The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-12-21

u.
Thursday evening. before the Young Mems
Society 10y J. s. C. Abbott. was produc-
ton Of much merit. Il was listened 10 by
a large audience and portions Of il elic-
tied much applause. The subject was
France and her Emperor" Tie historian
commenced with the Revolution Of 1889,
and brought u down 10 the present year
Of Napoleon Third The narration OF events
which, in other hands, might have been
dull or confused was framed with great
skill and taste. The lecturer gave a gen
eral view Of the world in the conclusion Of
his discourse. showing that Tie whole earth
will soon be divided into four great empires
that Of Russia, England, France, which
win include Western Europe generally. and
America; and all Inferior races, languages.
and people willcease 10 exist, or be merged
in these contradictions Of power.
There were TWO things, however. IN tie
lecture which Jill not NEE, our views at
ALL One was The gioriGcation Of every
thing French, and the hatred Of every thing
English. The lecturer made q full avowa.
Of his open, broad aud extreme opinions on
these points; and his anti-English feeling
eliminated in an earnest argument or
rather exhortatiOn, for the American peo-
pie % give England q sound lhrashing'
just as soon as we conld get through with
our present civil war. r. the order OF ma
ture, it may be necessary sometimes for
two cross dogs 10 fight; bu. we have never
regarded it as evincing any thing very ami
able Or cOmmendabie for boys 10 rub mp
their ears before the contest has begun.
and cry seize EN- boy"
The other point on which we dissentel
from the lecturer was his eul0eies upon tie
characters Of the two NapO.eous The first
he declared 70 be -'an0ble ard heroic man.
who gave his life and energies for the wei /
fare Of his country and he excused tile /
other for putting his foot on the neck
Of Republican France IN ls52. on the " ty-
rants plea. necessity "-On the plea that II
the said Napoleon had not crushed out tie
existing republican government IN France
that government would have crushed him
out. Thus it was made 20 appear that he
was compelled so 70 act IN self-deiense. -
And the lecturer proved that ne was worthy
TO reign by the vote OF confirmation Of s.
900, 900 Of Frenchmen-a unanimity which
he declared was unparalleled in The hisio-
~ Of the ballot box" The secret OF this
great unanmity he did not explain-armed
soldiers standing on the corners OF every
street in France.
As to the moOted question Of The charac-
ter Of the first Napoleon, we have no room .
to discuss it here. Bu, we will merely re-
mark that if ambition and its consequent
crimes do not make q man bad, then he was
not bad man. He had no malice: he
would not il jure the hair OF a mans head
unless he stood in the way of his plans;
and then a mans life was as nothing. In
the same way it might be proved, we pre-
sumo, that JEFF. Davis was one Of the no.
blest OF men. Mr.. Davis is a christian man
and gentleman, prays loudly every DAY.
has no external vices that we know of, and p
may be kind and liberal Ii you were in 4
Richmond starving, he might take you in
and give you your breakfast from his own
table, and give YOU money from his own
pocket, as a matter OF common kindness; q
yet, should be discover that you were there )
to serve your country, and hinder him
from completing his damning schemes for
It's ruin, there is every probability that you
might be hanged before night without the
slightest remorse on his part Was he not
a great rebellion, and what
vas one innocent life, or one hundred
thousand such lives, compared TO the full
success Of the crimes he was struggling 10
perfect The historian who should men,
ion only the breakfast and the charity. :
night exclaim, "What Z noble and gener-
BUS man. The historian who should men
ion only your execution would say What =
remorseless tyrant," The true judgement l
would be given by that historian who should q
mention both incidents. and say that while ii
lie was kind and liberal to the needy and Il
destitute, in carrying out his crimes ofam- a
'ition he caused the blood of his country a
nen who opposed him 20 flow in streams. 2.
Without rem0rse or shame. y