The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-06-14

1 HISTORICAL PRECEDENTs.
: What prince exclaims that profouu
and eloquent philosopher and publicis,
1 pattel, "ever suffered more outrageous II
'dlgnities than Henry the Great Of France
n ct his victories we're ever accompanied b.
Ian uniform elencncy. and that excellen
prince at length obtained the success he dc
sired he gained a nation Of faithful sub
ljects, whereas the Duke of Alya caused hi
master to lose the United Pr0viDces.." g
How much more worthy of considerable;
and adoption, by President johnson, is hi.
sentiment anu counsel Of the renownedaiur
ist, than the ferocious Recommendations 81
heated paftissns and spengeful zealots, VIII
through newspapers and from pulpits aDi
platforms, 80 loudly clamor for vengeance
aud bloody penalties against 4heirslate fei
loW-clt lzetfs-t men Of their own race and fc
|ligion! :
we tan scarcely realize tklt we live ID
an age which 50 Justly boasts Of its. pro
gress in the arts and humanities Of Chris
tan clylliz .tion, when we read some Of these
recommendations and contemplate the yari.
GUS devices Of misrepresentation, Invention
and eSaggeration, by which they are sought
TO be enforced and the popular mind kent
constantly intamed toahe guillotiIe pitch.
Surely we have not gone backsto the horrid
days of the French revolution Of ,93, OF Of
the bangings, drawings and quarterigs that
linked the names Of }. tfries aud camberIau,i
go: c.cs:a, i"fssl or that made ihat mis-.
erabls i1rentorE Of plots and schemes, BIZ
which an apology might be found for tbe
execution Of honest men, Titus Oates, the
most infamous character in English history.
1T we desire precedeDls tosguide our Esx.
eeuilve and Government 10 tile fight path,
to The respect Of mankind, and 10 sound
and wise policy and benefcent results, from
this great trDnb!eihrougli which our nation
isfnow passing, we will fiud them 10 chap.
tiers OF history, that, have been read, with
satisfaction and commentator. by the good
and wise OF all countries and ages. We
will appeal from the sans calones revofution
Of '93, to that Of lS48, il, France, which
originated with and was carried out by true
phllantlTopists, men imbntd with the loiti,
est spiritof true democracy aud pure Chris
tianiiy, whose first annuBciatioiil was that
The death penaltyifor political crimes should
forever cease in France. t
This decree metwith the full approval OIL
men who had but Just emerged from the
cells Of the Luxemburg, where they had
passed The greater part Of their lives, 10 ex.
plaiion OF some political offence, and Who'll
lad jnster grounds for revenge than many
u those who are now crying for tie blood |
# those BY whom tbey.inasii,e they have
lnJastly suffered, lin the late bitter and say-l
.ge contest. Tlesreproach and shame IN.
l'cted upon the name aud escuteheon Of /
france, by the fana,ical and saneuiGary
Genes Of 'S3, have been erased and oblitera
ed by the magnanimous and Christ .ar, spiritI
isplaycd By her political chiefs and people
d l64S.
Shall we select our examples and prece-|
snis from the bloody snd benishted France
| Robespierre, Marat and Carriere !; Or the (
and philanthropic France OIL
De pure minded and large hearted Lamar
inc, The thoughtful and phiiosophic Biancs|
the profound, iafhaRe aud yiusoa:a
lrago2 40
hven in the history Of monarchs who
ave hadtheir thrones overtbrown by sue.
sssful rebellions, and have suffered The most |
A,er misery, insult aud Affections, at the L
ands OF sheir subjects, we may End exam.
les OF temperance, moderation and clemeo.
!, ~ the hoarsof victory, which, we are
oftIHed to say, may be read with profit Il
I'D IN struction by the people orthis Repnb.
G, who ought to iced no lessons in The du-
es OF Christian charity and democratic
baralily moderation and generosity.
We may even 60 so FAR back as the resto.
ltion of charles Ii, over two hundred yearsl
50, for such lesson. That monarch, with
indlsputable constitutional title to- tlletIi
lrone, had beenza wanderer and outcastl
r twenty years. lie, had suffered every
rong, affection and indignityat the hands
his rebellious subjects. He had seen his I
lther leave the prison for the scaffold-had c
zen hunted Tor years like 4 wild beast
ID been reduced to misery, want and il. Ia
'nlnous dependence upoa the charity oil c
rcIgners. And yet, wien restored to his IL
rome, and to soiatepower, he volunteered E
declaration Of universal amnesty IN favor !,
all who had participated in the revolu.ioni !,
, which he had been SO long made f ..;.'
Fe and eessar-exceptIng only sihose $
hon less humane and generous Parlia b
ent demanded should lie excluded from I
Grey, to.wit, the murderers" Of his own n
Their. Honest and patriotic as these regi-lI !,
les doubtless were, their fate excited hut =
tie sympathy, as theyperished by the same :
sans and the same justice which they had .
goked against political enemy.
Tie policy Of this course of Charles was b
lly indicated by the long reign of peace b
q good feeling which followed; and it was d
" when Ills successor. the gloomy and y
ndictiVc James, sought toseyiYe tie old =,
item OF pnnishing political oHendels and :,
|itioncrs, by the scatfold, the lhumbscrew, u
ltilations aud confscations; that the spirilI g
discomfort, disafection and reYolutioni0l
gan to be aroused again among the Bit |ct
people. The revolution Of 1858, which il
ced William Of 0rangesontie throne offflj
Stuarts. was the result ofsaLe narrow.l;, 3,
hded and retrogressive policy Of James. j