The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-05

The DISTINGUISHED French professor and
political philosopher, NJ. Edouard Labou-
Iaye, who, by his lectures In Paris on our
Constitution and form Of Government, has
erican system, and who, moreover. during
this whole struggle, has exhibited the
warmest interest in our success, has writ
ten letter containing his views at length
on the bearings Of the forthcoming Presi-
DENTAL election. He opens by remarkiDg
that "there are critical moments in the life
Of uatiOns, when the course that il taken
liberty of the nation are at stake: an In
slant Of weakness and all his lost an in
slant Of energy q last effort, and al. il saved
II is 10 one Of these cresis that the United
States is involved. The Presidential cleo
ton may insure the triumph or ruin of the
North. According to the name that shall
be drawn from the popular turn, Amerfca
may regain peace and become the model of
free countries, or she may fall into that In
durable anarchy which has made the Span
ish Republics the prey Of wretched desp0te,
the laughing-s,ock and plaything Of Eu-
rope"
lie then goes on at great length to dis
cuss the issues which underlie the present
struggle agains: rebellion-with which
issues, in all their relations, every intelli-
gent man N the country Is now thoroughly
familiar. OF the feelings and interests Of
the leading powers Of Western Europe, he
remarks.
"Engiana would perhaps applaud the
rending asunde- OF America, which would
deliver Ter from the only rivalry that she
breads; woald restore to her the, dominion
of the seas, and would give to her the South
as a colony, at, as it were, tcte dc p0nt-but
England il the country Of Wlberforce I; she
has not dared make war tor the mainte-
nance of slavery and what England has
= a
moment, apprised the South that II would
never surmount the moral reprobation Of
Europe, and that not prince would dare
brave public opinion. ] will 20 further to-
dav. and will cay that every day brings
more clearly 70 light the interest that all
the European Powers, single one except
ed, have IN the naintenance OF the Union.
. The traditions of 1851 are reawakening,
and. save few fnical and chimerical pol
i,icians, no one in France doubts that it is
to the interest Of the country to maintain
the policy Of Louis XVI, aud Napoleon
The Union is the first need OF America
but il Is also one Of the greatest interest OF
the seas, and without the liberty of the
seas the independence OF France and that
Of Europe are equally menaced."
For the rebellion, this intelligent obser-
YER aces no prospect Of success, and az 10
the duty OF patriotic people, his voice il at
once decided and sagaci0us:
Abandoned by Europe, hemmed in and
conquered gradually ~ the North. the
Weld. and this moment cannot be far off,
at the North persist In the policy followed
- NJ Lincoln: let it, plant on all else
rsy.;ntain At any price his two conditions
,ho 70. establishment Of the Union, the alb
clifton Of slavery, and the South will be
FORCED to bow 70 necessity.
What matters, it will be said, the .opin-
~ America sns3~u ,;v1 -. -
is.t,e for the old continent. Perhaps 1t will
.,so,. have accounts to settle with those who
bova iauched at It's divisions.
Dc !. az leave aside public opinion. al.
,nouoh' ike Justice. 1t is easier to brave it
- cords than TO escape its strokes. But
there is tribunal which none can fee; it
!. s;a vo what viii the North think Of itself,
and how will 1t judge itself?
T..v vnfhing Of the confessions that will
49,. ~ {-or,n the South, and that prove that
e ia Nnrth had made last effort, all re-
s;etarcs vould have been conquered, and
fhe Union e-established on the foundation
Of liberty and equality; but after the first
festivities and reJoicings OF peace, what
s wd - and M humiliation win ensue! How
1t win feel the truth Of that great saying Of
Franklin: seThose who sacrifice liberty to
obtain moments security, deserve to OBJ
tain neither liberty nor security" Yes, It
will say, the war was hard, the sufierings
were extreme, the treasury notes were
consuming private fortunes like the pubic
treasury, butt the midst OF these caiam-
tiles we we're fighting for holy cause, we
were giving our blood for liberty. Religion,
the country, put their hope in as. Inc
evils were doubtless great, but ali these
evils would have been cured by victory /;
with It the republic would have regained
its greatness and prosperity. But what
this lame peace will never cure is the Iep'
rosy Of s,avery-what it will never eface
is tina. black spot which sullies our CONT.