The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
For the National Era.
LETTERS ON FRANCE.-NO. |.
WASHINGTON. d. C.. jan. 1S

w ~. u. Jun, loOZ.
My DEAR MADAM: few years ago, an |
event occurred in one of the greatest kingdoms |
of Europe, which astonished the world by its
suddenness and overwhelming nature terrified |
despotism, and excited to pitch of intense en-
thusiasm the friends of human liberty There
were very many who could not find words to
express their admirntion for n people which
had contaminated with so much moderation
and heroism the wonder of Revolutions
The astonishmcnt of the world was in pro.
portion to the unexpected nature of the event
and the admiration of the friends of liberty in
proportion to their ignorance of the causes
which led to what it it's enemies denominated
the catastrophe"
was among the few who predicted the Rev.
olution of 1S4S suffered from the ridicule of
my friends for having pretended to announce
what to them was an impossible occurrence.
foresaw nothing more than was actually COM
ing-what was clear to any one not prejudiced
in favor of an existing state of things or whose
eyes were not absolutely closed to the future by
the conviction of the past successors of the
ULYSSES" of France.
We err generally in our notions as to the ma
ture of revolutions and we do not always OBJ
serve with sufficient attention the events which
precede and occasion them.
Mere attempts at revolution are but revolts--
the causes frequently local Even Russia has
attempted many times to be free, yet she still
lies PROSTATE under the heel of the Car The
heroic efforts of Poland have awaited her moth
ing. The more popular and far more enthu-
siastic struggles Of Hungary have equally fail
ed Enlightened Germany, whose mighty heart
has been palptating for years with indignation
at the false promises and mystfcations prac-
ticed upon her by her princes, is still under the
rein of despotism. The fervid Italy whose ca
pacious mind and vast energies subdued the
world who gave to Europe her knowledge her
science, and love for the arts, and yet directs,
by unseen channels its political destinies, lies
herself politically annihiated after centuries
of struggles against combined nations, and in
spite of numerous efforts at regeneration.
Do you blame any one of these, because it
has not pleased the Creator of the world to
give them the occasion when they might run,
without efficient obstacle, the bright career Of
Liberty! | expect not You feel they must
"tamely" submit Unhappiiy, they have no
other resource If mans destines were in his
own hands, and depended upon his own ener-
gies, the earth would never have been despot-
cally governed. But the laws which have
made men dependent upon each other for be-
nefoent purposes, have been used AS means of
subsection; and perhaps it is not too much to
say, that had man the power to free himself
from restraint or oppression whenever he desir.
ed it he would to this day have remained a
savage.
There is time for all things, for nations
quite as much rs for individuals. When the
youth approaches manhood, he becomes restless
to throw off the paternal government; he be-
gins to feel his own strength. SO it is with the
societies into which the world is divided they
are submissive or rebellious in proportion to the
power they feel within them for self-control.
In the middle ages, Italy was nest of Re-
publics--restless impatient of control "pas-
sionately fond of liberty" and consequently in
perpetual enmity with the freedom-hating Gov
ernments of other European nations By TO
menting divisions, by bribery, fraud and treach-
cry, the latter have manacled her awhile.
France has now long felt her power of self
government and her periodical revolutions are
an evidence of the struggle between the old
and the new principles.
These happy United States made a gallant
strike for freedom, and succeeded in their eff
FORTS But through how many risks! The
Revolution had well nigh been mere rebel
lion France aiding and sympathizing, the I'M
erring rife, difficult and thnly-peopled coun-
try, and the well.directed energies of a free
dom-loying people, triumphed. England, too,
had her glorious revolution; but worse than
France, she compromised with her feudal gov
ernors for little more than mess of pottage
What she has gained since, has not been by
fighting, but by succession of compromises
between the middle and upper classes, in which
each fanced it found advantages; while ut
best the popular gain has hardly been any
thing but a nockcry.
In France, the struggle is more advanced.
There, the peoplc-4the eyer-toiling people--in-
tent on the acquisition of their daily bread
have taken advantage Of fortune, and made
themselves a position in the face of the world,
in spite of the arts and duplicates of the edu-
Gated.
We must not despise people because they
are still enslaved, or have even become re-en
shaved. IL we should do so, we should have to
despse every nation on earth, whose existence
has been long enough to expose ii to external
and internal dangers and trials
There il nothing 30 difficult 10 accomplish
as the conquest Of Liberty History proves
that in most instances it is the fruit Of acct
dent The famous Athens got rid Of her
Kings, owing to an insignificant circumstance.
The world-renowned Rome would probably
have remained an unknown petty kingdom,
had not Tarquin played 80 unseemly prank.
And Oh illustrious Brutus! thou hero Of school
boy politicians! thou highest have descended
to thy grave a perfumed old beau, r,oting in
royal fsvors had not moment Of passion knit
thy brows and planted stern resolve Of ven
geance mot of liberty in thine heart!
Fortunately for Rome, for Athens, and other
Lucky places, Brutuses were mon and though
patrlcian blood ran through their veins, the
sense of personal danger was stronger than
pride of position and therefore, No history tells
US the "ignoblc vulgar was called upon, in
the name of Liberty, to save the tender skins
of these patrican out-throats.
down TO their true level, seem 10 damage his
tory In reality, only mar the treaciserous
beauties of that romance with which historians
and book -compilers have allied their volumes.
am anxious TO represent man a. no IL, and
as he has always been making allowances
for those trivial differences which Language,
laws, government religion, aud physical oon-
figuration Of country, necessarily demand
and which differences are never wide enough
10 change the innate nature Of the human
being
The races which psopled the European Con-
tinent have, for the greater part, progressed
from Asia, by means Of the Med.
terransan see, perfecting their social and moral
organization in Greece, and still moro remark
sbly in Italy 10 that the whole civilized world
Eslt for many centuries the influence OF tho
latter country. !
There is therefore a. complete an equality Of
capacity among those races us can be found