Newbern weekly progress., 1861-02-05
POLITICAL PAMPHLETS.

The age Of political pamphlets seems about
to be returning, and their influence reviving-
For long while the journals have crowded the
pamphlets out of the field In England the
palmy days of the pamphleteer We're those Of
Swift and Addison and johnson, when pow
erful political paper Of this sort often won for
its writer not only Importance but place ard
even if it did not this for him, it did as much
for his master, for the political writer was
sometimes a mere attache to Il political leader
"a man of talent, but without opportunity
and forced IL devote his talent to the uses and
needs Of another. Still, the talent was used
and appreciated, although not always reward
Cd and no engine was more dreaded by
its foes advantageously employed by
those who had it at their command than the
pamphlet III the political contests Of a century
ago.
Even IN the time Of our own revolution it
much in vogue, and sometimes, in the
subsequent CombatS, il has been found ser
viccaIic. Here however, the newspaper has
driven it from the arena Of party strife; the
newspaper, with its power of constantly re-
n"wIng attacks with its inccssant energy, with
persistent ability to inure, bears the same rcla-
ton to the pamphlet that the musket, rather
the cannon, which can be reloaded and re-
fired SO many times in q battle, holds to the
old fashioned batterlng WEAPONS, that once used
were spent forever. The modern world appre-
ciates the power Of thoseforces which accom-
plish every thing by dint, not of one great cf
fort, but OF continuous and prolonged eXertionS.
The modern mind incliues in every field of eX-
crtjon, TO avail itself of those forces. 1t be
leves in the doctrine of pen q pen. So in Eng
land and in this country, politicians have let
ti1c pamphlet fall into disuse, and seized the
weapon, which, in we'll directed hands they
find far more elicctual.
Yet in France since the press has not been
allowed the same freedom, and consequently
has not had the same power, the combatants,
deprived of one weapon-their guns spiked,
as it were--very naturally resort to those still
within their reach Edmund About, Gucr-
roniere, even the Emperor himself have writ
ten pamphlets which have attracted the atten-
ton of the world, which have produced per
ccptible effect on the public opinion of the
world, and really Influenced affairs. OF course,
the position OF the Emperor gave weight to
whatever was supposed to enranate from his
pen, no matter in what form his words or
thoughts might be conveyed; but doubtless
for him, the utterance of a pamphlet was far
more effective than that of the Aunituer; he
had so crushed the press, that even for his own
purposes, it had lost his power and consequence.
and this choice of his, reflected Importance on
the other pamphlets, while the ability with
which great questions have of late been dis
cussed in this form, by men of extraordinary
talent, has given still added importance to
the form; those, too, who have no access to the
journals, are glad to throw their individual per
sonality thus prominently forward. 1t would
not be at all surprising if new era were to be
inaugurated i'll this matter. Gureroniere is said
to be writing pamphlet on the sale of Venice;
the Poles have put forth one, advocating their
claims to are-adjustment Of the Polish question:
perhaps, even here, we shall have prolonged
and more elaborate discussion than the journ-
ais afford, Of our 0erata qssestio.-N z. Erpress