The Portland daily press., 1869-09-30

Inc substitution of liberal for despotic
government is one of the most hazardous
operations in a nations existence and if not
Judicionsly managed, its immediate results
are morally certain to be disastrous. Light
and darkness are not more dissimilar than
liberty and despotism. The qualities which
make a loyal and obedient subject do not
produce the manly and self reliant citizen.
Human nature when habituated to subiee-
tion, cannot at once adapt Itself to the new
and radically different conditions in which it
finds itself under popular government. I'm
der these circumstances it is as natural to
abuse liberty and run into excess as for
child who, having been accustomed to the
care and guidance of parent, is suddenly
and without previous preparation, launched
upon the larger opportunities for good and
evil which the absence of restraint enables
him to enjoy. A man born blind and sud-
denly restored to sight, would hardly be more
at loss how to conduct himself. The trans
formation of the subject into the citizen re-
quires time and special training. To avoid
danger the change must proceed gradually, so
that each stage of progress will be calculated
to form habits suited to the exigences that
are to follow. A government is not like an
unused edifice which can be torn down and
replaced by another built up from the founda-
tlons. Its protection is needed while the re-
pairs are going on. The transition must be
like the renewal of the human body in which
decay and renovation proceed particle by par
ticle.
The development of the British Constitu-
ton has been thus gradual and benefcent.
Authority has yielded fast enough to admit of
progress without giving place to anarchy.
Each successive struggle has been sufficiently
severe and protracted to discipline tho victors
for their triumph, and to make them respect
their antagonists enough to use success with
moderation. But the change has been going
on for centuries and is not yet completed.
1t is not however in every institution that
this happy balance is to be found. Rulers are
prone in their short-sightedness, to weaken
opposition to authority by sitting the nobler
aspirations of their people. These aspira-
tions can only assert themselves with success
when the government becomes too weak
either to guide them with firm hand, or to
offer such a resistance as shall inspire respect
and compel moderation. This has been the
Use with France. Three times has she at
tempted to realize her dreams of liberty
The first time the passion of revolution tri-
umphlng almost without struggle over the
contemplate resistance Offered by the weak
government of Louis XVI, spent itself in
wild and brutal excesses at which mankind
shuddered, and short-lived experiments first
with one constitution and then with another.
These experiments we're cut short by des-
potism which overlook them in the midst,
and the people weary with incessant commo-
tion, willingly yielded to it for the repose it
promised. The revolution of 1880 procured
but change of masters, while in 1S4S re-
public was once more attempted and super
seded as tefore by an empire.
The present emperor shows disposition to
profit by the experience of his predecessors.
AS successive elections admonish him of the
growth of liberal sentiments, he has sagacity
enough to discover that it will be prudent to
yield to the spirit of reform while he remains
strong enough to guide it. He does
not disdain even to learn something
from his British neighbor and rival. If
he can make France a constitutional
monarchy with a responsible ministry, and
can live long enough to consolidate his re.
forms, he will deserve the credit of doing
more for the emancipation of France than
any previous ruler. Happy will it be for
France, happy for him and for his dynasty, if
he perseveres resolutely and faithfully in the
work he has inaugurated. The danger is that
by avacillation and Inconsistency which some
times characterizes his conduct, he may undo
what is so auspiciously begun. A prophetic
faith and aprofound, comprehensive and uu-
selfish sympathy with the aspirations of hu-
mainly, must constitute elements in states
manship of the highest order. An enlight-
ened selfshness is the highest craftsmanship
OF which Bonaparte can conceive. If the
Emperor can exhibit even this he NAV per-
petuate his dynasty. Otherwise his last days
may exhibit the same example of lost pres
tlge as those of Louis XIV, and when he
dies he will expire amid the dissolving elc-
ments CT that empire which he has made it
his life work to consolidate.