The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-20
A Frenchman's View of the American
Controversy.


Controversy.
The time for argument concerning the
grounds of our quarrel is long gone by on
this continent. Our disputes turn now almost
solely upon the efficiency ofmiitary measures
and men. 1t is a satisfaction nevertheless to
find the justice Of our cause slowly making its
way and asserting its claims in Europe. The
spirit of patriotic self sacrifice, which bios
somed in flags all over the country straight on
the news OF the assault on Fort Sumter and
has borne its heavy harvests on a hundred
battle-fields since, is at length recognized
wherever prejudice and passion have not
dulled the perceptions of our contemporaries.
We copy from the Boston Advertisers trans
lation, a few passages from a remarkable arti-
Gle lately contributed to the Reuue Nation
ale by the eminent NJ. Edouard Laboulaye.
member of the 1nstitute, and professor in the
College of France. The writer examines at
length the causes, which forbid the Northern
States TO consent to the separation demanded
thus violently by the South. His statement
of the political and geographical reasons is
clear and ample; it would not be new in sub
stance to American readers.
NJ Laboulaye reproduces and answers the
plausible insinuation, that lust of empire and
not patriotism is the ruling impulse of the
North, as follows:
admit" it is said, shat the South is all in the
wrong; but at any rate it wishes TO separate:
it can no longer live with the people of the
North. The war itself, whatever its origin,
e. far H. hat ,;.,
can twenty millions of men oblige ten millions
of their contryInen to continue in a detested
alliance and To respect contract which they
are DESTROYS of breaking at any price? Is it
possible to imagine that after two or three
years of battles and miseries the victors and
vanquished can be made To live together?
Win you sublugate country two or three
times as large as France? viii there not be
blood between the parties? Separation is per-
haps u misfortune, but the misfortune is now
past help. Admit that the North has on It's
side legality, the letter and spirit of the Con-
stitution, there remains nevertheless a point
of Importance: - the South wants to be
master in its own territory. You have no
right to blot out a people who fight so valiant
~. Give it up"
If we were less enervated by the smoothness
of modern life and the Incidence of long
peace if We had at heart a remnant OF that
patriotism which, in 1892, pushed our fathers
TO the borders of the Rhine the answer to
this would be easy; now fear lest il should
not be unlerstood- Ii to naosrow the South of
France should revolt and demand separation.
il Asace and Lorraine should wish to isolate
themselves,-what would be- do not ask sim
ply our right, but our duty? Should we count
votes TO find out whether third or a
hall of the number of Frenchhen had the
right to destroy the national unity, to annih-
late France, to dash in pieces the glorious her
tage that our fathers acquired for us with
their blood? No, we should take the musket
and march. Woe TO those who do not feel
that the country is sacred, and that il is noble
to defend it even at the price of all privations
and all dangers.
America is not France; it is a confedera-
tibn, it is not a nation.- Who says thato 1t
is the South that says it to justify its fault.
The North says the contrary, and for two
years past it is with unnumbered sacrifices
that IL has been afih ming that the Americans
are one people and that their country shall
not be cut in two. This is noble, this IS great:
and if anything astonishes me il is that France
remains unsympathizing before this patriotism.
Is the love of country no longer u virtue OF
Frenchmen?
In writing these pages do not expect to
content those who have at heart an innate
weakness for slavery write for those simple
souls who suffer themselves to be taken in BY
those grand words about National Independ-
ence," which are Haunted before them 10 de-
ceive them The South has never been threat
ened even to-day it could reenter the Union
even with its slaves. 1t is only asked not TO
break up the national unity and not to ruin lib
erty. The North, il cannot be repeated too often;
is not an aggressor; it is only defending, what
every true citizen defends, the national com
pact, the integrity of the country. 1t is sad
that it has found so little support in Europe,
especially in France. 1t was upon us that it
relied, in us it hoped; we have forsaken it, as
if those sacred words, country and liberty, had
no longeran echo in our hearts. What has be-
come of the time when all France appauded
the young Lafayette putting his sword at the
service of the Americans? Who has initiated
him? Who has recalled that glorious remem-
brance? Are we so old that we have forgot
ten everything?
What will be the issue ofthe war? 1t is I'M
possible to foresee. The South may succeed,
the North may be divided and worn out in in
testine struggles. The Union is perhaps no
more than a grand remembrance. But what
ever may be the future, and whatever the
chance may be, there is one duty for men who
will not let themselves be carried away by the
success of the present hour, and that is to en-
courage the North till the last moment; it is
to condemn those whose ambition is threaten
ing the finest aud most patriotic work that
mankind has seen ; ii is to remain faithful until
the end of the war, and even after defeat. to
those who up to the last moment shall have
fought for right and for liberty.