Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-10-20
THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT.
[From the Albany Argus,l

In political point Of view that
the affairs of Europe present the most inter-
esting aspect, and never more interesting at
any period in our epoch than at this time.
Clouds are rising above the political hori
zon, and those deep mutterngs are heard in
the social elements which are the precur-
sors of some terrible CONFUSION. The old
dynasties are equally lettering with the
weight of abuse and corruption that has ac-
cumulated upon them. and the slightest shock
would seem sufficient to crush them. In
those lands, particularly, where the iron hand
OF despOtism has been most keenly felt, do
the People seem at length to awaken to
sense of their rights, and to be preparing for
their assertion and vindication. The seeds
sown throughout Europe by the French Re-
volution are beginning to gernlnate and
bring forth, and fortunate indeed will it be
if they do not rival in bloody fruit the parent
plant. A mighty and ali-pervadng strug
gle-inevitably tending, it would appear, to
the stIlfe of arms and bloodshed-in which
the Genius of Freedom and of Liberalism,
and the fell spirit of Legitimacy and of Des-
potism are the antagonists-is apparent
throughout the Continent. And though lis
pathway may be tracked through scenes of
bloOdshed and devastation-tor it is the
death-struggle of ancient abuse and privilege
who will doubt that the progress of the
Free Principle, of the Rights of Man, will,
i'll the end, he triumphant one.
1t is in ITALY, the land of story and of
song, with her children as ardent and as firey
as her own unclouded sun, that this struggle
is the most apparent. The good Plus TX,
in carrying out his philanthropic efforts to
reform and meliorate the political condition
of his people, has excited the alarm and APP
prehcnsion of the great high priest of abso-
lutsm, Nfetternich, the prime minister of
Austria. Dreading the effects of the exam
pie thus placed before the Austro-ltalian
states, ever irksofne under the yoke of the
Barbarian, he has exhausted every means of
persuasion to induce the Pontif' to abandon
his noble efforts. But the Pope, resolved
in his purpose, was insensible TO this infu-
ence.-I'hen, the Austrian resored to one
of those willy intrigues with which he is so
familiar.-He sought to excite an insurrcc-
ton in the Eternal City, in the hope, under
the prelext of aiding in its suppression, of
introducing anAustrian garrison. This done,
he hoped that by ascribine the outbreak to
the reforms of the Pope, he might be ena-
bled under the plea of their dangerous ten
dency, and with the aid of his troops, to Sc
cure their eflectual suppression. Failing in
all this, however, as he did, the next step of
the Austrians was to advance their battal-
lions into the papal territories, and to occu-
tho Oft of nrraro The nj. ,ot
OF aggression, so far from ntimidating the
Pontli' or disheartening his people, has had
directly the contrary effect. His energy,
rising with ;hc danger, the Pope, seconded
rs he is too by the enthusiasm of his people,
announces his determination TO resist the
invasion, and is preparing his territories for
defence. An army of volunteers, already
some $4,000 strong, was assembling at For
Ii, and the monks and members of the reli-
gious orders even, had formed themselves
into military bodies. Indeed, such is the
Indignation of the people against the Iedes-
CHI, as they term the Austrians, that arms
cannot be found in sufficient quantities to
supply them, and all order has been des-
patched to France Tor 10000 muskets. In
| the stand thus taken, the Pope is seconded
by the King of Sardinia, who had entered an
energetic protest against all Austrian inter-
ventlon in the affairs of the independent
sovereignties of Italy; and, as is said, offer
ed the Pope the cooperation of his army
and fleet, i'll case of further aggressons on
the part of Austria. 1t was rumored also,
that the same offer had been made on the
part of the King of Naples, but the last sto-
| =, -, = Il
with Austria, in the insane hope of Louis
Philippe, forgettul of July, 1890, to sustain
his dynasty by rallving around it the des-
potism of the continent. Not with troops
does it aid the Austrians, but by a tacit APP
prevail of thcir acts. The knowledge of this
fact, it is stated, has induced the British 90
yernment To order a fleet to Ancona. and
even to land there a couple of regiments
from the fonian Isles. 1t is in this way that
the sudden disappearance of the British fleet
from the coast Of Portugal is accounted for.
A happy change, if so; but evincing how
little a desire for the triumph of the Free
Principle has to do with this matter. In
Portugal, it was the liberalists it was opera
ting against, and an imbecilc despotism it
was maintaining. 1t is the balance of
power onl y that is sought to be adjusted.
No one can doubt that the svmpathies of
the British people, and even of the govern
ment, are with the Liberals of both coun-
tries, but the Intervention is always to MAIN
tain legitimacy, rather than TO aid those
who are contending against it. This end.
as was the case in Portugal, NAV be the
better attained by requiring yielding of a
point or so on the part of the government.
while the latter itself is preserved intact.
1t would be singular, if, after ALL this great
device of that assemblage of autocrats,-the
Congress of Nienna,-tor the maintenance
of legitimacy, should result in the enfran-
chisement of the people. And so it inevi-
tably will, If, as is not impossible, general
war should be the result of these move
ments.
Throughout Italy, from the Adriatic 10
the Pyrenees, the same sentiment of resist
ance TO the Austrian is as deeply entertained
as in the Roman states. Opportunity alone
is needed for it TO break out in open rebel
lion.
SWITZERLAND is convulsed with intestine
dlssenSlons RelluiOus eoDfrnverS,- :. =.