The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09

1t usedto be a part OF American patriotism
to believe that the French Revolution was An
outcome OF the Same movement which. on this
side Of the Atlantic. gave independence to the
thirteen colonies. Our Fourth OF July orators
were wont to speak as II the relation between
the uprising for self-gOvernment in Americs
and the great social upheaval OF France in
1889 had been that OF cause and efroct. French
historians. on the other hand have pursued a.
widely different course. and. as q rule have
made but slight account of American in
huence a a factor in tho transformation
of their country. In view OF such con
licting estimates there was obviously room
fora monograph on the subject. and in vol
ume entitled america AMI France. Mr.. LEWIS
RosENrHAL has undertaken to measure cN-
actly how much influence was cNerted upon
the French people by intercourse with America,
and by the example OF our struggle for indie
pendencc. The inquiry has demanded much
research in pamphlets newspapers. and what
may be described as the floating literature Of
the time: since, as we have said, materials are
notforhcomng in the works Of historians Mr..
RosenthaI has given great deal Of time and
pains to his task and the result of his investi-
cations is to throw much light on an interest
ing subject.
The general outcome Of this inquiry may Ia
said to be that the relation OF the American TO
the French Republic was that of stimulus
rather than Of model. The success of the
Americans in their struggle against the rc!a-
lively great power Of the mother country was q
potent encouragement to the friends of poit-
zeal reform in France, and Frenchmen who
had witnessed the comparative equality which
prevailed in the social system OF the revolt
ed colonies We're. of course. disposed TO rc-
gard a suppression Of the social differences
- 4. Ia
but practicable. But the moral force thus
exercised may be said to have spent It,
self in the Constitutional Assembly which
undertook to erect a constitutional mon
archy in France. and to have disappeared
as an appreciabe agency when tho Girondins
acquired ascendancy. The fact that our Con-
stitution, which had been framed less than two
years before the short-hved scheme, devised
for France by the Constitutional Assembly.
had been avowedy fashioned on the political
system supposed to be exhibited by England.
deprived American example Of the influence
which had attached to the abstract aiilrma'
ton Of the rights Of man contained in tic
Declaration of Independence. There were
plenty of Doctrmdires in Franco during
the revolutionary period. but their doe
trines were those Of Rousseau. and not
those which Roger Collard and the Duo
de Broglie tried afterward to dcduco from no
British Constitution, Even IN the CouIltVrn,
| Assembly proposition was dScred.tcd Ia'nst
! reproduce in France II feature OF the EGE,ish
| political system. After Lafayette ana ~
| friends who formed the party Of the FculIants
! in the Legislative Assembly were overthrow
| by the GlrondiRs. the notion that the Am,ii0Ah
pattern. was on tho whole deserving 4 .na'
| ton at the hands Of genuine Republicans.
would have been dcrided by the ma iy
| Of tho French Legislature; Whi.r Waa
] GlrOnNluS, however, retained poNfTt ...l
| showed themselves well disposed 70,
ward the United States rs being az al
events the country which aEurga,'nr',d q. ,.S
perfect typo. But when the advanced ger mn
ers Of tho Mountain became dlmtrHni r..4
| moderate expressions OF esteem ri' n .r'
| States were unheard. and the American l"j '',
! nc seemed rather 10 hc regarded ~ 49,.
beacon likely TO mi-gutde and wre. 'A., IT,
| ot thoroughgong patriots saint JUST -. a.,
Of tho United States in tho most disla. . ~
terms. and would not admit that our C.'..'l,
at roH a T'S Or tF Fg"H L W'ud '' ast Aaa:
ClooU declared that Fr"uahWrn SIS -
rreiHrosr9TFe wGr" thGy to iWW drst {9n Ng
lion 4 - Thomas Paine, wh,o L, e,
| Bri--ot for American institutions a 'n.N
ground q this attack on the GlrInIsi ..at
The truth Is thqt as Mr. E1SHntha. r.' ..s
! tho text book Of tho Convention was h"' ~"
nor tho . Common Sense Of raun N. no
! Social Contract 81 Rousseau. And IL l- = -
remembered that tho Constituent y u p...,Ii
Feailiapts, hal litlIs nn.r'.,e n sh92lrs ne e
REPUBLICAN, aspirations Of Franco dtl'n-
succeeding century AttAs mono uE
| more or loss distinctly Ir". EulTcd hN NJ.
name tie waySrcr. Who adler, 10 Any G,,, r.,
ment that seems likely o. tc UcrnHu"Hi, ..u
Convention which dtNUu'iSIrUI t,hl.A '"'-'''
! can institutions AID American ideas,