The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-03

itseems somewhat remarkaDe tnat tno french re'ou-
ton the greatest phenomenon of the age has been the least
understood either by the people Of France or their neigh
bor by contemporaries by postery and yet II is easy
to account for this obscurity At s commencement and
during its progress it may be said to have reused the pas
sons Of the almost entire human To the people
held out the hope of liberty while at the same time it ex
cited the apprehensons of their rulers All who spoke or
wrote the subject animated by or other of
these passions To the the revolution opened pros
pec of heaven to the other the yawnng gulf OF despair
II death-grappe between despotsm and liberty,
which called forth all the Of one, all the ener
ges of the other The literature and the genius of leg
macy enlisted in its cause with view to exaggerate
the OF democracy; while, the other hand
every effort was made to exhibit the tyranny of kings
The British press from whence the people of the Uni
ted States derive SO much of their information in
respect to the affairs of Europe poured forth perpetual
stream Of obloquy and Edmund Burke who had hitherto
been of the most eloquent defenders of popular ghs
all at became their most determined foe Hence
though than half century has elapsed since the COM
mencement of the French revolution it has been dis
ncy comprehended in its origin its causes or Its conse
quencss 1t doomed forth portenous phantom which,
like Death the pale horse rode uriousy among ma
TONS trampng them under foot without discrimination
and having other object but that of desoatng the world
1t farrago of horrors in which nothing but the mad
of political anatcsm and perverted reason could be
distinguished OF late, however, the fogs have begun to
clear away and there prospect of day seeing land
Some of the abest in France who If they did not
witness the at least watched the course OF
the revolution and secretly mourn over its aborve
termination lately employed themselves in develop
ing this huge obscurty, and postery at least may hope
to receive the benefit of their researches
Prominent and preeminent among these is DE Tocque
ville who is well known the author of the only at
tempt analysis of the nature and prime pes Of the de-
ocracy Of the United States by foreign writer that is not
beneath contempt and which, though in opinion
neous few points is of the most mastery political
dsquisitions of the present age The work which
propose to offer few remarks is of similar character
equally profound equally comprehensive and should be
every American for in many respects it
almost applicable to the United States to France
1t is a school in which may learn many valuable les
sons which will to teach what despotsm really
through what gradual almost mpercepble steps crawls
into portentous maturity under what DISCUSSES imposes
the people; and how when most invisible it is most
dangerous They will learn too that it requires neither
standing armies the application Of force to naugurate
all the and most pernicous abuses Of bad govern
ment that what least is most felt and that rathoes
are more fatal the ship Of State than tempests
The people of the United States in little danger from
any direct assaults their freedom 1t is only from side
blows by stabs in the back by little and tte step by
step they may be- and fear day will be- caught in
that net in which it the fate Of all nations Boosting
Of civilization to be gradually enthralled They cannot
have better wiser monitor than M De Tocqueve His
pevh hal ouaef, tn uat IN Franc
The ruinous consequences Of Capitalization Of power
were before clearly developed The fatal effects
Of divisions of into classes strangers each other
though mpeled to hatred and jealousy by opposite inter
ss not natural but created by the Partially of the gov
ernmentare placed before the reader most distinctly and
infinitely, and traced to their final result in bloody and
aborve revolution. In short NJ De Tocqueville clearly
that the very which produced that
oution the great obstacles its successful result The
government by completely monopolizing the administrative
power and becoming the Jack of all trades bad thoroughly
Invested the people OF all practical experience segovern
ment even in the trfing municipal affairs that when
they had demolished the entire of desposm they
totally destitute of all that practical experience which
would have aided them in the construction of edi
fce They became the blind instruments of the phoso-
piers, who practically ignorant themselves
and after series Of anarchy and revolution have now
apparently, quietly settled down under regime as
much like that depicted and analysed by NJ de Tocquev
in all its essential prerogatves if it Daguerreo
type of the old regime which, it would SEEM only
thrown to be revived again with scenery new deco
rations, and new vigor.
Knowing the restraints under which the French press
abor not surprised that author has not
instituted comparison between the old and the new re-
gme of France which strkingy resemble each other
We think can, however occasionally that he had it
in his minds eye aud what very certain occurred to
in reading his work. that had It been his intention to
represent the present government Of France in dsadvan
ageous point of view he could not have done it e
fectualy than by showing he certainly does that there
material difference between the government of Louis
4th and 18th, and that of Louis Napoleon. The same
principle pervades them all-namey concentration
nopoy not only of the political but administrative power
Of the State. Nothing left to the people but to pay
and furnish conscrpts. But hope have said
enough recommend this valuable work TO the no
tise of our readers. ~a
CAPTAIN HARTSTEIN
The New York Journal of Commerce says:
eve have letter from the Secretary of the NAVY
congratuating Captain Hartstein his officers men, on
their return home and tho successful of the
duty assigned TO them stated the President after
examining the correspondence and reports with the
department in approving his course Captain H. is request
cd to make known to the officers the great satisfaction ex