New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-24
LOUIS BLANC.

HIS OPINION OF LOUIS NAPOLEoN-vEws on
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.
To the Editor NJ The TrtbWRe
SIR Fourteen years ago was present at
little social ga,he London at which Louis Blanc was
entertained after hs first lecture In English We In En-
Gland had ourselves only Just escaped from what threat
ened 10 De Cbartist revolution The halfstaryed mul
,tude petitioned the Government In vain III FAVOR OF
the Charter and the leaders had been imprisoned hed
or transported life felons do not Intend SAID
Louis Blanc to NEEDLE with English politics while
AN, under the protection Of the English Government.
consider that such would be in bad taste IL
was foolish in Iedru Ron, IL would be unerateul IN
me- but even II did feel 80 inclined should not know
where to begin. do not understand your people Ihey
appear as though they were towards; and yet Know
them to be the brayest of the brave "What impresses
you with the idea Of their cOwardice" asked "Why
he replied /" it uncomfortable that nation can
suffer 80 much and as q nation see the remedy demand
that il he applied carry that demand to such an ex-
IRENE, backed up by ion OF men to the very doorS
of the House of Commons and then turn round, allow
the organization 10 be scattered TO the Winds see us
leaders teachers betrayed transported ana mpil
oned-all its cherished doctrines laughed 10 without
1ying TO arms The twentieth part OF such organiza
ton In Paris would dehrone the King, scatter the lazy
aTistocracy, and build up Republic"
"You must remember" replied q gentleman, that
our consructiyeski In Governments is not Of the
order as your own; and then would rather bear the
Ills we have than fly to others that know not off,
Governments" he answered, to be secure must De
progressive The human body, are told, throws OH
all ts old material every seven years. Ana snni-
larly Governments ought to have brains enough 10 us
cover when law has become efee and replace IL WIN
hetter Good statesmen should be like good woodmen;
they should op OFF all the dead wood that 1t may not In
,orfere with IL growth OF the trunk Your constructive
skill "a YOU term It, IT, the whole, superior to ours
though inferior to the American. You make your gov
ernnents last like your merchandise. Your greatest
fault appears to consists in the you are 'oo
couservatye-too much Mortified at innovations; you
do not like novelythOugh for the matter OF thaI here
is little novelty Republic"
! "What" asked loyal Englishman "do you think Oh
| our Queenl"
"I am too much ola Frcnchman." he'repled ITO war
against a woman and especially such woman she Is
SO superior the Office she holds, and ali s surrouno-
ngs that am astoniShed she should be 80 good as se
isbpt then she Is an Engishwoman, and does not live
| at Paris"
"What comparison can you make ibetween her and the
present Emperor Of the Frencl2"
| "Ahout az much as you can between a hawk and q
| dove" 'Why eagloi' suggested man present.
"No' Sir; an eagle IA cuel but noble bird He dis
dains to use cunning and subterfuge TO entrap his
! victim. He will not def his own pumage to put on
another meeker birds, that he may hy with his VIC
tins until they far awa from all protection, ana
then swoop down uor them when they least expect It,
thing worthy of his kingy stomach. He is prepared TO
fight for it, too If opposed We had eagle once (N.
poleon whom 60 at least some satisfaction.
| We have hawk OF the owl tribe now, whom to serve
ia to &c surely dsgraced-a carrion bird; never mem
| ton hs name I'm connection with your Queen"
'HCw Is II" asked " that almost all Frenchmen hold
this man such utter contemplated yet sit down 50
tamcy under his rule What is the secret OF his power'
eve are all the time wondering what friends and
fellowcitizens are thinking about. There l. lack Of
that outspokenness which you English TO possess
We cannot speak through the press because that belongs
10 the Emperor. We cannot hold public meetings,
because they are packed with Government spies. We
can only como to each other through the medium Of
secret cOncayes perhaps loudest taker In the
pay OF the Government This hOrrd state OF things sapS
the found alton of mutual and confidence, and
makes every man look upon his friend as traitor
hence the nation is SILENT silent death; ay and more
TO be feared when the rreprcssble instinct Of
dying liberty shall burst through this niquous, ts
dastardy silence and shake the nation with ITS tones OF
thunder"
Then you do believe in the permanence OF the Ma
pOleonc dynastyl
No. cold heartless, cynical, proud, naughty unforgiv
ing Napoleon will fail TO reach the hearts Of warm and
too enthusiastic people Incompetent and shortsighed,
dull and almost stupid he will too heavily for
uswin never perpetuate in others the power he has
TAen You do not consider that he possesses than
"Certanly not, but he possesses two i4lties which
more than compensate for the lack ~ many 9th rs
patience which nothing can tire, and indn.t hch
never flags. He also possesses marv'I M EtuIy or
numerical calculation. He would make fire rto man
ager Of a bank, or an Oyerlooker for factor
"Do you think he possesses physical co .-f '
mo; he was always II coward, both ~ physi-
ca-and then he cannot bear satire. He would sooner
he called murderer and DE feared such, than fool,
and lie pitied. We could make him light at school
do not approve OF fighting, myself look upon 1t as
the argument of fools but good man u always ready
for IT. wien necessary preserve his honor Nou
ask concerning his moral character. presume You
his private character for of cOu - You cannot
have doubt Of his public His public acts will be pub
lcly judged, and believe, publicly avenged. But his
private character ia gross tlan his public.
His virtue present pleasure. He is roue and as
OF your authors expresses It, he does not cOnine
| himself 10 the drawing-rOOm. lie viii 20 into the
| kitchen-anywhere. indeed, for qualification"
"What aro his relig Ous yews!"
"Ic has none. lie the name of God unlcss
| i'm bias pheme to accommodate himself to the
| tionaies Of tie company he may be In. 10 not so
| much wonder mt this. All our great mon either
prizes skeptics fear some Of the former an
the description a the latter and This another
reason why he will be aola To found
Empire NJ skcptic become the sful ruler OF
great nation any more than lac can be father of a
good and VrtuOus family. His sbcpticsm IL practical
lie lacks faith In everything great and good Therefore
progress or development under such rule l. an impOs
sibty and national decaywth social anarchy newt
able. We had opportunity OF testing his military
SKILL but he Is too slow TO he good strattgis Oh the
field lie would not fail for lack Of patience much
for want of dash and bodneSs patience IL undoubtedly
necessary tn successful commander, especially In
| prOtractcd war, but 10 may become serious incum-
brance and lose an army II abused. Your own yelling
| ton, and Washington have proved this."
SO many of these prophetic remarks have been luSti
to write them out for the benefit of your readers. c.
Ncr York, Nov. II. 1870.