Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-08
LETTER ER0K"AwnDR1sHM .
lDLEvILLE, Oct. 9. 1859

EDIroRs DENocRAT: In my last | stated France 10
be the power Vi Europe, Iar beyond any other in
strength, influence aud military skill. | also stated
il us my belief that the &" alliance" between France
and England would end in u war initiated b, Nap,.
leon invading England, whenever he thinks lie
Do 81 With u fair pIOspect Of safety suc1ess.-
ana furthermore asserted my belief that the power
"t france would be repealed irin the shores " Al
bi0n; that the dash and enihusiarr the skill aud
dcxterity Ut French lrUIps, were equal final
struggle with the British Tor the terrible tOriitudc
aud energy Ot the latter only come out when
| test beCUnrs utiMiT III life Ur deaIh,-Un some
great OCCASION when some dire catastrophe is To bc
npprt hended.
To be The dODuant power in Eurupe and ut the same
time assert that IN U trial II National SIT enKh ON
English gr''und, between The two powers France
would be compelled ~ Weld. think, however, u
close observer aud intelligent thinker would not see
ANYTHING Paf"dOAical III the assertion. We're il my
object think could denunstraie the perfect con-
siscncy If il. II would resolve itself into the pro-
postum that France is, Hnd England might be- the
leading power Of Europe. ! could show that in
pr"tructed struggle the kidgl0vtd gentry the tenth
transntteFsO Of foolish faces, would have TO give
to the real manly classrr Of English society Ic"uld
show shat the Palnersluns anu Russrils would have
10 retire before bUlder aud ADLER statesmen, who
would be guided, nerved and governed Oy broader
and more patriotic principles. | could show that
the system Of intrustinR British armies to perfume
aud l,edgrrrs would have " be totally abolished.
| could shOw all these things, und nIrr would have
to be done, before the English culd hope ir
over FTencI armies But he change would be eIuIv.
alent to VictUFy. kOr in such u struggle as | um
cuniemp plating, when the English Arisl,cracy would
demonstrate their inability H. govern and defend,
their whole peculiar sy stem would have to give way.
England, under q Democratic ~ stem, would be AN
almost irresistible government; while nOw with the
most severe labor and sacrifices at interest and hon
or, she barely maintains II secondary position.
utterly cOneIun Ih0Se limited constitutional
| archies. They red0und neither to Nations hapti.
ness strength They have more Ut the peculiar
virtues Of ALsolutesm Or RrpuLlcani,u, while
.hey are peculiarly subcct To What is weak iuci
Cicut in those SYSTEMS.
! war With France would change these things and
bring about in great measure il net completely
all the above Inentuned reforms. Aud France wmG
rccUil before this new puwcr, and leave once More
| the mastery If Europe I" the Islanders.
| but PIidins ysvif an having prov ed nv point,
leave the SGJee and turn ~ continue the thread vi
nv last letter.
France presents TO TIE historical rs well as the po
'IticaI stUlthf, nI0>t Interesting study. For
,h,USand teurs she has nuinia ed her position a.
| iitSt class power. She formidable Iiuwer uc
tore the Bishops aud Mobiles drsLising popular
ercignly- gave the crown to Hugh Carct. Amid
AL tue huctua"ns at Europe, in nll its changes ii
dN nasiirS, tIrnS OF government and boundaries OF
territory, France alone has remained Unchanged. or
rather has maintained, under all circumstances, her
prominent position. There iinlcs hen she tad
u" naive monarch, or 10 monarch II: uI; yet she
never lost cast. Despite disasters aud mi>turtuneS,
she scarcely ever descended into a secondary p0si-
ton. The rule of the BourbonS found its zenith I'm.
der Louis the Fourteenth, which fact is To atrib.
ntrd TO the spii.' and gcnIIo Richeeu. Bat those
very despite principles which strengthened Il c
government 1t France and augmented II power Ui
the Grand Mnnarqae." and which. carried cut 10y
successors devoid of those high qualities which
eTeigns and statesmen on2ht I" possess. we're the
cause "f the most terrible Tragedy the W" Id has yet
scen,-~ hen fur once the fierce thirst fur vengeance
81 the oppressed gutrd itself With the blOOd most
sacred Ia tyranny.
