Weekly national intelligencer., 1857-10-10

where it is possible for the former to discuss esote
rc questions, in politics as in any thing else, with
out being understood or, to borrow an illustration
from the personal history of that day in France,
was to initiate the contemptuous license of Madam,
DuchAtelet, in whom, according to the well-knowI
story of that philosophical and Voltarian dame, th.
instinct of class had SO far got the advantage O
the instinct of modesty, that she was wont to un
dress before her valets-decha5re, it never having
occurred to that high and aristocratic lady thai
zackeys could possibly be men. And thus it came
to pass that the very attempts which the Govern
ment sometimes honestly made to relieve the people
became provocatives to rebellion. Take, as single
illustration, the following sample of Government
paper and proclamation
"When the King endeavored to abolish corpess thir-
teen years before the Revolution he stated in the
BILE of the ordinance with the exception of few pro-
vinces, pays Pstats nearly all the roads of the king
dom have been made gratuitousy by the poorest portion
OF our subjects The whole burden has fallen upon those
VINO have no property but their labor and whose inte
rest in the roads is very slender the landowners who
are really interested in the materfor their property
increases In value in proportion to the improvement in
the roads-are privileged exempts By compelling the
poor to keep the roads in repair to give their time and
their labor for nothing, have deprived them of their
only safeguard against poverty and hunger in order
make them toll for the benefit of the rich.'
move the restraints which the system of industrial
poratlons imposed workmen it was proclaimed in the
Kings name that the right labor the most sacred of
all properties that any law which nfrnges that right
essentially null and void being inconsistent with ma
ural right that the existing corporations are more
over abnormal and tyrannical institutions the product
OF selshness cupidty and violence Such expressions
were perilous indeed but it dangerous still
utter them In vain few months later corporations and
coruees were re-established."
IT. uoo fb,,c fbof &bo
ing spirit of revolt, even when it sought to intro
dlace ameorations and reforms into the public ad-
mlnlstration And it must be acknowledged, be-
sides, that the Kings who Immediately preceded the
Revolution were themselves the first to set the ex
ample of disrespect and disregard for established
institutions. Louis XIV. shook the monarchy as
much by his innovations as by his vices as much
by his energy as by his efeminacy. When the
people saw that ancient Parliament abolished which
had been almost contemporary with royalty in
France, they began vaguely to presage the dawn of
an era in which naught that was ancient should be
deemed respectable, and naught that was new be
considered imprudent. And so, too, Louis XVI,
during the period of his rule, was constantly talk
ing of "reforms" to be introduced, while many of
the changes that were actually inaugurated in the
name of reform served little more than rudely to
interrupt ancient and respected usages, or do vio-
iShiCS
milton In the community. And so, while the form
of government remained nominally the same in
France, the greater part of those secondary laws
which regulate the condition of persons and the ad
ministration of affairs had been gradually modified
or abolished under system of political change,
countenanced by royalty itself. The Monarchy it
was which taught the Revoutionsts<a part of their
rash political philosophy. The latter only enlarged
upon the example of the former
Such are some of the leading facts from which
the great Revolution spontaneously sprang in 1889,
and such is condensed outline of the very valuable
researches of NJ de Tocqueve in this domain of his
tory-researches which, while they have the charm,
in part of new discovery bear also the selfwtness-
ing seal of truth. In the present work he conducts
only to the threshold of the Revolution, reserving
for another occasion the consideration of the Revo-
luton in itself, which will prepare the way for pro-
nouncng at later day formal and final Judgment
on the society which has sprung from its bosom.
We quote, in conclusion the final paragraphs of this
instructive volume
'The Revolution will remain in darkness to those
who do not look beyond it be comprehended only
by the light of the ages which preceded it. Without
clear view of society in the oden time of its laws its
faults, its preudices suffering its greatness is i'm
possible to understand the conduct of the French during
the sixty years which have followed its fall and
that view yiE not suffice without some acquaintance
]Witn lne natu9al history ~ our nation.
When examine that nation in ITSELF not help
thinking it is extraordinary than any of the
OF its history Did there appear the earth
other nation so fertile in contrasts extreme in its
more under the dominion of feeling less ruled by prnc
pie; always better worse than anticipated;
below the level of humanity now far above people
Interchangeable in its leading features that may be recog
missed by portraits drawn two three thousand years
ago, and yet tickle in its daily opinions and tastes that
it becomes at last mystery to ITSELF and is much
tonished as strangers at the sight of what has done
naturally fond of home and routine, yet driven
forth and forced to adopt CUSTOMS ready to carry
principles to any lengths and to dare any thing indo
ce by disposition but better pleased with the arbitrary
and violent rule of sovereign than with free and
regular government under its chief citizens fixed in
hostility to subsection of any kind passionately
welded to servtude that nations made to
vie with it led by thread long word of resist
ance Is spoken, wholly ungovernabe when the standard
of revolt has been rasedhus always deceivng its
ters who fear it too much too te free that
it cannot be subugated kept down that it cannot
break the yoke qualified for every pursuit. but excel
ling in nothing but prone to worship chance
force, success, ecla nose than real glory endowed
with more heroism than virtue genisB than
better adapted for the conception of grand
designs than the accomplishment of great enterprises
the most brilliant and the dangerous nation of Eu
and the that is surest to inspire admiration ha
tired, terror, or pity, but never Indifference?
" No nation but such this could give birth to
revolution sudden radical, impetuous in its
course, and yet full of mssfeps contradictory facts
and conflicting examples The French could not have
done it but for the have alleged but it must be
admitted these would suffice explain
such revolution in any country but France