New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-05
ENGLISH AND FRENCH REPUBLICS.


glance at the fate OF the English essay at a com,
wealth which preceded, and to the French expert
ment al IeFubiic, which followed institution
"of new stale Of q species" VIII show the marvel
uis ,dDm Of our ancestors. which struck the line
hrtwecr little aud too much which walked 10y faith
indeed things inys bic but yet by sight FOR things
visible; which dared TO appropriate everything 10 tie
PEOPLE which had belonged to Cesar but to assume Tor
mortals nothing that belonged TO God
No doubt 1t was a deberaton OF proGlsous difficulty.
and 4 decision of Infinite moment Which should settle
the new iusiuicUs Of England after the execution OF
the + ug aud determine whether they should be popular
or mon arclca The problem too vast for Cromwell
and the great woo stood about bin, and hating
between the only possible OPTIONS, they simply robbed
he throne OF stability, without giving 10 the people the
choice OF their rulers. Had Cromwell assumed the slate
and style OF King and assigned the constitutional limits
prerOgatiye. the stacsmen OF England would have
anticipated the establishment OF lJss. and saved the
dsgraces Of the intervening record II, the other
hand the eycr-recugng consent Of the people In yestug
tie Chief MagstVacy had been accepted FOR the Consu
ton OF the state the revolution would have been ute
gdolc and might have proved permanent But what
Lord Protector" nobody hncW. and what he mi-ht
grow to be everybody wondered and feared. The aris
tocracy could endure dignity above them less than
kings The people knew the measure and the tito Of
the chartered liberties which had been wnested or
yielded the Kings prerogaye; hut What the dyis
ion between them aud Lord Prot ctor would he
above and the lrn earth beneath. with poise with
either, and tIe dscordant scheme rolled away ms "a
scroll. hundred years alterward NOnesqueu deridcd
tits impoteut effort OF the English 10 establish de-
mocracy" and OWNED the OF ItS failure. The
supreme place, no longer sacred by the divinity that
doth hedge about king. rrtI,ed the ambitious 10 which
it inaccessible, except by faction and violence.
"IAe Government was necessarily eLaugcd, aud the
astouished people sought for democracy aud found t
nowhere. After much violence and many shocKs and
blows they TAIN In fall back upon the govern
m.nt they had oyertArown."
The English experiment TO make commonwealth
without sinking its foundations into the arm bed Of
popular soycrrI.nty, neeass1r y failed Its example
and It's lesson, estOnaby, were of the greatest
vice in SOLDERING tie spirit OF English reform in govern
meu tue sohl establishment OF constitutional mo1
archy. on tho expulsion Of the stuir,s and m giving
courage TO the statesmen u the American Revolution
push to the solid establishment Of republican govern
mcut with the consent OF the people It's every day
wording force
But II the English experiment stumbled in It's logic
by not going far enough, the French philosophers
to greater disaster By ovcpassinS the lines Which mark
the limits " human authority ana human liberty, when
they undertook to redress the sordeged balance between
people and rulers aud reuOyate tie Government OF
France To tue wrath Of the people against kings and
priests they gave course only 10 the overthrow
OF the establishment of the Church aud state but TO the
destruction Of religion and society. They deided man.
I
on the plain OF shiuar. which should overtop thu bat
Elements of heaven, and faCe constitution OF human
affairs that should dspllce the providence Of God.
confusion uf tOullrs put end 10 ss ambition. Aud
ont of al its evil have come the saiut ~ checks
ami discipline n freedom when have brought passion
ate and icrlid France 10 the scheme aud frame Of
sohr aud hrm republic like our own, and We may hope
! durable.
VI.
OUR DEBT To TIE MEN OF 1776.
How much then, hung upon the decision OF the great
day we celebrate, and upon tie wisdom aud che will Of
the who fixed the immediate, and II the pres mt
fortunes this people. II the body the spirit the
texture Of political life had not been collectively de-
clarcd this day. who be bold enough to when
and how Independence. liberty, union would have been
combined Confirmed assured TO this peoplei Behold,
now the greatness OF debt 10 this ancestry and the
fountain as from rock smien in the WILDERNESS, from
which the stream of this nations growth and power
takes its source For II Is not alone In the memory OF
their wisdom and virtues that the founders Of state
transmit and pcrpetuate their influences In us lasting
fortunes aud shape the character and purposes ~ rs
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