The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-24


converting an extra session of Congress, to en-
force, without further delay, full and final
settlement with Spain. Action! Action!
Wnshington's Birthday In Paris.
For the first time since the declaration Of
independence, Washington's birthday was ce.
LIBERATED this year in Paris in public and ma
tional way. Though endeavors were made to
divest the reunion Of every thing of political
character, and toasts and speeches were ex-
pressly omitted by the managers, this Difference
to the apprehensions of the Paris police must
not for an instant be supposed to have altered
the purpose or moral meaning Of the fpte. 1t
was essentially homage to the Great Repub-
lican of modern times; compliment to sue.
cessful revolution; public testimony to the
worth and the heroism and the grandeur Of
One in whom those qualities were brought forth
by q struggle against monarchy and displayed
in the foundation of the only consistent demo
cratic republic the world ever saw. The cele-
bration was not due to the patriotism of Anne
ricans in Paris. Shameful, but true that Ams-
ricans, as rule, are not proud of their country
abroad; affect to think lightly of it and its
institutions, to wish that it Appropriated more
closely to the examples they see before them;
think it might take lesson or two in govern
ment from Francis Joseph, in customs from the
french, in style from every one. Not from
these can national demonstrations in honor of
Washington be expected. Napoleon Ia nearer
their mark. And II they do join in gatherings
of American citizens, place their name on COM
mittees, and subscribe money to pay for balls
and 20 forth, there is Frenchiness about the
whole proceeding which divests it of it's ma
tional character altogether.
The cause of the success Of the celebration of
the 22d Of February must be sought elsewhere.
M. dc Tocqneville in his reply to the committee
is nearer the mark when he processes his desire
to unite at all times in rendering the greatest
homage to Washington, and prays God TO pre-
serve "both the spirit and the works of that
great man" 1t was in fact the thought of his
spirit and above all his work-a free country
which gave Importance to the tete, and rem
dered it in the minds Of French as well as
foreigners, the event Of the season. 1t was the
reflection that George Washington, who was
born on that day, had founded a nation Of free
men, which had existed, thriven and prospered
without check or delay for sixty six years; that
clothed with the power which had served to
raise Capet, Bonaparte, Guelph, Bour-
bon or Hapsburg to throne, he had vo-
luntaJily spent his last days in peaceful retire
ment and obscurity that his work, pursuing
to this hour the direction he gave to it, exists
living protest against the needfalness of
despotism it was this which brought together
all the talent and fashion and celebrity Of Paris
that night. Not, of course, that Drouyn
de PHuys or his master are particularly soli-
citous ofdoing honor to any thing of the kind.
But the people are and in the present unset
tied state Of politics in Europe, it would not do
to exhibit the contrast between the free United
States and enslaved France in too broad light.
The same motive moved the Austrian Secreta-
~ of Legation, the Prussian envoy, with all the
other little German miniature despots to honor
the day by their presence. Not even Hesse was
missing, though here few would know that such
aState existed had it not been for the Hessians
sent over here to oppose, thwart and defeat
George Washington. Austria doing honor to
the genius Of publicanism-Austria sending
her representatives to celebrate the birthday
Of the staunchest foe to despotism-why
not give Mazzioi dinner in Vienna There
was time when such Inconsistencies would
have been answered with some such platitude
as that men differ, and that what is good for the
American is not good for the Austrian. Hap
nil onbz
dant, absurdiiies of this kind are less often
uttered aloud people q. least thinking peo.
ple-do not pretend day that the warm
hearted races Of Europe are unfit for liberty be-
cause their blood runs warmer, their fancy
burns brighter, their nerves are more easily
strung than the men Of the North. NOWADAYS.
the safer answer for the despot is that des-
potism is road leading 20 liberty, sort of
Dismal Swamp to be necessarily .rayersed be.
fore the hight plains beyond can be reached.
How faT this may be true with regard 20 Paris,
We viii not presume 70 determine There, so
cialism and other cnormities have dsigured
and dsordered the body social, and il may be
possible that II cannot yet bear the die. and
regimen Of strong man. But as to the rest of
Europe, France not excluded, IL has been clear
ever since lsis at least, that he masses were
ripe Tor larger, much larger share Of political
rights than they enjoyed, and thas when the
time came, they would conquer them Also,
that 50 far from leading to liberty, the imperial
or kinely yoke led TO nothing bat bloodshed
and instruction, and that there was In TACT
no other buiwark against tyrannisal aggression