Even during the letting visions ri Rcrublicanism
France did n"t retrt grade. But France under Ma.
rlc"n IE'aIarte MAS without 4 peer III the history
Il Natlnna. Aud Fr4lIcc is great to day. Iques"Ii
# she is not ni"re powerful than she he.
f,rr Yet is she m0re indebted for il to ih. genius
"f tic dead BUnapaTc than 10 all the aud ta,ni
II the living.
Spain. Prussia or Sweden muy have dashed in
brIl!iancv across the European horizon. ThciI SccrI
ipgl, irresistible In'wer may have caused nain l.
quake Er their existence. But M TIL, be-, wiluu'
Epann"ntns, declined, 81. when they are d"pIIv' Il
1t the vigorous rule the mighty shirts at r. rd
n md. e r eriick, Of GustavuS Charles. qnI II
vrli,'sc int IN, " normal cOndIi,n. Nnt I
France. She maintains her greatness irrespective
0i her tGl rs t.F EFH.'f G-vrrnnlrEt- She j. great
~ virtue If her territory. AID induLitaby gIc"t b.,
III" sPIrit. union, and numbers # her people.
II Is not nulv in sagacI"u> and Enlightened d Ia.
mIcN in the PREF on,rrati' power 4 Tie intelgrn,
masses 1t Inen that compose her army that France
~ queen 0t European nations but III all the rrmnr,
branches that confer power und Influence upon II
true, tue EutitFnFUV tI nhtluu GliIpili'
cv and policy displayed in IT'S wi>,i" and success.
reflect but the advanced intelligence at the nntiIr
itself And the superiority at lSnrIny, d;>l lay cd il
the intelligent nature Uf its discipline and III Tie
countless arts necessary 10 lis eicIe'i nrHHhzI
is hut pruuf at the natunH SUI eiufit. SCIENCE
in art. in every deIuT nent Of active life.
II il admitted that France stands at the head OF
he srcntiiIc world. b. her discoveries. By her
'huSinS devotion and u"iiribg perseverance, in tic
cause: aud, alS, because she, Gf I'LL mudern nations
hrSt Invested heFHelf Of the irumnIes 'f rr, IdIcc
and custom. that cripple the human mind in every
sphere 81 its investigation. 10 the arts WhO is her
c"niprtitOI?-England. 10 her producing power;
America. in her bOldness and originality If invrn.
tim. surp her; but in the structure. The texture
the brautN, the hnsh'f ali that engages the Ui
France. slIe stands unrivailed.
| But when thus examine France and behold her
imposing attitude. ] naturally think If Spain. uhd
wonder why she has wndIed down from such n
lofty Siutc to such deplnrablc condition. in such Il
comparatively brief period. With soil fruitful
and n climate IS genial az that Of France. with a
rOnaOlidatec territory, and q people than whom
Europe can bnsst none sureTi"r. bright. brave und
gifted. whose great deeds illuminate the history 81
Two worlds; the bright, persI icuou+ and impartial
muse Of Prescott promised calculation If this in-
tereAiing question: but he did mt live to fulfill It..
WitlInut attempting tn inquire into the cause Of
the decline # Spain. l"ok upon il US thing 1" be
+, dcplored Hungary is doubt BY every position
II virtue and right. entitled to be independent
natl n believe the jurtior If Poland tI ltve
been the most Infamous and cold 'hlnnicd iran>ac-
ton that kIngly marLudcrs or ann"inted highway
man md indeed think the Devil himself would nj
father sumo Uf their TAnaaciiunS-ever engaged in.
, Yet believe the degradation. decentralization and
semi annrchy OF Spain. are more To be regretted. "s
: European calamity. than either the proyincaliSm
Of Hungary. or the dissection Of Poland.
Am not alone in my admiration Of the character
Of the Spanish people. nor in the high estimate !
place their capabilities. The urdnr q" their spirits
their warm scnsbility, their strong puss"ns, their
bright iniellt cts and vivid nlagnaIiOn compel adj
IrutiOn from oil thONe who have unY thing poet icu