Virtue, family life,
patriotism, honour, religion, are represented to a frivolous
generation as fitting subjects of ridicule. The theatres have
become schools of shamelessness and obscenity. Drop by drop,
poison is instilled into the very core of an ignorant and
enervated society, which has neither the insight nor the energy
left to amend its institutions, nor--which would be the most
necessary step to take--become better informed or more moral.
One after the other the fine qualities of the nation are dying
out. Where is the generosity, the loyalty, the charm of our
ESPRIT, and our former elevation of soul? If this goes on, the
time will come when this noble race of France will be known only
by its faults. And France has no idea that while she is sinking,
more earnest nations are stealing the march upon her, are
distancing her on the road to progress, and are preparing for her
a secondary position in the world.
"I am afraid that these opinions will not be relished in France.
However correct, they differ too much from what is usually said
and asserted at home. I should wish some enlightened and
unprejudiced Frenchmen to come to Prussia and make this country
their study. They would soon discover that they were living in
the midst of a strong, earnest, and intelligent nation, entirely
destitute, it is true, of noble and delicate feelings, of all
fascinating charms, but endowed with every solid virtue, and alike
distinguished for untiring industry, order, and economy, as well
as for patriotism, a strong sense of duty, and that consciousness
of personal dignity which in their case is so happily blended with
respect for authority and obedience to the law.
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