The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
WASHINGTON. ID. C..
For the National Fra.
LETTERS ON FRANCE.-EO. a.
WAsHINnroN- ID G lam L

uub' ncCOuuly, lHht the Illnesses look only 10 tDt
material consequences of acts-judging gov
ernments by that unerring experience which
reaches the cottage Of every poor man.
The great Revolution of 1889 resulted from
the intellectual and moral progdess of the mid
die and upper classes. wish to be distinctly
understood in saying moral progress +" fol
the very corruption of the time, and the "inf
deity" as it was called, was in fact protesta
ton of human intelligence, against the mock
cries of the faithful" of that day. IL wal
simply "infdelity" TO infdelism,n in forms
morals and bigotry. Ii was the reyerberatio1
Of the Professionalism which in name they, the
people of France, had been taught to hate
But as reform was inevitable, their protesta
tons assumed the ugly and ridiculous form Of
reviving in these days, and jumbling up to-
gether with some Christian views Of social
rights, the imperfect ideas of the ancients.
In the Revolutions of 1880 and ls4s, it was
remarked that the principles prevalent among
the people were Of a higher tone. The ancients
were no more talked of; Christ was tho great
master and example, and moral law and order
the controlling sentiment, until distress and
irritation were created by the bad conduct Of
the other classes.
In each of these revolutions the people did
the active work, the fighting sacrificed them.
selves, and their material prospects for the mo.
ment, TO advance the great cause Of Liberty
But they did not and could never have fought
until the other classes provided them with arms
Tor tho purpose, and countenanced and led
them on.
They are now again disarmed, and all the
plotting and conspiring in the world will not
advance them one iota. Some fanatic may at
tempt to assassinate the tyrant; yet another
will jump in his place but the great body of
Frenchmen will take no interest in such wild
acts. They are too much occupied in gaining
, their daily breal, to be plaguing themselves
with the intrigucs of tho fanatcal Let us OBJ
serve here, moreover, that many of the plots
denounced by the police and Government are
got up by secret agents, in order to implicate
against their will frequently men who are
feared on account of their liberal views and
moral influence over their fellow-workmen |
Between the police and corrupt magistrates,
seeking to recommend themselves to their chief,
shameful instances Of persecution occasionally
take place Sometimes these acts are the con-
sequences Of orders to use all means to remove |
honest and influential individuals.
In tho second place, we will begin by re-
marking that the French are great takers and
those among them who cannot read, may pick |
up a vast amOunt.Of Information through the
conversational charms of the language. This
is so true. that there is hardly a subject upon
which q Frenchman of tho lower class, how
ever liit6rate, cannot converse. Living upon
lighter and more wholesome food and drink
than some of their ne;ghbors, they have creator
animal spirits and more liveliness Of mind and
Imagination, and keener perception of
things
The French mind is not only quick and per-
ceptve, but profound, and singularly mathe-
matical and calculating. There are strong re-
semblanees between them and the Scotch
people
France could not have gone through so many
changes OF on exciting character for sixty
years past--changcs affecting the social posi-
tons and material interests of every individ-
ual-withous calling into activity the most
sluggish minds. Nothing tends so surely to
sharpen the wits and enlighten the judgment,
as the possession of property, and the necessity
of taking care Of it, 1t is all very well for the
other classes to feel jealousy for peasant pro-
prietors, and q dislike of their independence
but it is not loss certain that poor as are the
means Of education placed ut their disposal,
they defend their rights to their little holdings
with considerable tact, as well as tenacty.
In one sense, property gives intelligence
while, on the other hand, slavery as surely stul-
t'fos the mind. In no country is that clearer |
than in Europe.
ii anything moro than another tended to
give superiority to the armies of the Empire, it
was the moral effect Of that independence
which the division Of the land produced among
Frenchmen. Compared to the seris and Doors
of the rest Of Europe, they had become another
class Of men
France has nevertheless labered under con-
siderable difficulties, owing to the existence of
restrictions not consistent with the new state
Of things. The oppressive mortgage system
grew up tho small proprietors could not find
the means OF improving land taxation for all
sorts of purposes was extraordinarily heavy
duties were levied upon produce on entering
towns; roads were infamous, and communica-
ton difficult, SO that it was hard for small
proprietor to keep himself from ruin.
Within ten or fifteen years many improve
ments for intercommunication have been made,
and great benefits have been the result but
that liberty Of action has not been attained
which tho industrious man knows to be neces-
sary to give him the full scope of his powers
Poverty still weighs like an incubus on the ma
jority.
Now, the moral effect of q division Of prop
erty---the destruction Of fcudal rights over mon
and land-has been to create a great republi-
can nation. All the influence Of the priest
hood cannot change the positive teachings of
facts and the moral consequences of fairness
La Vendee the former hot-bed of ROYALTY, is
no less altered in it's opinions than the aristoc-
rscy ITSELF by the insensble action Of modern
liberalism. II, then, you would destroy the
love Of liberty and democratic ideas, it would
be necessary to carry out tho schemes preached
at the end of Louis Philippc's reign, insure
their success against whole people and hold
the country so for time sufficiently long to
demoralize and ensave it. As this is not Dos
sible, we may therefore conclude that, what
ever changes take place in the form of govern
ment, every one of them must to hold its
ground, make some concession to popular de-
mauds
The love of military glory is fast taking a
secondary place in the Frenchman's mind
This if the result Of the same circumsta nces
The assertion That Republics are of an agrees
i've character is no more true than to assert
that the old Governments were not aggressive
Unquestonaby if the conditions of property
are unequal and unfair, there will be found,
under any form Of government vast multi
tude of unemployed, who will create work of
some SORT out of which to make themselves n
position or occupy their minds.
France is now not merely n great military
and naval power-not merely ut the head Of
the arts, of the sciences, and Of the fashions
but IL becoming great manufactured and in
dustrial nation Vast improvements are making
in agriculture by the aid Of societies establish
cd over the country, spreading information, and
giving encouragement and example; and com
merce wants but the blessings Of Free Trade,
TO be developed as il should he
am unwilling to close these remarks on the
condition OF France, and the causes of its cor
duct at the present moment, without noticing
some of the accusations which book making
travellers bring against her.
Authors 10 general handy about old stories