The American patriot., 1855-11-10
Religion Of Revolutionary Eea.
BT LAMARTiNG.

religious of all the nations of Europe. L it
because the idea Of God, which arises from all
the evidences Of Nature, and Gom the depth
Of reflection, being the rrofoundest ard weight.
est idea of which human intelligence is capa-
BILE, and the French mind being the most rapid
but the most superficial, the lightest, aud most
reflective of all European races, this mind has
not the force and severity necessary to carry
far and long the greatest conception Of the hui
man Understandings p"
Is it because our Governments have always
, taken upon themselves to think for us to be.
lieve for u.s. and to pray for us: Is ii because
VIC are and havebeen military people, soldier
nation, led by kings, heroes, ambitious men,
from battle field to battle field making con
quests, and never keeping them-ravagipg da2
zling, charming and corrupting Europe, and
bringing home her manners, vices, bravery,
lightness and impiety Of the camp to the fire
side of the people?
! know not, but certain it is thai the ration
has an immense progress TO make in serious
thought if she wishes to remain free. Ii VIC
look at the characters, compared as regards
religious sentiment, of the nations Of Europe,
America, even ASIA the advantage is not for
u.s. The great men of other contres live and
die looking at the spectator, at most, at pos
tcrity.
I Open the history of America, the history
of France; read the great lives, the great
words rs the ruling thought reveals Itself in
. No, lac ,r thA 1,-;,, nj
Washington and franklin fought, suffered,
and assembled and descended in their political
life always in The name of God, for whom
they acted 4; aud the liborator Of America died,
continuing to God the liberty fthe people aud
his own soul.
Sidney, the young martyr Of II patriotism
guilty of nothing but impotence, and who
died to expiatc his country's dream Of liberty,
said to his ,iailor, 81 rejoice that die inno-
cent toward Tho king but victim, resigned TO
the King on high, TO whom all my life is due
The republicans of Cromwclls day sought
the way of God, even in the blood of battles
Their politics were their iaith-their rein u
prayer--their death psalm. Ono hears, sees,
feels, that God was in all the movements Of
these great people.
But cross the sea- traverse La Mancha, cone
to our tines open annals, aud listen to the
last words of the great political actors Of the
drama of our liberty. One would think that
God was epscd from the soul, that his name
was unknown in the language. liiatory will
have the air Of an atheist when she recoants
.loc, ur,pib ,io ianc yot hrr thnp
deaths, of celebrated men in the greatest year
of France The victims only have God; the
tribuncs and yicors have none.
Look at Mrabeau on the bed of his death?
Grown me with flowers" said he, "intoxi.
cate me with Perfumes. Let me die at the
sound of delicious music," Not II word OF
God, or Of his soul. Scnsml-a last yoluptu
ousness in his agony.
Contemplate Aladame Roland, the strong
hearted woman of the revolution, ON the cart
that conveyed her to death She looked con
tcmptuously on the bcspitcd people who killed
their prophets and SYPHILIS. Not u glance to-
ward heaven. Only one word gor the earth
she was quitting" Oh Lihcrty!?
Approach the dungeon doors If the Giron
dins Their last night is banquet, tho only
hymn, the Maraeilltisc
Follow Camille Desnoalinos to his eXecu-
ton. A cool aud Indecent pleasantly at he
trial and u lon imprcoation on Ga road to the
guillotinc, were the tEo last thoughts Of this
dying nun on his way TO the last tribunal,
Hear Danton on the platform Of the seallold,
at the distance ola line from God and eternity:
\ 81 have a good time Of il let me go to sleep
Then TO the ,Nccutioncr-"Yo will show my
! head TO the people, it is worth the toubley"
His faith, humiliation his last sigh, vanity
G Behold the Frenchman Of this latter age
What must one think Of the religious sen.i
q ment Of free people, whose great figure seen,
to march in procession 10 humiliation, and to
i, whom the terrible minisier--deah-- re-
calls neither the threatenings or promises of
=. God
The republic OF these men without God has
!, quickly been stranded. The liberty won with
so much hcroisn and SO much genius, has not
found in France u conscience 10 shelter it. =
God to avengc it, a people to defend it against
that atheism which has been called glory. MI
eaded in Il soldier and some apostate repub-
cans. travcstied into courtiers. An atheist re
Il publicansm cannot be heroic, When you
n terrify it, it bends when you would buy it, il
- sells itself Who would take any heed? the
ID people ungrateful and God nonresident SO
re finish atheist revolutions,