Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-02-16
France

Beyond doubt, Missionaries Ike Kossuth and MAJ
zin, or lumultous demagogues like Ledru Rollin or
Louis Blanc are the last sources from which could
expect TO derive accurate information in regard to the
true state of things in Europe, the actual feelings
and sentiments of the people of that continent For
long time the people of The United States have been
kept impressed with the idea that the appearance of
strength presented by the Government of Louis Ma
poleon, deuson, his elevation to the offices
of President and Emperor was fraud Wewere
told that the almost unanimous vote by which the
population of France ratified the Empire, was OBJ
tanned through the pressure of physical force, and
the influence Of the cartridge box rather than the
voluntary action of the ballot box and wo believed
all this, mainly because we wished to believe it-be-
cause our sympathies with the republic which
we innocenty believed to have afinites with
own, and to afford guarantees for liberty some
what akin 10 those afforded by our own cher
ished system. In all this we have been deceived.
The Red Republicanism of such men as Ledru Rollin
is more odious than the sternest despotism, and with
It's principles when properly understood, the people
of the United States could have no sympathies.
Recent events have shown that Louis Napoleon fully
enjoys the confidence of the French people. The
peradventure The boarded savings of the small
farmer--he little earnings of the trader and artizan
have been poured out and voluntary placed at the
service OF the State, TO amount of over three
hundred millions of dollars although the call was
but for hundred Millions and these subscrp tions
were mainly in small sums not exceeding hun
dred dollars, plainly proving that it the
masses" who thus promptly came forward to testify
their attachment to the Empire and their confidence
to it's stability-in which they have thus taken a
stake.
Of all things attempted by despolisms, the one in
which failure is most inevitable is the enforcement
of credit or the effort 10 draw out the boards of
reluctant people. The more rigid the rule of gov
eminent is made, the more certain and stringent will
be the action of the people, in boarding their little
stores of money; demonstration like that present
ed in France, in the matter OF the loan, could never
have been made by reluctant or disconnected people
nor enforced by an unpopular government.
Apart from the lesson which the press of the Uni
ted States should take from this, against adopting
versions of European affairs merely upon the score
of sympathy, real or supposed, with the narraors i
should also warn government that, in any coils
ion with that of the French Emperor-and he seems
not particularly ANXIOUS 10 AVOID dIthculty-wt
could make no calculations upon the French people
who are TO be considered as fully identified in al
things with the course of their government.
With the feeling which we believe exists towards
US in Europe, where many hate and all distrust US
it certainly behooves us to be better prepared to meet
and repel aggression. Our navy is contemplate il
numbers, however gallant may be the sailors by
VIII IN our ships are manned. England, it is true
we hold pretty strongly bound by her interests. bu
upon France our hold is not so strong. nor is she al
much bound up in commerce, neither is cotton t
anything like the same extent the basis OF her in
dustry France under Louis Napoleon presents fea
lures which demand the attention of the United
States, and render it necessary for her, while com
hitting aggressions upon one, TO be in position
to rspel any which may be attempted upon her.