Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-11-02
FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

iahu, sc pdialeu only ny q hdEION CLaH-
mel, and for many years closely linked
together either by struggles in the battle
field, or by treaties and commercial inter-
course. Yet the two nations are as dis t
tinct in character to-day as they were
three centuries ago. Guizot, in his re-
cent work, gives the following analysis of
their mutual influence on each other:
When we attentively compare the his
tory and development of France and !
England, we are almost equally astonished
at the resemblances and differences. (
Never have two nations of such diverse
origin been more thoroughly united in
their destinies, or exercised on each other
by the relations of war and peace,
more constant influence. A French
province conquered England; and Eng
land possessed for many years a number
Of the provinces of France. As this
national struggle passed away, the insti-
tutions and political views Of the English
became a subject of admiration to some
of the most polite minds of France
Louis XI. and Philippe de Confines for
example.
In the midst of Christendom the two
people have followed two very different
religious standards; but even this diver
sity has become new ground Of their
contact and association. 1t was in Eng
land that prosecuted French Protestants,
it was in France that prosecuted English
Catholics, sought and found an asylum.
And when kings in their turn banished
it was in France that the king of England
and in England that the King Of France
were refugees nor was it until after
long sojourn in this refuge that Charles
H., in the eighteenth century, and Louis
XVIII, in the nineteenth, return TO
their respective kingdoms.
The two nations, or rather the upper
classes of the two nations, have had the
caprice TO borrow of each other ideas,
their manners and their fashions. In
the seventeenth century, it was the court
of Louis XIV. that gave tone to the
English aristocracy. 1t was in the eight
eenth century that Paris went to London
for models. And when one rises above
these matters of history to look at the
great phases of the civilization of the
two countries, he Immediately perceives
that on the whole they have proceeded
in almost the same career, and that the
same attempts and alternatives of order
and revolution, of absolute power and
of liberty, have occurred in both coun.
tries with most striking condolences, al
: the same time with the widest diversities
Those persons, then, have very su.
perfcial view who lock upon French ant
r English society as so essentially diferen
: that the two people could not draw upoI
/ each other for political examples unless
, by Fictitious and barren imitation
] Nothing is more belied by true historl
: or more contrary to the natural inclina
e ton of the two countries. Even thei
}. natural rivalries have never broken tn
d apparent or concealed ties linking then
together, and whether they knew it o
not, whether they wish it or guard agains
it, it matters not tue two nations canno
= exist without powerful influence Of
a each other. The ideas, manners, an
Y institutions Of each penetrate and modif
S the other as by an unavoidable necessity
II But / do not hesitate to aeknowledr
+ that in our efforts for political organize
+ ton we have too frequently and too cor
fdingly borrowed from England. W
have not always duly considered the ind
" vldual character and particular circum
, stances of French society. France ha
j increased and prospered under the inflr
J ence of royalty assisting in the elevate
OF the middle classes; England has don
: the same by the action of her territori,
e aristocracy taking under its care the lii
Is critics of the people. Such difference
+" as these are far too deep to disappea
even in the powerful uniformity of moo
u ern civilization. We have too often 10:
. sight of them. The danger of innov:
II tons wrought in the name of genera
principles and great examples is, tbs
d they do not perform their legitimate ban
for real and national purposes. But VIII
should we not have avoided this danger
In the course of her long life, old Franc
{ has repeatedly made great attempts
{ attain free government. But not a
. ways has she brought her greatest pow
ers to bear upon this object. Her bes
institutions have not invariably contrib
= uted to the necessary transformations
but remained in political impotence
Nevertheless, by proper sense of he