New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-13
SPAIN AND FRANCE As REPUBLICS.


the constitutions of the two monarchies
founded by the Germans in England and
France respectively, a most profound
English statesman says:
shall not indulge myself in guessing at
the reasons, or accidents, that determined
the Franks to the division they made OF
their people, and to the form Of government
they established. Whatever reasons or az.
cideDts determined them, this is certain,
that the distinction of lord and vassal be-
came the general destruction of the whole
nation; that the commons among them were
little better than slaves. whatever they had
been in Germany, aud that they were 80
Injured to servitude under their kings, pre-
lates and lords that they looked on them
selves at last, not Justly, but unjushy, as
men that had naught, no, not even right
by nature, to any share in the government
OF that community whereof they made 80
vastly the principal part.
This dissertation, written two centuries
since, has been confirmed by two French
revolutions. In both cases the people,
like enfranchised and Infatuated "vassals, y
rushed upon the upper class and slew
them outright. There was no such rela-
ton between the lord and the laborer as
united their interests in any perceptible
sense. Ages of oppression had ground
the one class into the dust and elevated
the other to the Hottest height Of AFRO
gance The amalgamated interests of
capital and toll are not perfected in Eng
land, nor indeed anywhere else except in
the United States. Yet the early extinc-
ton Of vassalage in England has made
the revolutions of England and Of her
colonies simple contest for the partition
of political power, and not an insurrec-
ton for robbery and massacre.
Taking the history Of Roman civiliza-
ton in the latter empire, we should rather
suppose that the social despotism and
popular instability of Spain and France
arose rather from adopting the institutions
Of the Latin race than from having per-
verted those Of Germany. Italy herself,
until her subjugation by Austria, was
crushed under combination Of social
and secular oppression which made her
lower orders slaves and robbers. Never
before did superstition and force entwine
their sceptres for mutual and common
At war always with England
md English ideas, Spain and France
quilt up an antagonistic system of govern
ment and religion. England, by grand
let's of emancipation, removed the class
distinctions. The serf became the farmer
md the merchant, and was SO deeply in
crested in the property as no longer to
ear or hate the mere titled pretender to
ocial superiority.
France and Spain successfully sup
pressed the development Of intellect and
be aspirations of right among their |
copies. The most Catholic Bourbons, Y
nth the aid of the popes and the priest
God, kept the people in serfdom. The |
rst paroxysm of revolutionary liberty |
'as fearful. It overlooked all limits of |
Nv and religion in anarchy and infdelity.
in France it has become more
loderate, though the ignorance and
aired of sertdom is plain in the COM
lunal violence and cruel punishment of
,e last years.
We have read with interest the speech
Mr.. Allen, of Ohio. Though made
18th party object, it yet contains truth
ost important to Republicans. 1t is:
lat the value and permanency of free
overnment must depend on the virtue of
5 representatives. But this, again, must
st upon the intelligence and integrity of
e constituent body.
Spain and France carry into the forms
an elective government the spirit of an
tocracy. A body of representatives
ect president, the chief of an army or
prime minister. The acts of this repre-
NATIVE body are as arbitrary as those
a monarch. There is exile, imprison-
ant, death by shooting just as under
Hip or Louis. These people do not
mprehend the self restraints of a con-
tuition. They do not recognize that all J
wer is derived from the people; nor do &
g people of Spain and France compre-
nd what it has required some centuries 6
strife in England and America to es- 7
'lish-the partition of the power to s
Ter, execute and adjudgc confded to '
zee separate and independent political t
encies. 1t is as if the owner of treas i
, should give three keys Of his strong f
K to three servants so that nothing p
I'D be withdrawn without the con- I
business of all. the custodians. OF s
lrse, we agree with Mr.. Allen, of Ohio, E
It unless these three keepers are trust s.
rthy they will combine to defraud their is
ster, from which comes the necessity !,
popular education, and the cultivation 3
and religion as the first terms Il
republican capacity.
france and Spain have some distance f,
travel before they attain the object of 8;
who love freedom. Spain, with her n
aiding monarch, her subdivision of re- :,
'licans, her despotic and dishonest rule =,
cuba, has scarcely begun her journey. II
nee is further advanced, but has yet b
CD to learn. Germany has more ele- i,
ats of republican freedom than any -
ion of modern Europe. Proud and ~,
teful towards the author of her great "
itary reunion, Germany has crushed
the State rights of the principahties
"Gerolsteins. They have been all
onalized under an Emperor. We fir
lld not at any time be surprised e