The National Register.
London, England, 1818-10-19 00:00:00

I
Zrb t 7pLatitinal

N o. 558.—V0n,. X I.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

THE HOLY ALLIANCE. •

THE mysterious intentions of the Holy Alliance, as
it has been called, are now avowed. The object of ceis
Confederacy is acknowledged to be a league Of Sove-
reigns in support of Monarchical authority. On this
stinect the following observations are *so'seusible, and
the langnnge so forcibly expressive, that we unites',
tatiugly insert them from a cotemporary Journal-.
feeling glared our Readers will be much gratified by
their perusal.

• At the commencement of the revolutionary war
• with France, when it was the common cant of coat-
.
tiers, that " this was the cause of crowned heads,"
a learned and distinguished divine shrewdly remarked,
• then I know what is the cause of uncrowned heads."
• The feeling, thus truly expressed by our countryman,
• pervaded Europe at that period, weakened all the
' exertions of the Allies, and contributed as much as the
enthusiasm of her armies to the astonishing success of
• the Freawh Republic. The abuse of victory on the
part of France, her scandalous want of faith to those
• mho minded in her promises, end, above all, the
degrading despotism to which she unreluctantly sub-
' mitted, gradually obliterated this feeling; and the
• disasters of her Russian campaign enabled the nations
• she had deceived and abused, to shake off her yoke.—
' Can it be the wish of the Sovereigns to revive among
• their subjects the sentiments that prevailed at the
• commencement of the French Revolution? Do they
suppose it was attachment to them, and not iudig-
• nation at the inflonous oppression of France, that
roused the world against Napoleon ? Do they imagine
• that those who wished well to Fiance at the beginning
of her revolutionary caner, arc become indifferent to
• liberty? Do they think arbitrary power will be to-
' lerated by their subjects, provided it is exercised by
legitimate Sovereigns ? What means this holy alliance
—this armed coalition in support of monarchical au-
thorito—this guorantee y/ recognised dynasties against
the democratic spirit of ticir subsi•••'s V Must nations
submit in future with resignation to every sort of
' oppression it may please their sovereigns to inflict ?
If they attempt resistance to established authority,
however weakly or wickedly administered, must they
• expect to be opposed and punished by the united
force of all the Sovereigns of Europe ? Is there to he
no term or limit to tyranny, except the will of So-
' vercigns and their Ministers? Arc nations henceforth
• to be considered as so many gangs of slaves, without
redress or protection against the cruelty, rapacity, or
• caprice of their masters ? Is this the reward of their
p• atriotic exertions against France? Are these the
' fruits of the deliverance of Europe ? What worse
could have happened under Napoleon ?
' Before this unholy league is eon,unimated at Aix-
' la-Chapelle, we beseech the assembled Sovereigns to
pause, and to reflect a moment on the state of the
• world and of themselves. They roost be aware, that
• the hostilities which have c esolated Eurcpe for the
• last twenty five years, have bad more the character
of a civil or religious war, than of a contest of nation
• against nation. Mankind have been nod are still di-
' vided into two parties, the advocates of ancient vi-
• leges and existing abuses, and the friends of reform
6 and good government ; and if Kings and Ernoel-nrs
• will condescend to inquire, they will find, Ir:latover
• the Nletternichs, the Hardenbero, and the Castle-
' reaghs, may tell them to the contrary, that the latter
are not the least numerous o: least powerful party.—
' Arc the Sovereigns prepared to drive so considerable
• a portion of their subjects to despair ? Have they so
• soon fiohnit their laic situation under Napoleon ?
• Ten years ago it was in the power oft he exile of St.
IlaCna to have swept theta and their dynasties from