The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-06
MnNsIrnR aAILLARnET.


~ 70 the editor Of the Paris O0asOnHl the United
s.,ss generally and their political condition par
,oo,.rlv Whether Monsieur Gailardet is permanent
sdent or only flying visitor who has come among us
~, the chel in the poem of Robert Burns for taking
notes whether he is volunteer scribe or subsidized
hack We do not know and shall therefore not undertake
10 decide lie may be anindependent but certainly is not
- mpara Judge nor one OF any great depth Of Observa
lion or reasoning He appears to be one OF those hrewd
=, superficial observers who discriminate coors but
not substances-who pretty clearly at short dis
lance all beyond which Is mist and obscurity he dabbles
with graceful vivacity the surface but when he dives
never comes up again. Specifically (making allowance
m exaQgeraon and carieature) his premises may be true
hut his conclusions almost always false either from
h, reasoning want of that impartiality necessary
guide for arriving at the truth Of that sagacy 50 indis
pensable TO it's discovery
Monsieur Galardet appears nom the tone and tenor OF
his correspondence have visited the United States with
no friendly feelings towards the people, their government
er their institutions Like European travellers he
exhibits decided hostility to them ALL and there are suf
Gent indications awaken strong suspicion that his
real purpose place them before the people Of France
in light that will discourage all their aspirations Tor
liberty and reconcile them TO all the evils of desPotsm by
exclusively dwelling the occasional oibes, excessea
and if you please crimes of liberty without even glancne
at the vast ncaculable blessings derived from Its ENJOY
ment We will do him. however the justice TO say that he
exhibits all the amenities of French courtesy and does not
bark and sna at us like the bull terriers of the British
press He only pecks and scratches US half jest half
earnest and by an appearance of good naturewhether
intentionally not will not undertake to say-de1-
IN say
q bow and u smile.
In strict Justice to Monsieur Gaardet ought per-
haps to give the original Of those passages which
propose TO offer few brief remarks But these though
conveyed in what the French boast of being universal
language would not be understood by large portion OF
our readers From this confession Monsieur Galardet
will doubtless draw the conclusion that Americans are
q benighted people But we might urge, extenuaton
that men may know something, though they neither
talk nor read French or in fact read all Learning is
certainly excellent thingbetter than home or lands
and the acquisition of knowledge noble pursuit But
knowledge is not wisdom, and experience is sometimes
better than books 1t is the basis Of all the sciences that
contribute to enghten mankind and administer to Their
happiness. We would remind Monsieur Gaillardet that
the greatest of all the monarchs of France since the time
of Charlemagne used to say, according to Mon. Suly
that with his Chancellor who did not understand Latin
and his constable who could not write his name he found
his business transacted his perfect satisfaction WI
maintain them that though the people of the United States
neither talk understand French great adopts in
cookery and follow instead Of leading the fashions, they
are not ignorant might be expected. Our readers
may deem this vndication altogether gratutous nasmuct
as we believe Monsieur Gaardet has brought such d
rect allegation against But they will anon thai
he has imputed to the people of the United States degree
Of ignorance that almost places them level with those
Of France
Monsieur Galardet in late letter which appeared In
the Paris ConstitutionnsL lays down two propositions
which, at the time they fail to alarm and
Onsh the good people of the United States who have beer
living in fools paradise of happy ignorance will doubt
less afford much consolation the artisans and laborer
Paris who are so enlightened that they always
when they are hungry, and, perceive, grum
bling at scarcity of work and bread He asserts tina
politics is the exclusive passion of the Americans ant
that there such thing popular sovereignty tn
United States Let briefly possible anayze hes
positions the truth ofone Of which, to extent we
Tess, the other deny.
That the people Of the United States are greatly occu
pied With political subjects is most undoubtedly true ant
they ought to be- Liberty is their precious pos
session. their happiness their pride and their glory and
has passed into maxim that the price Of liberty eterna
vigilance 1t is the sacred FIRE of the Persian Mag and
should be suffered to go OUT it must be frequently
blown 10 keep up the blaze. The people Of the United
States feel and know this, and consequently los,
sight Of their rulers become Indifferent to the
Of government Everywhere and Mt all times they have
their eyes them Yet this watcbfune,s does not in tn,
least interfere with their daily occupations except on the
day Of election when they assemble exercise their Gov
eregnty and sometimes just previous to exciting
conflict when they collect in great meetings
and professions These like the saints days, Xix,
the Emperor Louis Napoleons reviews, and other re
gous festivals in Catholic countries answer valuable
purpose They afford (what seems indispensable to pre-
serve the circulation OF the blood and prevent the mind
from sagnaton fomentng) excitement which Is al
ways followed by period Of relaxation and repose Du-
ring the intervals OF these contests the is carried
BY rival newspapers and professional politicians who keep
the fame alive at least among themselves while the great
Of the people quietly attending to their business
having the time eye political events They
sood each other roundy paper, instead Of resortng
fscus and The good citizens satisfied with seeing
their opponents abused without following the example Of
the mobs Of Europe who having other vent for their
spleen and being pricked by the bsyonet apt to be
tigers We therefore, neither altogether deny
plead guilty this item OF Monsieur Gailsrdes ndct-
menL II Ia not falsehood il is only an exaggeraon OF