The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-09-18
Lamaritine on the Religion of IsevoIu-
tiONarY Men.

-
hitherto the French people have been tn,
least religious Of MI the nations Of Europe
Is 1t because the idea Of God--wlch arise.
from all the evidences of nature, and from
the depth Of rctlcction-Being the profound
est and wcIgliti.st idea OF which human in
tcl!i@"nce is capable, and the French mind
being the mos, rapid, bu, the most super
ticr''. the ii-ltcst, the most unrciicctive O
! all European races, this mind has not ,b,
/, force and severity necessary to carry far ant
long the creates; conception Of the human
understanding?
Is it because oar governments have nj
WAYS taken upon themselves to think for n;
| 10 believe for us, and pray for lis Is it be
cause we are and have been Il military pco
pie. a soldier nation. led bv kings. hcrnc.
an! ambitious men, from battlefield To- tat
! Tie field. making conqucsts an'l never keep
! ing them: rava"ing, dazzling. charming
and c"rrupin" Europe: ami bringing honl,
the manners. vices, bravery, E-l,lncss "nl
inpi"Iy Of Tic camp TO Tie fire side Of Ia.
people!
Know not. but certain II is that the na
ton has an immense progress TO make il,
serious thought if she wishes to be free. Il
we look ut the characters, compared us re.
CARDS religious sentiments, of the great ma.
tl"nS Of Europe. America. even Asia. the mi
van;ac" Is not for us. The Great m.n OF
our country live and die, forgetting com
pl"tc!v the only idea for which il is worth
Iivln" and dving-thcy 1--we and die looking
at the spectator, Or AT most at rostcriIv.
Open the history Of America. the history
of England, and the history Of France read
the great lives, 'li" great deaths. the GREAT
'narivr'!"ns. the great words of the hour
when 'h" ruling thought of liz, reveals itself
in the last wor!s Of 'lvinr--and comraro,
Washington and franklin fought. spoke,
suffered. always in tie name of God. for
whom they acted: aud the Lih:;:or OF
America died conlinG to God the liberty
Of the people and his own soul.
Sydney. th" ynnng martyr of patriotism.
guilty of nothing hut impaiicncc, and who
died t" cxpiatc his rnun:rv's dream nfl;bcr-
tv, said To his iailor: Il rejoice that die
innocent towards the king. but Il victim re-
signed to the King on High, to whom all
life is due
The republicans Of Cromwell only sought
III" way "t ';"d even in tl" ii,.l.l "rl,:,tlin.-
E'rir politics were their faith their reign n
prayer, their death psalm. One hears.
secs. feels that God WAS in all the move
men;s Of these great people.
Bat cross the sea, traverse La Mancha.
come to orr times. open our annals an;i lis
ton to the last words Of the great political
actors of the drama Of onr liberty. One
would think that God WAS ccipScd from the
soul. 'hat his namc was unknown in the
language. History will lave the air of nm
atheist when she reconn.s 10 postcritv these
an'iihiIaIionS, rather than death. Of cclrlra-
ted men in Ike greatest Year Of France. The
victims only have God the tribune and
victors have none.
Look at Mirahral on ihc bed Of ,lcati -
"Crown me with flowers" said he, s'intoxi-
cate me with perfumes, let me die to the
sound of delicious music ~ Not word of
God or Of his soul. Sensual philosopher.
he desired only supreme scnsualism, las:
volnrtnonsncss in his agony.
Contemplate Madame Roland, the strong
hearted woman Of the Revolution. on the
cart that conveyed her to death. She look
c,l contemptuouslv on the bcsottcd pcople
who killed their prophets and sybiIs. Not
a glance towards heaven! Only one word
for tho earth she was quitting "Oh LiJcr-
ty!'
Approach the dungeon door Of the G. IRON
dins. Their last nigh. is banquet the
only hymn, the Marse!aisc
Follow Camille Dcsmoulins to his cxcc,
'iion. A cool and indecent pleasantly at
the trial, and long inprcca.ion on the gull
lotnc, were the two last thoughts of this Ay-
ing man on his way TO Tie last tribunal.
Hear Danton on the platform Of the scaf
fold, at the distance ola line from God and
eternity 81 have had good time Of it let
me 90 10 sleep" Then 10 tic cxccutioner ::
-"lou will show mg head 10 the people
it is tho trouble!' Ills faith amihilntion ::
his last siGl, vanity. Behold the French.
man Of this latter age 81.
What must one think Of the religious
sentiments Of 4 free people, whose great fig
| ures seem thus TO march in procession 10
! annihlation, and ID whom that terrible min
lister, death, itself rca!ls neither the threat
enings nor promises Of God.
The republic ofthese men without God
has quickly been Stranded. The liberty won
by so much heroim, and so m ach genius,
has not found j France conscience TO
shelter it, God 10 avcngc il, people to
defend it againt tho a:leism which has
been called glot. All ended in a soldier
and some apostae republicans travcstied in
to counters. N aibeistic rerublicanism
cannot be, heroic When you tcrrify it. it
bends; when yq buy it, il sells ITSELF Who
| would take any leed2 The peoDle unpraie