Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-09-27


long as they commit no foreign aggressons.
With the dim light we now have upon the
subject, we are inclined to the opinion, that
the design OF these papers is more to elicit
the opinions Of other courts, than Tor any
other specific objects now in view. For 1t
is hardly 10 be believed, that Alexander,
J who stands at the head of the holy alliance,
can wish the inquisition re- established, and
the most virtuous legislators, the bravest OF
! hcers, and the best citizens involved in
general prescription. II is next to impossl-
bic that he, or any other monarch, can wish
a restoration of the horrors Of inquisitional
-torture-exiIe-cru and
death
We repeat, we do not think Alexander Sc
riously meditates forciole opposition to the
new order of Spanish Affairs. He is GER
tainly" too good statesman not to pause
before he passes the Rubioon, when he sees
that, in such an event, be will, most probably
no longer have nations as allies, but as ad-
1 yersaries. Hehas too much military expe-
rience not to remember, that though Napo-
leon was master of mighty leglons, 60
verned by mighty masters spirit, he ne
yertheless failed, because he sinned "a
gainst the spilit OF the age.
As it regards the counter revolutionary
movements said to have taken place in
Spain, we have no information to enable US
| to form an opinion as to its extent, the
F, force OF the insurgents, or their operations.
| At all events, it is very unfavorable omen
tor no one, we believe, has ever suspected
Ferdinand of sincerity in his late transac-
tons and he would eagerly seize upon the
| first favorable moment to restore the ancient
| regime-to replace The priests in authority,
and to set the inquisition again in motion.
We must confess, notwithstanding the JOY
| we have felt at what has already been done
in Spain towards reform, that we have all
along been apprehensive that the new order
of things was not fixed as firmly and dura
bly as we could have wished. And we have
feared that the great body OF the people have
not had So great share in bringing about
the late glorious events, as the soldiery-
We cannot but distrust the sincerity OF men
when we see sudden and radical changes,
even in ordinary political transactions
much more should we distrust monarchs,
who, when stripped of their power, and in
fact of every thing but their crowns and IT,
! ties, step forth to the people, and all on a
sudden declare " how happy they find them
selves to be in condition to grant freedom
TO their loving subjects. How they have
been longing Tor it all the time, when every
body fancied they would put off the business
till doomsday What mere bashfulness
does it .uru out to have been What vr
gin coyness of delay! What perfect no.
ney moon of concession How they pre-
side at this new " feast of reason and the
flow of SOUL" with an excess OF transport in
their countenances, which (on the principle
of extremes meeting) an ignorant spectator
might take for agony !. How, like the I'M
happy Marquis at the Doctors dinner in
Peregrine Pickle, they swallow the new
Constitution, with tears in their eyes, and
VOW that it is exquisite With what beati-
6c wretchedness in their jaws, they are SER
we'd with the new articles one after Ole -
How they chew, and msticate, and turn the
bitter morseI in their mouths, and curse in
wardly, and protest they are delighted -
Ii is such mummery as this, which has
been acted in Spain and Naples, and which
has caused us 10 fear that the great and hap
by changes that we have seen, would not
prove lasting. But we most ardently hope
that we may be disappointed, and that the
cloud which now lowers in the sky Of the
Peninsula, may soon be dispelled by the
cheering rays of the sun of liberty.
The Neapolitan revolution, and the SUBJ
sequent revolt of Sicily, afford much ground
tor speculation in Europe. All eyes are
anxiously turned towards Austria, to see
what course she will adopt in regard 10 lta-
ly--whether she will attack Naples SHOULD
the revolution be completely or whether
.he will content herself with defending her
transalpine possessions. The latter course
will most likely be pursued. Austria is evil
IDENTIFY apprehensive that the revolutionary
infection will extend to her Italian terrific
ries, and It The last advices from Vienna,