The New York herald., 1869-03-07
Lamartinc and tho French ReveIutieu Of
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to alight on those high places of political
power which the mere politician climbs to by
tortuous paths, and which the successful
soldier conquers by the sword, his very finest
qualities are perilous snare the breadth Of
his vision and the wealth Of his organization
constitute at once his strength and his weak
ness. He cannot but look from higher than
the ordinary point of view upon the conflicts
that rage between the extreme portions Of
hostile systems-between monarchy and de-
mocracy, order and liberty, religion and phi
losophy Church and State. 1t has been well
said that he sees too clearly and respects too
much the element Of truth and justice which
each system possesses to pursue the triumph
Of the one to the determination or the en-
shaving Of the other. Overlooking facts which
are the necessities Of the present in favor Of
the ideal, which perhaps may become the
reality of the future, the poet surveys the
battle from too lofty position to be able to
direct and control it, and, apart from those
hours of crisis in which personal courage and
genius exercise an immediate fascination, his
eloquence is almost as useless as 1t is splendid.
But the early days Of the revolution of lS48
were full Of such hours of crisis, and the feats
Of eloquence which Lamartine then performed
were as truly heroic as the deeds Of con-
querors. Moreover, they were witnessed, as
we have already had occasion to say, by
greater multitude Of spectators than ever be-
fore gath cred around a contemporaneous scene
in history. No other orator had previously
addressed so vast an audience. The means
which modern science is daily multiplying for
the transmission Of thought had infinitely
widened the sphere of his direct influence.
The very lightning of heaven caught his words
and bore them over two continents to the re-
motest bounds of earth.
Lamartine was pre-eminently the hero Of the
third French revolution. That revolution,
like every other, although the result Of accu-
mulating causes, was surprise. "France
went to bed monarchy and woke up repub-
lic." During the fiery interval Lamartine
energies from the reveries of poet to face
practical emergencies. Calmly and courage
ously he accepts the situation. He becomes
a man of action, and, grasping power with q
firm hand, he saves France from anarchy and
bloodshed On the memorable Oath of Feb
ruary his voice is heard above the tumult in
the Chamber. He expresses the feelings in
spired by spectacle well fitted to move a
poet and historian-that Of princess coming
forward with her innocent son, after having
left deserted palace, to place herself under
the protection of nation; he expresses also
his admiration Of people who had fought
during two days against peridious govern
ment for the purpose of re-establishing order
and liberty; he insists upon boldly sounding
the mystery Of the right of nations, and pro-
poses the formation of government not de-
finite, but provisional-a government to be
charged, first of ALL with the task of stanch-
ing the blood at that moment flowing, of put
ting stop to civil war. At the Hotel de-
Vile, on the following day, he rises Eve
times, sublime as the Neptune of Virgil,
to assuage the tempest of popular fury.
The early proclamations Of the provisional
government bear the impress of his
mind. In his official announcement of
the republic, he declares the abolition of the
penalty of death for political offences-''the
noblest decree that ever issued from the mouth
of people the day after their victory" He
electrifes the people. He improvises the
Garde Mobile. He proclaims political equality.
He DEGREES national sovereignty. He breaks
the chains of slavery. He abolshes test oaths
and sets free the conscience. He effaces from
the maritime code corporal punishment,
from the penal code the pillory, and
grasses the writ Of arrest and imprison-
ment for debt. The circular sent out by him
as Minister Of Foreign Affairs is MASTER
piece, conceived in higher spirit than any
other similar document, and revealing the
firm, frank and moderate policy which he
wishes the agents of the republic to represent.
When the provisional government Is about to
retire from its exalted and responsible posi-
ton he addresses to the French nation, on
their behalf, q farewell which substantially
teaches the same impressive lesson as the fare
well address Of Washington to the American
people. On the 9th Of May, taking the place
of the aged Dupont (de rEure), the nominal
head Of the provisional government, he reads
to the Assembly magnificent page of history,
such only as his hand could pen, recounting
briefly the acts Of the government. On the
18th Of May, when the audacity Of few
conspirators had so far endangered the
State as to dissolve for moment the National
Assembly, he displays an energy equal
to his previous patience and conciliatory
spirit. Fastening on horseback to the Place
de rHotel de Vile, before the insurgents have
fairly mastered that decisive point, he rises in
his stirrups and makes one Of those brief,
thrilling utterances that tell with prodgous
effect when elaborate orations would be use
less, even If possible. He saves his country
a second time from the horrors of civil war.
No wonder that for many months the popularity