Carroll Free Press

From the Cincinnati Gazette.

American Locofocoism and French Radicalism.

In many particulars, there is a striking analogy between the condition and conduct of parties in this country and Republican France, and a close political similitude in the character of their respective leaders. American Locofocoism attempted to subvert the constitutional authorities in Rhode Island, and had the selfish and revolutionary purposes of Dorr and his followers been fortified by that courage, which gives might to right, its history would have been a bloody record instead of a "contemptible farce." This Dorrite movement received either the sympathy or open countenance of the Locofocos throughout the Union.

American Locofocoism in the State of Ohio, repudiating the Republican doctrine that political and constitutional majorities should govern, sought to arrest and finally subvert the Legislative authority of the State, by a cowardly "squatulation;" and then appealing to the passions and prejudices of their party associates, called a Convention to deliberate in mock solemnity upon the alarming crisis which their Dorrite movement was intended, but failed, to produce; and then, with a patriotic foresight, "worthy the pure and heroic days of the Republic," these agitators, desirous of preserving public order and tranquility within the limits of the late Commonwealth, elect a "Committee of Public Safety"—a Provisional Government!

American Locofocoism regardless of "inevitable" desolation, demoralization, and political dissolution, recklessly advocates aggressive war and territorial conquest—and having plunged the country in an "unnecessary" war, without the advice and consent of Congress, seeks to disgrace the glorious Whig chieftains, whose heroic valor rescued the Locofoco administration from infamy, and contributed the brightest pages to the military history of the nation.

The Republicans of France, imitating the glorious example of the "Whigs of seventy-six," rightfully and nobly severed the ties which bound them to an oppressive and arbitrary monarchical dynasty. The Whigs of France, under the directions of their patriotic leaders, Lamartine, Dupont, Pages and others; with an energy, ability and singleness of purpose seldom witnessed commenced the difficult task of organizing a government of regulated popular liberty; while the French Locofocos, under Rollin and his horrible associates, attempted to embarrass and defeat their efforts by radical appeals to the passions and prejudices of the multitude, by arraying the poor against the rich, class against class, and by exciting the war spirit of the masses to engage in a general crusade for the liberation of the oppressed of all nations.— The persuasive eloquence and stern energy of Lamartine, gave public opinion a right direction and checked Rollin and his confederates in their schemes of agitation.

The people at length proclaimed their judgment at the ballot-box, triumphantly sustaining Lamartine and Whig conservative principles, and repudiating Rollin and French Locofocoism.

Rollin and his followers, like Dorr and his associates, and Dr. Olds and his confederates, were unwilling to submit to the popular judgment of the majority, or yield to constitutional authority—and like them, the French Jacobins sought to subvert—break up the existing government, by popular agitation and mob violence. And again the considerate determination of Lamartine and other French Whigs, aided by the strong arm of the citizen soldiery, rescued the government from the Locofoco "committee of public safety."

Such are few of the analogies between American and French Locofocoism.

Notwithstanding these political and personal similitudes, the American Locofocos, in National Convention assembled, apparently desirous of being on both sides, in imitation of the Presidential nominee, tender "fraternal congratulations to the National Convention of the Republic of France." In the spirit of thankfulness, we briefly announced the Act as a "generous" acknowledgement of a Whig triumph of France—whereat the editor of the "Ohio Statesman" was instantaneously incensed, and made public out-cry, that "for cool, consummate impudence it had (has) no parallel."

We hasten to acknowledge, that the statement was made without due explanation and consideration. The editor of the Statesman is a leading Locofoco—a member of the "Committee of Public Safety" in the State of Ohio—and a sensitive numeral of the "Provisional Government" of our late Commonwealth; and we, inconsiderately, hazarded the laconic announcement, without exhibiting the close resemblance between American and French Locofocos.

Having now done it, we rely upon the approved "generosity" of the "Committee-man," to guarantee our public and private safety, which we feel to be in danger.