Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-03-01

the iturbides. and the Boyivsrr,--hsve bu,
followed. ut 90 humble slssisnce, the exam
pie 1T the most splendid sf usurpsfs. hut
e. 40 abe isas ispss- Of sges. esen one iniia-
TOR Of Washington shall be foubd-if even
one nation shall be rescued, by The force of
his bright example. from the iaxless swa, Of
the sword, Washington will have earned the
title az berefactor % the human race.
Bo, II the example OF Washington has
been thrown away on The yictorlous general,
Of the sge, the success OF The political reyo.
luton IN shich he was the principal actor
has mol been lost on mankind. The cslsbrs-
yea saying OF Canning. in ~. "the ear "a
me Two principles is about To commence. %
vas political anachronism. arising. in part.
a. least. out ct the habit, common TO ali Nm.
rnpean statesmen, of regarding Europe a.
the world. The war of the two principies-
OF people against kings-e commenced on the
shores OF America, in l776-
10 the anglo-ameriean colonies bslone,s
the glory, not only Of having commences the
var. but Of having brought Il, in their own
country, 70 triumphant close. The real
commencement OF the war Of the two prin-
e,pies. was the dsclsrs,ion, By those celouies,
OF TIE great and simple TRUTH that oil men
are. oy nature; free and equal. and that ell
power - vested IN, and consequently derived
from. the people.
The love Of liberty and Of equality had
grown With the growth and strengthened
with the strength Of the colonies. In the
'uliness OF time IL declared war. not only n.
gsinstthe power Of the king, but acs,es,
the privilege ct the noble, and laid the deem
foundations OF the American repubic on the
sovereignty Of the people and the EQUALITY Of
men. Por the sske Of thoss noble and e,e.
.Ned pnne'Pies. the patriots Of eur elder
ume involved their country in ell the horrors
OF war IN oil the dangers OF contest With
the most powerful nation on earth Por the
sake of'hose principles, they imperilled their
hves' Their fortunes, and all that Is dear to
man. Tho successful Termination Of The con.
n'et indicated and justified their noble dar
ing.
A period Of confusion ensued. but NO, n
long duration. The felicitous eombius,iop
OF the federstive principle with the original
elements OF the revolution, produced
scheme OF government OF q character so i'm
posing a. soon TO attract the notice of the
civilized world. Its splendid and early auc.
cess. Tor which under heaven, We were main.
. indebted 10 the wisdom and firmoes. and
wel!-earned popularity Of Washington. bro
duced marked and decided effect ON The
popular mind Of Europe.
Religion sustained without a hierarchv-
obedience To the laws enforced without +.
"hno'ng afmy-an executive without throne
or sceptre, or guards, or bsdy Of hcredi.
tsry mobiles around it--fhe whole ff.me of
government upheld at an expense 10 them
inconceivably smail,-these were. indeed.
striking and imposing novelties. even TO an.
freest and most enlightened Of the nations
of Europe And. IL novsltics to them, how
much more so TO the people Of the continent.
who, from the IRA Of the introduction Of
standing armies, had been, from generation
to generation, the victims Of the private vices.
OF the ambition, the prodgality and the in.
saifable rapacity Of their princes. The peo.
pie OF Europe are not the mere machine.
that their masters would have them 20 he
They have eyes and they can see, they have
ears and they can hear, they have the ligh.
OF reason and they can oaderstand the su-
periority OF cheap aud benefcent, over a
costly and oppressive government.
FROM the moment that all these things
were seen and heard and understood in Eu-
rope DID the ievsn OF democney begin to
ierment IN the minds Of the more enlightened
nations. The excuses of the French revo.
luton retarded, but did not arrest the pro.
cess. but for those excuses, and the spIeu.
did talents which the oligarcby Of England
enlisted IN its cause. the spirit Of democracy
would, thirty years since, bave subverted the
political institutions Of England. That !, is
new about TO subvert them, no Intelligent
observer OF the progress Of events en,ertsins
the slightest doubt. The passage Of the re.
form.bIii, itself a revolution. since IL nro..
tratss the oligsrchy, which from the era OF
1888 has governed England, will be but the
first Of . series of measures demanded and
enforced by the spirit OF thssge. The forms
OF royalty nay be tolerated for a While. gu,
of Difference TO ancient prejudioes, or bscsoss
the actual iaeu1beAt efthe throne has tab en-
aides Nth the people in their assaults on the
oligarehy, bat the sovereignty Of the people
and the equality Of men will be the essential
basis OF The new institutions Of England.
The example of America and the frsedos,
OF he Prsss are EeyoIutioniziag EnFlsnd, are
rsyoiohon'zing France, and In spite Of ell the
Efforts OF kings, and their ministers, and their
mercenaries. will revoiuiionize Rurope. rh,
evidences Of this general fermen,s,ior are too
plain 60 be mistaken. The revolutions. =,
they were premstureIy called, Of spsip, Por
,ugai ard Naples. were but the srst tremor.
OF polstlesi earthquake which viil sventu
ally sirev ovsS The face OF Europe the ruin,
OF her palaces and ber thrones.
But tins contamination, so deyautiy 20 bs
wished, - not TO be aiIsined by premature
explosions Of popular fairy. They Fs,ard
instead Of advancing the cause Of liberty =
fne time has not yet arrived for converting
the var OF opinion into the war OF the sword
The press Is ct work. and the schoolmsster !,
abroad: they are undermining the fortress n
despo,ism, which is vet 700 strong 10 be a,
sailed By open vsOience. Absolu.eisr, IL ~aTn
cd Of fs danger--i, is armed TO the tee,h--i
hss rallied al its energies for desne,,,,
siroggic. snd courts rather shsn avoids m,
sFbtT'ment ~ the bsysoet. Even the Lar,
revolution IN France, suspicious a. Il SCENE,
90 The Cause sf liberty and hailed asit,s h, an,
joyous seeisnaiiops 81 the American peopje
uiit too proeabiy end 10 disaster and DEF r.,
Already hes q invelvcd lhe gallant POLES. 5,
prehnsiatsiy exciting their hopes OF deiive
rance, IN utter ureok sBd ruin. And IA
same horde of d'seipliaed bsFbarisns vlro al
fhe work % their MISTER IN Poland 80,
forced By The armies of Germany. are no,
bearing down on The frontiers 81 Franes Z
sssaii continental liberty IN the citadel Of I,