The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-22

the only question before US. 1t is the
energy of our institutions--it is theil
inherent power of rising up to great
emergency, that we are about to put tc
the test. Should our councils be founc
too timid, our system too languid, tc
offer efficient resistance to foI eign ag
gression, TO what danger may not this
fatal secret expose us? 1t is in this
view, that our controversy with Eng,
land becomes so vitality important. il
is in this view, therefore, that | shall
proceed to consider tin connexion with
the relations which the two political
systems of Europe and America, bear
to each other.
Sir, the great fact, which gives char
acter to the politics Of this age, is the
conspiracy Of five monarchs, who, by
their coalition with each other, have
concentrated in their hands alone, the
power of giving law to the whole Of
Europe; whilst, by their arms and in
trigues, they are now exerting an in-
huence over the rest of the world,
which threatens to bring all its parts
in subjection to them. Politically ,and
as independent sovereigntes, all the an
cient subdivisions of Europe-ull the
secondary States, which formerly bal.
anced each other, and by their union,
checked the ambition of the greater
Powers-have ceased to exist. From
the confederated thrones of England,
France, Austria, Russia, and Prussia,
the mandate now goes forth which reg
uIates the whole European system.
This, sir,is a new thing in the world.
The present century has brought it
about: The attempt, and the failure,
OF single lnoearch to establish univer-
sal dominion, is a speclaclO often wit
messed before. But the coalition of lly c
thrones to effect that object--the con-
spiracy of five powerful monarchs, to
enforce, by their united arms, not only
despolism upon their own subjects, but
colonial vassalage upon the rest of
mankind, is an experiment hitherto un-
tried. 1t is an experiment, however,
which recent and current events show
to be, not less formidable than new, to
the world. So far as Europe is con-
cerned, the experiment is already sue
cessful. The dominion of the five mas
ter-monarchs is there undisturbed, Ell
ther by vassa princes or suffering sub
jects. Two millions Of bayonets en-
force passive obedience to their will,
over the whole of that continent,
whilst another million, is extending
their sway over the other quarters Of
the globe.
1t was the French Revolution, the
offspring of our own, that first aroused
the European masses, from the silent
torpor of centuries. 1t was in France.
that the human mind first began to re-
alize its own debasement, under 4 SO.
cial organization which had so long
treated nations, as the mere property
of kings. That powerful agent, called
public opinion, began there to embody
itself, and to apply its mighty energies
to the work Of political reform. Mon
archs and princes throughout the conti-
nent, taking the alarm, conspired to-
gether,and immediatsy Y armed to crush,
in its beginning, this newborn power,
which seemed likely to become the
master-element in new organization.
There and then it was, that the strife
began between liberty and privilege
between the people and the kings; and
the French nation, as being the first in
Europe to speak aloud in behalf offree-
dom, was therefore, the first assailed, by
the confederated ministers of despo-
tism. In justification of their efforts to
place, by force, king over France
against the will Of the nation, the allied
monarchs openly proclaimed The prin-
cip!e. that no people whatever, had the
right even to impose restraints upon
their sovereign, much less to displace
him, however essential to the public
happiness such restraints might be-
This terrible dogma, the basis of that
system which has now given to the five
sovareigns of England, France, Aus
tria, Russia, and Prussia, the dictator
ship of Europe, was first announced
by the then Emperor of Germany and
and the King of Prussia, in 1899, and
repeated, in his manifesto, by the Duke
of Brunswick, who, as the leader Of
their armies, in the invasion of France,
threatened. in the name of his masters,
death to all Frenchmen, who should
adhere to the government of their own
choice, in preference to that OF mon
arch sought to be placed over them, by |
a foreign enemy. 1t was to enforce
this doctrine on the one hand, and to
resist It on the other, that the armed
masses of Europe were. for twenty
Lhree wears. arrayed against each other,