New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-13

The political errors Of good and great men
arise chiefly from their generosity, the success
of the worldly great from their selishness. This
is manifested in the career of Victor Hugo. Ear
" throwing himself into the theoretically liberal
cause, however, wanting in that practical skill
which only experience can give, his tongue and
bis pen were used for the humanities Of the race.
His large heart knew no miseiyings after the
Revolution Of le4S, and he trusted all to the Grce
of the idea contained in that change. His elo-
quence in the tribune mainly contributed to the
law permitting the return or 4 readmission 0fmem-
bers Of the ex-royal and imperial families to
France, and hence Louis BOnaparte was for the
fret time allowed 10 set foot on the soil of that
country. The same magnanimity which induced
Victor Hugo to do this caused him to sustain
Louis Bonaparte for the Presidency; though it
was evident to every one but fsncifu perfec-
ZIONIST that BOnaparte so let iAto the sheepfod
would as surely play wolf as that effect should fol-
low cause Victor Hugo has sought to expiate
his error by tremendous sallies of rhetoric, and
poetry fierce and choice as Juyenals, directed
against the numbering and perjured Emperor of
France. His delusion on one great poin. is dissi
pated but there is another which be still labors
under, and that is who constitute the represents
tiyes Of American Democracy, and what is to be
expected of the sympathetic liberalism of this
country. Not having had the opportunity to
scan our politics, the illustrious exile hs, done
homage to "Young America" as the embodiment
of the liberal idea of the western world. This
party headed by the meanest sort Of slave
driver, a fellow who married Il plantation of
niggers-the sort OF animal who is, according to
Mr.. Benton, "cut by gentlemen on College
"Green, and despsed as unfit for their associate"
TO hold itselfup to Europe in the person of Ste
phen Arnold Douglas as the essence of Ameri-
can Liberty-the standsrd-bearer Of universal
right But so it is and Victor Hugo has been as
much humbugged touching this party as ever he
was by Napoleon.
II, however, the distinguished exile can learn
truth as to the character of party before knowl
edge oft becomes worthless through age, we would
advise him to ponder well document in our
columns this morning; it is the Address Of the
European Democrats, directed to him, and ex-
posing the falsehoods of the Douglas claim.
Therein in good set English will he find that
the superior preteDsions of negro-drving, lash
ing, hunting and burning Young America, to
be friends Of liberty, are put on q par with
those Of the European Nicholas. We think
the European Democrats, however, do the
Emperor Nicholas great injustice. He does not
pretend to be democrat, but despot; but as
despot, he made provision long since that serf-
dom should cease in all the newly acquired terri
tory Of all the Russias while, on the contrary,
the embodiment of Young America prepared and
carried through law opening territory full
half as large as Europe, Russian Europe included,
to the internal horrors Of Slavery. This being
the case, we must protest against the accuracy
in this great particular of the manly Democratic
Address in question. The Creates. enemy of
liberty now in the world is the Young Ameri-
canism Of Stephen Arnold Douglas, and it is,
We repeat, unjust to class the Emperor of Russia
with the retrogradatiOnists of the sham De-
mocracy led by him. In other respects we
cordially commend the address to the notice of
the apostles Of liberty in Europe, now sharing
common glory and common exile.