Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-08-17
THE STATE OF EUROPE.

Every week brings across the Atlantic
fresh details Of important, events, and SO in
tense is the interest felt by the American
public in the progress Of the Revolutions in
the Old World, that we know not how we
could endure 10 return to the old system oF
communication, by which we were compel
led to wait from month to month for the ar
rival of the packets. 1t is well for us that
steam has been so early applied to the ma
viga,ion Of the ocean; for the history Of
years is now crowded into months, and its
developments are rapid as almost to defy
the powers Of the strongest and most COM
prehensive minds 10 keep pace with them.
Prediction has lost its office; for while we
are still wondering a. The present, the fu-
ture is upon us, and brings will, it what the
boldest conjecture would scarcely have dar-
ed to anticipate. What seemed to be WELL
consolidated systems Of age are broken up
in day; Constitutions are made and I'M
made; men before liiAe heard Of, are sud-
denly raised TO power, and as suddenly
thrown aside and forgotten nations, be-
come disguised with their old institutions,
abandon them without waiting until they
can settle upon new ones to take their place;
and amid the conflicting views Of untried le-
gislators, and the aimless discontents Of the
masses,-who feel but too severely the op-
preston of the present evils, yet have the
vaguest idea of their renedies,-most Of the
States Of Europe are now in condition not
far removed from political chaos.
War already exists between Austria and
Italy, and between Germany and Denmark,
nos would it surprise any one if the whole
of Europe should soon be engaged in the
conflict. At the same time, civil war is rag
ing in Spain and Hungary. Ireland, too,
seems ripe for general rising. and even while
we write, perhaps the contest has begun. II"
that quarter we now look with the most alb
sorbing and painful interest; for, whatever
may be the result, the struggle will proba-
bly, be fearful. In France, the aspect of
things is more tranquil; but, however much
we hope for happy establishment Of Re-
public of order and security, we confess that
our apprehensions of further trouble and
confusion preponderate. Men Of very OPP
posite political opinions and wishes seem
TO look upon the breaking out of civil war
in France by the autumn as very probable
event.
To add the to the horrors Of this picture,
the Cholera has advanced as far as St. Pc
tersburg, and will doubtless continue its
progress westward. As it seems to be even
more malignant than when 1t last approach
ed the Atlantic, it must .dreadfully aggrava,e
the distresses produced by war, and by the
interruption of business which always at
tends state Of civil confusion.
Certainly there have been few periods in
the history of the world more important and
even'ful than the present; and far removed
as we are in this country from such dan
gers as beset the nations of Europe, we can
survey with calm delberalion the commo-
tons which agitate them, as one who stands
upon the mountain above the region of the
clouds can mark the play Of the storm that
RACES below him. We stand indeed in po-
sition, from which we may almost be said
TO pronounce the verdict Of pos,erity upon
the most important transactions of our own
time-Wesiern Continent.