Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-01
THE
MORNING, SEPTEMBER |, 1858
IAMARTINE ON THE RELIGION OF
REVOLUTIONARY MEN.


LAMARTINE ON THE RELIGION OF
REVOLUTIONARY MEN.
Iknow--I sigh when l think Of it--ihat
hitherto the French people have been the
least religious Of al the nations Of Europe -
Ia il because tho idea of God-xhich arises
from oil the evidences of nature aud from the
depth Of fe6ection--beiDg the prOtouDdest
and W~eightiest idea of which human intelli-
gence 10 capable, and the French mind, being
the most rapid. but the most superficial,
lightest, the mos: unrefective Of all European
races, this mind has not the force and sever
ity necessary to carry far aud long the great
ct conception of the human understand mgr
Is il because our governments have always
taken upon themselves to think tor us, To ee-
iieye for us, and pray for VI? Is 1t because
We are and have been a military people, q
soldier nation, led by kings, heroes and am
bilious men, from battle field to battle heid'
makios cobquests and cOrruptipg Europe;
and bringing bone the manners, vices, brave
~, liehtness and impiety Of the camp to the
6re-side of the people!
know not, but certain it is that the ma
ton has an immense progress to makeio sefi-
Gus thought il she wishes to be Tree. live look
st the characters, compared as regards Teii-
Riuus sentiments, Of the great nations OF Eu'
rome, America, even Asia, the advantage Is NOT
for ne, The great men Vi our country live aud
die, forgetting completely the only idea lor
which It is worth living and dying; they live
and die Looking at the spectator, or at most,
OF posterity.
Open the history Of America, the history
of EugIand, and the history Of France, read
the great lives, the great deaths, the martyr
doms, the great words at the hour when the
ruling thought Of life reveals itself In the last
words of dying, and compare.
Washington and Franklin fought, spoke,
suffered always in the name of God. for whom
they acted; aud the liberator Of America died
c,nfding to God the liberty Of the people and
his own soul.
Sydney, the young martyr Of patriotism,
guilty of nothing but impotence, and who
died 70 expiate bis country's dream Of iiber-
ty, said to bis Tailor: II rejoice that l die 10
nocsnt toward the King, but q victim resigo-
ed 20 the King on High, to whom ell lille Is
doe"
The republicans of Cromwell only sought
tho vsy OF God even 10 the field of battle
Their politics were their faith, their reign q
PRAYER, their death q psalm. One hears, sees,
feels that God was in all the movements OF
these great people.
But across the sea, traverse La Mapcba,
como 70 our times, open our annals, and lis.
ton to tho last words If the great political &C.
tors of the drama of our liberty. One would
think that God was eclipsed from the SOUL,
that His name was unknown in the language.
History will have the air Of an atheist when
che recounts to posterity these annihllatious,
rather than deaths of celebrated men In the
greatest year of France! The victims only
have q God; the tribune and lictors have none.
Look ct Mirabeau on the bed Of DEATH
s'CrOwn me With flowers" said he; "intoxicate
mo with perfumes let me die to the sound OF
delicious mueic!" Not a word of God or OF
his soul. Sensual philosopher, he desired
only supreme sensuslism, a last v%oluptuous-
ness 10 bis agony.
Contemplate Madame Roland, the strong
hearted woman of the Revolution, on the cart
that conveyed her to death. She looked con-
temptuousiy on the besotted people who kill
cd their prophets aud their SYPHILIS. Not a
glance towards heaven! Only one word for
the earth she was quitting--"O Liberty"
Approach the dungeon door OF the Glron-
dins; their last night is a banquet; their ouly
hymn, the Msrseillaise!
Follow Camille DesnouliDs to his execu.
ton. A cool and indecent pleasantly at the
trial. and q long imprecation on the road to
the guillotine, were the two last thoughts OF
this dying man on bis way to the last tribu'
nal.
Hear Dauton on the platform Of the scaf-
fold, at the distance of a line from God aud
Il have had a good time of it; let me 60 to
Then to the executioper: "You will
show my head to the people-it is worth the
trouble!"
HE faith, annihilation; bic last Sigh, van
ity. Behold the freedman Of this latter
age!
What must one think Of the religious SEN
Of q free people whose great figures
seem thus to march In procession to ann,hila-
ton, and to whom that terrible minister,
Death itself, recalls neither the tbresteDiDgs
nor promises Of Godf
The republics of these men without a God
has been quickly stranded. The liberty Won
by 90 much herOism and 20 much genius has
found 10 France q conscience to shelter
is, q God to avenge il, q people to defend it,
the atheism which bias been called
All ended 10 a soldier and some apos-
republicans travestied into courtiers.-
sth republicanism cannot be heroic.
When you terriiy it, it bends, when You
would buy it. it sells itself. Who would take
any heed, The people uDgrateful and God
non. existent. So Hnieh atheist revolutions.
,.t MY LIBRARY.
"Miserable is that man, in my opinion, who
has no place at home where to be by himself, 10
him eli alone. or to conceal himself
from others."-MoxTAIGSE.