The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-25

the Union, be re-eligible and reelected id
1868, and leave behind him one Of the grandes!
names In the history Of this or any ether coun
try since the great world commenced to "spin
forever down the ringing grooves Of change"
The I.nusncs o. Woman-A Qusea. AN
Emprcss and . Presidsntsss
Poets have praised, philosophers have ac-
knowiedged. and historians have recorded the
refining and purifying infuencessof woman.
In common life she exercises these influences
upon her husband, her children, her hover and
her circle Of society. When. by the accident
Of birth, or by the will of the people. she b
raised to sovereign position. whole nations
feel the beneficial effects Of her sway. Il would
be curious and interesting study to trace
through history the part which women have
taken in civilizing the world, and making it
better and happier place in which TO live. II
it be true that Mother Eve the FIRST Of women,
was the source Of all our woes, it must be ad- !
mitted that Ewes daughters have redeemed
her reputation by becoming the source Of the
most of our pleasures What the rude Britona
owed to Queen Eleanor what reforms Queen
Elizabeth effected among the diasolute English.
men Of her day, and how Queen Isabella cen.
ferred new glories upon ancient Spain, the
chronicles Of the past have fully informed US.
But in this nineteenth century We have three
representative women almost as distinguish
and we may anticipate history by doing Justice
10 their merits. s
Queen Victoria ascended the throne Of Eng
land whom quite young girl, and shortly
afterwards married young, handsome and
amiable prince. The English Court was then
notoriously corrupt. William the Fourth was
Open licentiousness and unblushing vice we're
the characteristics Of the English nobility.
When an earl advised his son to take = wife,
the graceless scapegrace bit OF the fashion o.
the day by asking, "Whoses" The most shame.
full scenes Of debauchery were Witnessed even
in the royal palace. Ladies with no characters
and men with no virtues were prime favorites
at court. The tone Of English society was
grossly sensual. Sustained BY her own virtue.
and aided by the virtue Of her husband, Vic
toria soon reformed oil this. The rakes aud
roues and vicious women we're banished from
her court. A seducer, no matter what bis
talents or position, had absolutely no chance
ofpreferment. Vice became unpopular among
the best society. Doubtless there was about a.
much criminality ss ever, for the average Of
crime varies but little In this wicked world;
but it no longer paraded itself with brasen
'front.' Little by little 1t was forced to dis
guises and conceAlmeuts, and this, o. the world
goes, was equivalent to its eradication. Ths
Queen 10 q noble and itlustrisus example d
her own precepts, and she has succeeded in
making the English Court one Of the most re-
spectacle in Europe, and in securing the a6sc.
Tomato respect and esteem, not only Of her own
subjects, but Of all civilized nations
Within the past few years France has expe-
rienced . similar reformation. Revolutions
are always followed BY eras Of unrestrained
corruptiss, and this was notably the case with
the revolution which gave Louis Napoleon the
supreme authority over the French people.
New men came into power, and aimed to out
rival the worst characteristics Of their prede-
cessors. A new nobility was created, and
lioentiousness became aristocratic. Az bachs.
lor Louis Napoleon had no power, evsa II be
had the inclination, 10 check this rage for do.
bauchery. He was surrounded by too many
temptations himself to severely punish others
for allowing themselves I'd be tempted. No
matter how pure bis own private character
may have been, he did not receive, and could
not expect any credit for acsticism. At this
crisis he fell in love with Spanish lady Of
high rank, great beauty and excellent reputa-
ton, and made her Empress Of the French. In
spite of the traditions Of the court and the
prevalence OF scandals, SANDERS aud immorali-
ties, she has maintained her fair fame unfair
nished, and has exerted most admirable inau-
ence upon the French aristocracy. She did not
resort to the rigid, radical measures taken by
Queen Victoria; for those would have been
terribly unpopular in France. and might have
imperillsd Napoleon's dynasty; but, BY the
force of her own character, she tacitly re-
buked the easy virtue Of the hom ton, and, like
Victoria, she has withdrawn from dissipation
the sanction Of royal example and tho protec-
ton Of royal favor. The Court Of France,
though not beyond censure, has certainly been
greatly improved by the rule Of the Empress
Eugene.
In this republican country we have hitherto
been spared the immoralities which have dis
graced the court circles of other nations. Tho
inmates Of the White House, under oil the diff
ferent administrations, have escaped calumny
upon this score, with perhaps single excsp-
tien, and their conduct has been such ~ .
leave no room for any just accusations. Whsa
Presidentess Lincoln arrived at Washington.
nearly four years ago, she had reformation to
accomplish; but II was reformation Of nan
ners rather than Of morals. The long.haired,
unpublished, vulgar, fauatical abolitionisss. who
imagined themselves in pswer because Lincoln