58 MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 7. 



religious belief (although Catholic) was much more 

 liberal than Germany. The causes . of the greater re- 

 semblance of people of the United States to France and 

 England, than to Germany, were stated to be in closer 

 proximity, more frequent intermarriages, comparative 

 immunity from the full inundation of Eastern immigra- 

 tion. Lutheranism had always been intolerant, and by 

 reason of the military power of Germany was now more 

 dangerous to religious liberty than papacy. Although 

 France was deficient in primary education, as compared 

 with Germany, this had not prevented her from showing 

 superior results in science, invention, production, wealth 

 and literature. Her previous experience in political ex- 

 periments had better fitted her to make a successful trial of 

 republicanism than any country of Europe. In this con- 

 nection the constitutional history of France for one hun- 

 dred years was partially sketched. The previous failures 

 were not to be wondered at, and the excesses of the 

 French Revolution of 1789 could be ascribed to the lonsf 



o 



continued despotism under which they had suffered prior 

 to that time. Yet in these excesses there was a striving 

 after scientific government, except where overcome by 

 mob violence. They had made war even on duodecimals, 

 and had endeavored to apply the decimal system to the 

 measurement of time, of quantity, and of weight. Na- 

 poleon I had infamously attempted to destroy all the 

 progress that had been made toward modern notions of 

 liberty and economy. He had endeavored to restore 

 the ancient regime, and though starting as a democrat, 

 had constantly tried to bring on a reaction in favor of 

 despotism. Restoring a state church and the court cere- 

 monial, he had finally wound up his career in a catas- 

 trophe, viz., the Russian campaign, so frightful, that it 

 had cancelled the glory of his most brilliant exploits. 



