The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-26

movements.
j am truly your fellow citizen and friend,
SAM HOUSTON.
The Absorption or the Weaker by the
Stronger Nations or Europe.
From the London Chronicle, July %
There are few more painful subjects of contempla
ton for every man who is attached to liberty and
quainted with the state OF affairs abroad than the
sent position OF the smaller states Of Europe would
almost appear to be tho destiny Of these weaker but
not less worthy and Invaluable members Of the Euro
pean comm nifty SUCCESSFULLY TO fall victims to the in
trfgu.s aud dggressons If the gigantic nsighbors pho
pretend to take uey interest in their weitare
There would appear TO be, to say conspiracy Of
planets of the higher order in Political hemisphere
gradually to blot out and extipguish all orbs and ate
tes OF inferior size and brightness to their that
they themselves may reign unrivalled and undsturbed
in the imperial heaven--with what dminution of the
general stability of the entire system leave 1t to po
ltical La Places and LIE Verrers to calculate.
But is startling to man who Is acquainted with
dissatisfaction and terror which Is everywhere under
mining the foundations of the continental system to
observe how 1t Is the minor States especially that ap
pear at time by their dissensons at another
the overweenpg ambition Of their soi-dsant friends
aud guardians marked out the victims to what we
compelled to call the Absoutst Propsgandsm Of the
Northern powers and latterly Of their nsdious and
scrupuous ally the present government OF France The
adhesion OF the latter to the general policy the
powers In contraventon and contempt Of the marked
wishes and mmemoral predictions 4 the French peo
pie reduces the this that virtually the four first
rate powers Of the continent lie open to the
OF having entered into eaguo-formed new Holy AL
anoefrst against the well being and finally against
r.
ropean eonfederacy The cordial intercourse and friend
ly relations which the diversified interests of our
merce and Of general position obge our government
to maintan with all those powers ought not to prevent
the uterance Of the dsrust and disspprobaton which
England feels At the policy which for the last year
cally appears to have actuated the demeanor OF the
great powers Of the continent towards every minor
State whose efforts for elfamendment and social pro-
gess have notice or excited their jealous
dstrust
At the time of the fall of Cracow many men, who
were deeply attached to Polish Independence and to
ur thertv Cd thaa
tion. both unmstakeable evidence of the
q the Northern powers well the last act the inev
table termination Of old system Of aggression
side and Of permission and forbearance tho other
Looking at the Of events since that great insult
annexation of Cracow be eventually chronicled in his
tory not the end of an old but the beginning Of
SYSTEM rs the development Of that overgrown am
bitiou which thirty years Of unbroken peace and ire
sponsble authority have nurtured In despotc states
men; In short as the first step general partition
Europe among the imperial conspirators against ma
tionai liberties and popular rights
This is of course taking extreme view of danger
uncertain and remote And the obstacles to the success
Of this Absoutst Propagandism doubt, of very
diversified and formidable character. But 1t were diff
cult tc give any accurate idea of the antagonsm into
which Europe threatens to be divided without indcat
ing the aims which the language and the acts Of
the aggressive parties betay that they propose to them
selves Let the position Of the minor and the weaker
distress of SPAIN Of Portugal and Of Greece be traced
their proper sources let the doubts and difficulties be
remarked which threaten Belgium and Denmark after
the demise of their present sovereigns let the fuess
struggles Of Piedmont, Tuscany, Rome, and Naples
against the domination of Austria and the still
sdous policy of France examined lastly let the pre-
sent position Of Switzerland DO looked to- beset she IL
by the united of Austria her most ancient
my and of France her Oldest and most intimate al VI;
nd then let any say II our views unfounded
our apprchensions exaggerated.
That there have already been, and that there
likely still be- considerable the part the
who compose the not large majority
In the Swiss Diet We are not prepared 70 deny But
utterly reject the notion, assumed their Justification
by the powers who are perpetualy browbeatiDg the
Swiss government that the security Of the neghborDg
States the peace Of Europe seriously impered by
the worst excuses Of which the Swiss democracy
capable. This exaggerated timidty Of France and
Austria indicates not only an unhappy consciousness
their own part the and which
prevail In their dominions but 1t argues, likewise,
ignorance, or perhaps wul forgetfulness, of two
things most important to tho question Of Swiss his
tory and the of swiss society Indeed do not
doubt but that the accurate judgment Of the Swiss
of these considerations II forgotten that the
people Of Switzerland are republican in their
habits pursuits, theories, aud social institutions to
extent which the other nations OF Europe prac-
cally know little nothi g. What they now, In
with the whms and faaceB Of the present
age they been In successive phases for FIVE centu
RES No history, that Of the Italian republics
Is uniformly turbulent and revolutionary a. theirs
And yet 1t dic ut to point out single instance
among their hundreds Of internal crises the
Europe has been broken In consequence In religion
and philosophy they likewise republicans must
exrsyaaancrs in socialism and radioalism a. they did
three centuries ago in Calvensm And no doubt .xces
this description find partial currency and ac
cepancs among the hotter heads of young France and
young Germany. Switzerland is, in fact, a European
Yankseis, miniature Unted States not Severed from
Europe BY the friendly breadth 81 The atlantic oui en-
freuched on fortress u tmpregnabie Toek, anna "n
frontier and debateabls ground Of European horty qua
despotis. In that position, in spite oil Ill ner PerPe
usl inter ia divisions she has maintained her uuIy
and independence for Ave centuries. All Europe
and no country than England, ueeIy
indebted to her for many "a precious Pivosp' en-
ample. The overthrow OF feudalismi anu o aeo,isV
Of mans right to seii-governnenl, ~ I'M" ss'S
sponsible agent, were hrst conn'o'oo .l,,,n -, -
liner. couid be no better title TO the gratltuue on man
Hind or claim for support when Swltzerahd ~ DBhti
and for when she IN Wrons toPe mas hot
sorgott.n IL England above all, VIII not forget II
The ouestion how far the leuerh CONSTITUTION OF
s,-ar,snd requires admits OF amendment IA one OF
nsh forsiun statesmen cannot correctly Judge, and
r., wn,cb thew have right To interfere. The de-
or. IN which the constitutions OF the cantons have
ssaon altered since 1881, may nccessitate recon.
s,ynction OF the federal SYSTEM TO an extent Of
w. woud gladly see the formation Of the
40. stitutop committed 10 parties Of more moderate
and likely TO conciliate the support OF all
opntons than the present dr.ctorsl canton. But,
II is not wishes the wishes OF any foreign
state bat will Of the Swiss people, which, after II
has declared itself will have be carried
into effect The position Of Switzerland IL unique In
Europe the internal remedies she requires may be 20
lkswiso bu what WlH the tndepenaeHce 81 Suits
erland muse be preserucd tnuiotate.
TO indicate the nature of the poiry which at present
meuaces Switzerland from abroad, ~ will Do Buficient
Tor us compare the recent note OF NJ Ouzot TO H.
Bois 10 Comte, with that which NJ krudsner presented
ON the part Of Russia the beginning Of the present
year austria and Prussia transmitting at the same
time remonstrances Identical In tcrms) "Hussia said
NJ Krudener, win maintain her accustomed friendly