New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-10-22

i-ole ioii. t'"u ID IS one OF the mysteries OF oil
nature, that system SO fraught with injustice an
mischief could ever have been established anon
manklnd-that mere institution of mans deyic
should be able 10 counteract the impulses of ms
tare and bring The ardent longings, the yehemer
| aspirations OF man into such circumscription an
confne, :" that il would be in,olerable even 10
mill horse"
The downfall and dsmemberment of the Ro
man Empire were followed By The establishment Q
other forms OF government under the names, bu
marked by the continuance of the same unnatura
distinction between the rich and the poor. Tn,
fendal system-a complex and iron system of ex
| action and vassalage wa. established every where
by fire and sword, and became so strongly fast
ened upon every people, where it prevailed, tha
it has continued up to this time to shape and gov
ern their customs, their laws and their institutions
The sole aim and end of the syatem was to es,ab
fish privileged order, among whom rich and
magnificent domains were partitioned, and the in.
ferior classes became their hewers of wood and
drawers of water.
In no country in Europe we're the effects of this
system more manifest and disastrous than in
France. The distinction between patrician and
plebeian, between noble and base-born, was early
established, and nnhappily, this privilege de-
scended 10 all the children, instead of being con-
fined as in England, to the eldest son. The con-
sequence was numerous nobility, complete
separation of the higher and lower orders, and the
establishment of wall of partition, which neither
talent, energy nor success was able to pass. The
greater portion Of the land Of the kingdom was in
their hands and instead of wondering as we DO,
at the breaking cut Of the French Revolution,
and the atrocities which marked its progress it is
1ol H., la1,r d
layed. 1t was nothing more than human nature
asserting its long lost rights-tortured humanity
taking its range-the upheaving, from its lowest
depths, of that mighty uncounted mass of men,
whose hearts had been liberated hy ages of OPP
preston. Amidst blazing chateaux, France rung
with the terrible gathering cry, War TO the pal
sooner or later be sounded in every nation and
kingdom where such an aristocracy can be found.
The mobiles of France received solemn warning
and fearful foretaste OF the calamties that awaited
them in the war of the Jacquerie. Far be it from
me to excuse or palate the excesses of the French
Revou,ion-but that terrible tragedy was acted III
vain in the sight of Heaven. if men will not learn
the lessons which it teaches--that it was nothing
but man broke loose from oppression, coming forth
from den, cavern and howell, the memory of thou
sand wrongs gathering around his heart, and as
the oppressor fell beneath his stroke, lifting up the
exulting shout of long-baftied long-delayed, but
never-dying revenge.
In Russia there are but two classes-the noble
and the serf who is bought and sold with the
land. And in Poland the condition of the pea
santry is still worse. A traveller remarks that he
never saw wheaton loaf in any part of North
Germany. In Austria the mobiles are proprietors
of the soil, and the peasants are compellable to
work every day for their masters except Sundays.
In Hungary the mobiles own the land and do no
work; and pay no taxes: the laboIing classes ar.
to repair all the bridges and highways
and to pay one-tenth of the product. of their To-
Dor 10 the church, and one-sixth to this landlord.
There are still reckoned, at the present day, one
hundred and fifty thousand mobiles in the ancient
provinces of Podolia and Tolhynia, and almost
the entire territory of those countries 10 concen-
trated in the hands of no more than fifty families
This sing lie fact is quite sufficient to tell US all we
desire to know respecting the condition OF the In
ferior classes.
Prussia has long been regarded as the model
State in Europe, and her powerful and prosperous
condition is owing chiefly TO the wise and judicous
changes which have taken place in the laws re-
specting working casses Previous TO the year
1906, the condition of the peasantry was that OF
vlanage, with few exceptions.
They were attached To the property of their
Iords-ohliged to give him their service without
and incapable of holding property
They could not change their place Of residence,
his children could not enter into other pursuits,
nor his daughters marry without the consent OF
their superior And none hut noble could pur-
chase the estate of q noble. In addition to all
this, the land of the mobiles was exempt from tax
alton.
If this policy had been continued to this day,
Prussia would not have attained her present pros
l,erity, power and emuenoe. Ii was Frustrated,
not as in most other States. by the revolt OF the
people and bloody revolution, but by the wise
and iudicous reform of one of the boldest, ablest
and most sagacous statesmen that ever SAT
in European Cabinet, (SlAin BY the laws OF 1916
and 1907, which he proposed the sale and pur-
chase of land was thrown open to all alike the re-
lation of vllanage was abolished forever, and the
mobiles we,e compelled TO contribute like all other
citizens to the public burthen in proportion to their
means Not content with the mere removal OF re-
strictions, the Government endeavored 10 stimulate
industry and assure ambition, by prizes, and public
exhibitions of manufactures Of all kinds, which
have pcoduced the most striking and beneficial ef-
fects. Would TO God that the Metterniches OF
Europe had the courage and the foresight of Stein
and Hardenburg! or that anything could induce
them to follow their ilustrious example. Opposed
TO every species of Reform, progress and improve
ment, by their resistless influence :" all things con-
tnue as they were" They are the potent magi-
clans of darker age, whose spells arrested every
living thing, and fixed it in marble stiffness. he
latter have ceme into the world, and pronouncing
one magic word million Of gigantic statues
have sprung into life and activity, and thus ia
ton has been born in a day.
Allow me TO close this serie. Of illustrations BY
!. reference to that country, with which our &C
n,aintancc is most intimate, and whose institutions
We best unders,and-our Father-lard. OF all
I,nds, it presents the mos, striking spectacle OF
the unequal distribution of property. This ine-
dul