The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-31 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1849.

Another year being now en the eve of its comple-
tion, a political panorama of profound intricacy and
extraordinary magnitude naturally reveals itself to
the corr,d,ieration of the reflective journalist. Two
perspectives of enthralling interest spontaneously
present themselves for our contemplation—one shall
to day be the theme of our comments, the vista of the
past; the other being reserved for remark to-morrow,
the vista of the future. In estimating the character
of 1848 we had to designate it the Year of Revolu-
tion—in estimating, at the present moment, the
character of its successor, 1849, we have to regard it
as the Year of Counter-Revolution.

Almost everywhere throughout the European
continent the war of races and castes has
raged with terrible ferocity and persist-
ance. During the last twelve months, nations
and classes have been arrayed against each other ;
and after a temporary success on the part of certain
heroic nationalities, the peoples of Europe have found
themselves ground down under the heel of military
despotism. In reality the contest has been out car-
ried on between brute force and opinion, between the
soldiery and the populace. For a while the victory
has remained with the former ; for a while the holy
cause of Democracy has been vanquished by an unholy
Coalition ; for a while, owing partially to the concen-
tration of large bodies of armed men upon diffe-
rent points of the movement, and partially to the
enervating remorse consequent upon certain unhappy
excesses committed in the first paroxysms of popular
vengeance, the evil vigour of tyranny has been
predominant, and the development of demo-
cratic institutions retarded. Flushed with the
grandeur, the brilliancy, and the magnitude of the
achievements gained by them in 1848, the people of the
continent doubtless opened to their adversaries the
opportunities inrari Ably consequent upon over.confi-
deuce. Their rapid acquisition of power induced them
to believe possibly that its retention was too secure
to give them a moment's cause for anxiety. They
had drawn the sword of freedom, and the mere terror
of that glorious brand had palsied the arms of their
antagonists. They had raised the gorgon-buckler of
Democracy—with a LAMARTINS for their PERSEUS
and Liberty for their ANDROMEDA—and the pomp of
royalty had been frozen by the spectacle of
that golden elgis, the shield of civilization. They
had lit the torch of Republicanism, and
the last fragments of the old feudal constitutions
had melted away like wax before the names of Freedom,
Such was the progress of occurrences during the
Year of Revolution ; since then, namely, during its
successor, memorable as the Year of Counter-Revolu-
tion, the Reactionists hare risen again, slowly,
fiercely, and resolutely, and, after a struggle, which
has proved as bloody as it was ferocious and pro-
tracted, have beaten back their conquerors with the
overwhelming and tremendous strength imparted to
them by the inspirations of despair. The blow
stricken by Liberty against Despotism has recoiled,
it is true, yet terrible as its impetus has proved
it is, happily, in no respect comparable in
energy to that imparted by its originators. On
the 31st of December, 1848, the Democratic move-
ment was still triumphant, and its success was of a
nature so complete and effectual that, though for a
time it might be baulked in its efforts at ulterior
conservation, the forces of feudality could never
again acquire their ancient prestige and superiority.
On this the 31st of December, 1849, the Aristocratic
movement is glorying in the recollection of its
victories, though, thanks be to the Gov of heaven, its
triumph is only of the most partial end evanescent
del,cription. If for no other reason the vanquished
peoples are stronger in defeat than the successful
despots in the hour of their ovation, for the

mere virtue of their contrasting remembrances. The
conquering republics of 1848 will go down to future
ages with the memory of their moderation and mag-
nanimity. The conquering monarchies of 1849 will
be doomed to everlamting reprobation and abhorrence
from the knowledge of their stupendous turpitude and
diabolical inhumanity. In the one case the peoples