Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-18

-ssIhe sparks
| The swarthy Spaniard feels his former glow;
The same high spirit which beat back the Moor
Through eight long ages of alternate gore
Revives--and wherel in that avenglng clme
| Where Spain was synonymous Win crime,
Where Cortes and PizaTo's banner new;
! The infant world redeems her name OF 'neW.
| IT'S the old aspiration breathed afresh,
| To kndle souls within degraded Hesh,
| Such as repulsed the Persian from the shore
Where Greece tUaS-No! she sun is "oi'
/ One common cause, makes MYRIAD OF one preas''
Slaves of the East, or Helots OF the West;
On Andes and onAthos peaks unturled,
| The self same standard streams DER either world;
The Athenian wears again Harmoeus sword;
The Chill chief abjures his foreign lord; :.
! The Spartan knows himself once more 1reeK;
| Young Freedom plumes the crest OF each Caclque"
Byua'sage Of Bronze.
| But shall this spark be extinguished? Shall
| these favored nations, of whom the poet has SO
beautifully sung, be the only lands where It's sa-
cred influence shall extend? Europe is shroud-
ed in darkness, but there too, it shall be kindled,
and shine bright and pure. The sea, OF learn
ing, of the arts and sciences, is not destined al
ways TO remain in political degradation. Our
own land was the pioneer 10 oppressed nations
in the glorious march TO Freedom. No sooner
had we shown what men engaged in just and
holy cause could effect, than thousands and tens
Of thousands prepared to follow. The southern
continent rose in their might, and established
free governments upon the ruins OF tyranny
Greece burst her chains asunder, and now stands
"reeenerated and disenthralled," if not redeem.
ed. The wide rolling Atlantic could not pre-
vent the spread of the principles for which we
fought, and which we successfully maintained.
The crowned heads of Europe beheld with as
tonishment the murmurings OF their subjects
and the discomfort which they manifested
their power was too much extended, their
thrones too well secured to be easily shaken, and
we soon saw the people who had dared to raise
their voices in defence Of their rig hts, put down
and trampled upon by their naughty masters
Still all is no, hopeless: the PEOPLE a0iA prevail
they acM ultimately triumph.
These remarks are perhaps not inappropriate
to the subject which we are about 10 contem-
plate. When we would speak Of Liberty, Of
oppressed man, of suffering virtue, and of the
hope which we entertain, that the spirit OF free
dom NAV extend throughout the world, we can
not refrain from referring 10 the glorious exam
pie which South America has given, and which
Greece is offering every day and every hour
Europe has been our instructor in the arts
and in;the embellishments Of life; but America is
now repaying the debt, by offering her in return,
that which alone can make life agreeable and
happy. Recent circumstances have called TO
the throne Of Portugal Don Pedro, the Emperor
of Brazil This monarch, possessed OF ample
territory, with wide field for the display OF his
talents, and unwilling to engage in the designs
and maneuvres which would necessarily ensue
;f he should consent to take the station to which
he was called, wisely refused the vacant scat
Surrounded, however, by nations enjoying the
blessings of flee government; living in hemis-
phere. where man is for once allowed the privi-
leges of. his nature, he determined to make that
an opportunity Of comforting some real, SUBJ
stantial benefit upon the people Of Portugal -
A Constitutional Charter was given. The little
kingdom Of Portugal since that event, has occu-
pied larger share Of attention than any couu-
try in Europe except Greece. We all natural
ly look, with anxious expectation, to observe
what fleet this change win have upon the PEG
ole themselves and The surrounding nations.-
Spain had her charter, but the band of patriots
who obtained it were stigmatised as traitors,
and their cause as rebellion!
"Rebellon! foul dishonouring word,
Whose wrongful blight so oft has stained
The hottest cause that tongue or sword
of mortal ever lost or gained.
How many spirit born to bliss,
Has sunk beneath that whitening name,
Whom but days, an hours success
Had waited to eternal fame!''
We tremble, too, for the fate of any other nation
who NAV incur the displeasure OF the crowned
heads of Europe If Portugal be unmolested,
if she be permitted to enjoy her rights, liberty
will have gained foothold upon the continent,
which, in the end, may effect great blessings
The Constitution may not guarantee to the peo-
pie the full enjoyment of freedom; it may not
and does not make Portugal what we would wish