudced the middle classes and
the Government set itself against them.
"a Frenchman" says Spectaclcs, dimes Cn
two francs, that he may spend eight at the
theatre Substitute any other name for
Frenchman" and the passage will be far
more true. In France, limited means is not a
crime dor does a shabby coat drive a man Of
| merit or genius from society in England
the contrary is tho truth Young men, and
younger branches of aristocratic families, live
miscrably, to make a show; and one of tho
leading causes of the emigration of 40 many
English of respectable connexions, is the fact
of their running themselves by attempting to
live beyond their means. The most intense
rivalry, and consequently Il vast extravaganza
exist there To keep a carriage, every sort 1T
meanness is had recourse to. The end ia often
a journey to the Continent, and perhaps for
life. In France, no such folly exists. Econo
my is the order of the day there.
Mr. "Spectacles," not having seen many
French houses, did not sec "bathing room,
good closets, ample kitchens, economical fire
places, nice fitting doors, or easy and ingenious
locks and door-handles." No country in the
world, however, contains sS many abathing
establishments, or such economical kitchens
Its ireplaces, adapted for wood, are like those
of this country; for coal, they are generally
inferior. Locks, &c, are inferior This is IA
mere accident, or habit Of following originally
inferior models. Yet how superior French
workmanship is to most others Their iron
work is everywhere not only most solid, but
admirably artistic while in England, ratings,
balconies to houses, &C., are bad in work. and
miserable in design. French houses are castles
in solidity compared with the fimsy buildings
of England or this country. What ought to
be solid, they make 80; what simply artistic
light and elegant. The English generally re-
verse the case. MIR. Spectacles, who comes
from new country, has hardly any eyes but
for the splendors about him. Not finding the
few accustomed peculiarities of home, no COM
plains that everything else is unadaptcd to his
habits This is natural, and is just the sort
Of complaint the French, English, and Others,
make here.