The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-23
ORSINTs LAST LETTER AND THE EUROPEAN
REpITBJJCANS

ORSINIS LAST LETTER AND THE EUHOfEAN
REPUBLICANS.
The letter of Orsni to Napoleon which we pub
lshed yesterday, is most significant commentary
upon the policy and principles Of the extreme men
in Europe. We shall not be charged with want of
sympathy with the of rational liberty, nor with
any disposition to throw obstacles in the way of those
enlightened, patriotic republicans who seeking
the political regeneration of the people of Europe.
Wehoh it to be certain that the human family is
governed by great laws of progress-laws that in
sure its gradual advancement from conditions Of de-
pendence to conditions Of greater freedom But
there is a principle in government which even ranks
liberty itself without which, in fact the attainment
of freedom and Independence are impossible politi-
cal estates--we mean the maintenance of public or
der Liberty is an acquisition Of the individual, and
can never BIO considered attained unless there has
been impaired to the person disposition to uphold
at all hazards, and at whatever temporary sacrifice,
the principles Of justice and public order. In an
absolutistic government anarchy hardly be re-
garded, In a comparative sense, az a moral evil,
for there is reserved in such cases the rights
of revolution and popular freedom in free govern
ment and amongst men aspiring to the dignity of alb
solute independence, it is always high crime
to commit am act which may be received evidence
Of their unftness to exercise the powers of self
government No scheme could have been devised
by the so-called democrats the other side Of the
water by which the cause of popular freedom would
30 surely be discredited, and confidence in their
practical wisdom impaired, if not broken more dis
astrously effective than the project Of assassination
Of the evening of the 14th Of March. Free govern
ments are not created by internal machines, or
blown into existence by midnight explosions. Their
foundations are not we'll laid upon magazines nor
are they well conducted by assassins and madmen.
Snch weapons may be fifty employed to establish
a tyranny and maintain it, They signify force, and
force is the chief element of all absontstic rule.
people may be able, by their ignorance, to furnish
only few men qualified by their learning, to con-
duct the complex operations of the civil adminstra-
ton and, in snch cases. it is duo to candor to
say that the few from considerations of public
good may exercise authority even to the exclusion
Of the many We do not admit that Europe is in
this condition. and hence such spasmodic efforts IA
that Of Orsini to destroy the head Of the French ma
ton becomes an offence not so much against Napo
leon himself as against those democrats of Europe
who are struggling for tho regeneration Of France
Italy, and Germany.
The letter of Orsini to the Emperor il the testimony
of dying man upon this point, and should have
great weight with the French italian, and
German exiles who are now citizens of the United
States. We do not question the truth of his decla
ration that he forced by circumstances to play
part which his Judgment condemned, and at which
his humanity revolted Assassination was no part
of his system but it was the part of his more eau
tious associates, who played upon his patriotism and
his sufferngs to drive him into the commission of
monstrous crime, which, had it been successful
would have only added victim to the long list Of
the of rational liberty serving the ends Of
rational government anywhere.
If tho republicans of Europe would promote the
great cause of sefgoverment, let them apply the
by which that end can be effected in the right
quarterto the people themselves. 1t is the latter
that are to govern Prepare them for their duties and
make them understand that the maintenance of re-
public is work far more complex and difficult than
the maintenance Of monarchy; that in the admin
stration of the former the nearest possible approach
must be made to justice and impartialty that VIC
lence must be utterly discarded that education and
great intelligence are indispensable that the many
are to think and decide, and that their proper de-
cision ia impossible except when based upon the
principles of wisdom, discretion, and moral duty.
What effect the letter of Orsni will have upon
the peregrine babblers in this country who would
build republic, as the eagle builds his nest, on the
crest of some inaccessible mountain and sustain it
by the might of conflict or like the fool build it upon
the sands, to be washed away by the food, or who
would effect equality by moving scythe over the
world, we do not know, Orsini is dead, and if he is
entitled to praise, it is for disavowng at the last
moment, when his sincerity was above rcproach,
the infamous doctrines of assassination as an agency
of popular reform. a7 f
A SOUTHERN VIEW OF TIE KANSAS QUESTION.
At the last meeting Of the southern convention,
held at Knoxville, Tennessee, a committee was APP
pointed to prepare address in anticipation of the
next meeting Of the convention which win be held
at Mobile on the 10th of May. The members of the
committee are James Lyons, of Virginia t. B. Be-
thea, Of Alabama W. NJ. Churchill, of Tennessee :
B. C. Yancey of Georgia, and w w. Boyce, of South