The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-23 00:00:00

ON THE PRESENT IiTATE OF EUROPE.

"It is within the scope of every man's intelligence that
Europa is very far from being in a norn.al state, or one
suitable to its populations.
" France, which holds beyond contradiction the first rank
among the continental powers, maintains six hundred thou-
sand radian under arms, one of the first fleets in the world,
and an immense number of government officiate for its in-
ternal security.
"England has not the same number of soldier', but a
superior fleet and a Verger number, perhaps, of officials for
the security of its distant possessions.
" Russia aid Prussia, for maintaining their equilibrium,
require also to keep in pay immense armies.
" The secondary States—were it only from a spirit of imi-
tation and to keep up appearances—are obliged to keep
themselves propotiimately on the same footing.
" I shall not speak ci Austria and the Ottoman empire—
both coodenined to decay for the happiness of the uuturtie
nets populations they have been oppressing for so many ages.
" Lastly, it may with reason be asked : Why this agitated
and violent state of Europe! Every one speaks of civiliza-
tion and progress ! It seems to rue that we differ little—
putting luxury out of the question—from those primitive
times when men contended for rapine. We pass our lives
in continually and mutually threatening one another, whilst
in Europe the great majority not only of ordinary but of
superior minds untleNtand very wall that this poor life of
man might surely be passed better than in this constant
state of menace and hostility, and without studying to kill
one another scientifically.
" Let us frame a supposition. Let us suppose Europe to
form only one state. Who would think of disturbing its
unity? To whom would the idea occur, I ask, of disturbing
the peace of Europe—this sovereign of the world On this
supposition there would be no longer any army or Beet, and
the immense sums diverted forcibly and almost invariably
from the wants and misery offthe peoples, to be lavished on
sanguinary and unprofitable services, would be con-
verted to its use by a colossal development of
industry—to the improvement of roads, the con-
struction of bridges, the cutting of meals, the founds-
thin of public establishments, and the building of schools, to
rescue from wretchedness and ignorance so many poor crea-
tures, who in every country of the world, whatever their
stage of civilization, are condemned to the degradation and
prostitution of soul or body by selfish maladministration
un the part of the privileged and powerful clamed.
"Well I the realisation of the social reforms I mentioned
depends simply on a powerful and puree= initiative ; for,
1 ask, under what circumstances has Europe offered a better
chance of meow for these benefits to mankind?
" Let us examine the situation in which Europe is at
this moment : Alexander 11. proclaiming in Ramie the
emancipation of the serfs ; Victor Emmanuel, in Italy,
throwing his sceptre as, gage upon the field of battle, and
exposiag his life for the regeneration of a noble race and a
gre. nation ; in England, a virtuous Queen and s generous,
wise nation, enthusiastic io the cause of oppressed nationali-
ties ; lastly, France called to be the arbiter of Europe by
the compactness and unity of its cowsentrated population,
the valour of its soldiers, and the recent glory of the moat
lrrillisnt period in its military history.
" Who, then, is to take the initiative in this great work!
Who but the country that marches in the van of the rem-
lution!
"The idea of a European confederation—projected by the
Chief of the French empire, awl which would spread
security and happiness throughout the world—is it not
Lotter thau all these political combination that daily Has
meat and agitate this poor people I
" The thought of the atrocious destruction which would
be occasioned by a single combat between the great
Western Powers—ought to fill with terror any one
who should oven imagine it, and probably there will
never be • coward so audacious as to take upon himself
the frightful responsibility of it.
The rivalry that has existed between France and Eng-
land from the 1-Ith century to our time still exists, but at
the present day with infinitely less intensity, and we state
this for the glory of human progress ; so that a transaction
between the two greatest nations of Europe, a transaction
having for its object the weal of hunamity, au no longer
be placed among the dreams and Utopian schemes of sanguine
men.
• Therefore, the basis of a European confederation is
metalling tread out by France and England. Let France
mid England frankly and loyally join Lauda, and Italy,
Spain. Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Switserlaml, Greece,
and Routnelia will come of their own accord, instinctively I
may say, to range themselves around them.
"Ire short, all the divided and oppressed nationalities,
the He:Livonia, Celtic, Germanic, Scandinavian races—in-
cluding gigantic Russia—would not choose to remain apart
from this politiod regeneration, to which they am salted by
the genius of the age.
" I know very well that an objection may naturally be
raised : What is to be done with these innumerable multi-
todes of men now employed in the armies tout navies! The
reply is easy. Whilst dismissing these multitudes,we should
be gettin rid at the same time of aggravating and noxious
institutions, and the minds of the sovereigns, ceasing to be
occupied with dreams of ambition, conquest, war, and
destruction, wield turn to the creation of useful institu-
Hots, and would demend from the study of generalities to
that of the interests of families, and even of individuals.
"Besides, by the growth of industry, and the severity of
trade, the mercantile navies would instantly absorb all the
active pert of military navies ; and the incalculable quantity
of works created by peace, association, and security would
engross all this armed population, even were it double its
present numbers.
"War being no longer possible, armies would become use-
less. But that which would not be useless is—to maintain
the people in its warlike and generous habits by means of
national militias, which would always be reedy to suppress
disorders, and any ambition attempting to violate the
European compact.
"1 ardently desire toy words to came to the knowledge of
those to whom God has confided this holy minion of doiug
good, and they will certainly oho it, preferring to false
ephemeral grandeur true greatness, based ea the love and
gratitude of the nations. " G. GARIBALDI."