New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-01
TEEE FRENCH LETTER.

We print to-day in our columns the reply OF
the great French publicis,s, Gasparin, Labou-
layc, Martin, and Cochin. 70 the letter addressed
to them last Spring by the Loyal Nationa!
League Of New-York. This letter. our readers
will remember, was drafted by the Loyal Publ
cation Society OF this city, and adopted with en-
thusasm by the League at the great mass meet
ing on Union square on the 18th of April, IA,
military known Is the Sumter meeting.
This noble letter is worthy Of the source
from which it springs. The great names which
are signed to it are known throughout the world
A. the names of friends Of civil liberty. Amid
all the lukewarmncss and hcsitations Of that
liberal European opinion which America had
the right to expect would not be found wanting
in the hour Of Trial, these wise and good mcn
have stood manlully by the right. and breasted
the tide Of prejudice and ill-will which, from
the beginning Of our civil struggle, has until
quite recently set steadily against the noble
cause Of national unity and national liberty, IN
defense Of which the North has been forced to
take Up arms.
As the opening paragraph Of the letter implies,
the union OF these four names represents union
Of sentiment upon this struggle Of persons hold
ing, differing and opposite religious and political
opinions.
We propose briefly to allude TO the views Of
these gentlemen, and TO recall to the memory of
our readers the services they have rendered to
America and TO mankind.
The Count de Gaspagin, formerly Minister Of
Public instruction" and Member ofthe Chamber
Of Deputies under Louis Philippe, is in religion
Protestant, in political opinion moderate
Orleanist. His great work, Tho Uprising OF a
Great People" which appeared in the Spring OF
Il-Gl, before the elimination of the great con-
spiracy in tho attack upon Sumter, is without
exception the most striling which he's appeared
on tic causes, prospects and probable result OF
tho war. IL powerful aud graphic language be
described The decadcnCo OF the United States
~ sinking morality aud insecure prosperity
demonstrated the nature Of the crisis IN orr
national destiny, which in clouds and gloom we
were then approaching, and fore;old the uprising
OF the grra, democracy rom the slough o. des-
pond 70 which i had been degraded by slave
rule and Northern subscTyiancy.
The prcscicrcc Of the author has been fully
yindlcatei BY Tie progress Of The war; aud when
tue clouds shall have cleared from the hoIiloi,
aud in the pure light Of history the causes and
results Of tie Rebellion shall be calmly AMI
paiimily reviewed, The Count Dc Gasplrin viii
stand IN the Gr,t TanS OF the wise and lar-scc.ng
statesmen Of The age.
Later he las presented in work OF equal
yigor, but for obvious reasons not a. striking 10
IT, character" America before Europe the
reasons which cn,i;lc the United State. 10 ihc
fdealship all moral support Of all irenls Of
liberty in Europe.
/ Augusfin Cochin il also a Protestant, min
i,tcr Of The Gospel, and a member If the Cen
! tral Consi,ioly Of France. Without the great
breadth Of mind or the strong indiyidualism Of
Gasparin, he is yet one Of the most nervous of
modern French writers and one Of the most
determined enemies Of Slavery and all tha.
springs from it, baneful influence iiis great
work on the abolition Of slavery" is the
most important Of his efforts in behalf Of the
American cause.
Henri Martin, the historian Of France, and one
Of the strongest and best poised in,cllccs Of the
day, is Catholic in religion, but a Catholic OF
! liberal vicws-such a Catholic as the great
Richelieu, who never suborl.nated the interests
OF France to tho temporal advantage Of tie
| Church Of Rome, but always maintained and
upheld tie powcrand authority Of the Gallican
agans, the encroachments Of the mother insti-
tuition In politics Martin is republican, and
republican Of the school o. 1913; tie schol.
arly dream OF inexperienced men from which
iherc was wide awakening ere long. The
pursuits Of Martin have held him aloof from
political LIE, aud ii Is only Oh occasions that hG
has turned asidc from tie grave and quiet path
OF history, in which he has gathered his abundant
laurcls, to add By few vigorous articles in l.,
Siteie the weight Of his great name and mature
opinion to tho sometimes watering cause of
justice and liberty on this side Of the Atlantic.
Edonard Laboulayc, TO whose accomplished
nhN SiNN''H' - w 's'N p'NhA'eA gnu
touching letter which Is orr text today, is, with
Gasparn tho best known, Of all tho signcrs, to
American readers. AS "a publicist, hc stands |
FIRST among the French writers Of the day, and
We owe him debt of boundicss gratitude that
bis thought and pen have been mainly occupied
with American concerns. A close observer of
passing events a keen analysst of public