The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-04-29

4
a long article under the above head from which
we extract the following. 1t is eloquently
written:
| The American revolu-
ton threw a bright bow of promise across the
clouds in the political armament, and on It's
glorious arch millions have looked and. sighed
and hoped, until at length their hopes are mel
ting into fruition and their vague dreams are be-
coming fond realities The greatand essential
truths asserted by our forefathers in legislative
council and contended for on every red field OF
battle from Lexington to Yorktown, namely,
that men are brothers and entitled TO equal
rights and that governments are 10 be tolerated
only when they do not interfere with life, lib
lerty, and the pursuit of happiness, are becom-
ing the funda mental articles in the creed of all
the thinking men of Europe from the Black sea
to the base of the Pyrenees, and from the shores
of the Baltic to those of the Mediterranean
Over these vast regions, where despotism has
reigned unquestioned for centuries, men are
Everywhere rising to claim their long lost rights,
and millions of unshackled hearts are now ma
| king the heavens vocal with the stirring hymns
OF freedom.
| On the 22d day of February last, Europe was
hushed in profound peace. 1t was not the
tranquility OF hope, but the stagnation Of des-
pair. The fearful heavings of no earthquake OF
| popular passion then rocked the thrones OF
that continent. Each despot clutched his
spectre firmly. while before him stretched a
glorious panoramic view OF the spendor, the
pomp, and the reageantry of power which the
future would open up TO himself and his pos
terity The stars looked serenely down on vale
and field and thronged city. There was no as
trologic sign in the heavens portendng the
downfall of dynasties to startle monarchs on
the soft touches on which they reposed. The
shrewdest eye whose vision swept the skies
could discover no cloud frowning even in the
most distant part of the horizon from which
sooihsayer could foretell that a desoating
whirlwind was marshaling its energies for a
conflict that woold shatter systems mantled
with the ivy of ages and smeared with the sac
rificial blood of millions. The door of the
temple of Janus had been shut for more than
the third of a century, and peace seemed TO
promise that her olive branches should long re-
main unwithered.
Such was the condition of Europe on the
anniversary of that glorious day on which was
born our political satior. One short month
passed away, and what change had it wit
messed! The oldest dynasties in Europe had
been rocked violently TO and fro by the volca-
mic energies of the people resolved OH achiev.
ing their deliverance from the old bondage
Royalty i'm some countries had fled from its
palaces, and everywhere it was appalled, and
OFFICIATING safety. Its armies had refused to
do its bidding, and, fraternizing with the peo-
pie, United with them in demanding the most
thorough reforms. Monarchs shlvered and
were pallid with fear as the wild huzzas OF
their subjects reached their ears on which 10
sounds but those of adulalion had before fall
len. The people, inspired with new life, ev-
lerywhere rose in their majesty and demanded
extensive concessions, and emperors. kings,
and potenates, who had previously derided
such demands, made hot haste TO grant them.
The millions, who, since civilization began It's
proud career IN Europe. had boon ground down
| TO the dust under the relentless heel of oppres-
sion, we're emaucipated from miserable letters
on which the rust of antiquity was thick, and
felt for the first time the glorious thrill of free
dom tingling along each tiny nerve. Thus III
one short month was accomplished revou-
ton i'm the relations OF rulers and subjects such
as the most ardent supposed would require an
age to bring to protection.
What makes this month of wonders still
more remarkable is that its mighty events were
wholly unexpected. While no traitors were
plotting treason against the State, while no
whispering conspirators were meditating on
scenes of blood, revolution took place with
out any preliminary crimes. This revolution
too is the nightiest by far that ever shook the
foundations of European society, and yet IL
was brought about without generalization or
concert. Ii was as if some wild dream of the
morning had been suddenly crystalized into
truth The French revolution was wholly ex
temporaneous. The gods, designing the de-
struction of the rulers, had demented them,
but that was the only preparation for an event
that promises in it's results 10 eclipse all other
events, and TO make by far the grandest page In
the great epic of our race which is 10 be COM
pleted when
"Suns and stars shoot madly from their spheres"
On Sunday morning, million of Parsians
awoke, The subjects of Louis Philippe, with
| out a suspicion that the foundation of monar-
chy was thoroughly worm eaten and insecure;
and yet before the chime OF the vesper bells
had summoned the grateful topvayer on the en-
suing Saturday evening, the citizen King OF
France had abdicated in terror, was an exile
from the Tuilleries, and making exceeding haste
to escape beyond the borders of that country to
which for eighteen years he had been deeply
and designedly traitor, while has throne was
in thousand fragments, and the brilliant dy-
nasty he had for years been striving to build up
for his family was an absurd and cast of Wis
ion Of a foregone time
/ The four weeks which succeeded the events
in Paris are without parallel Among all the
wonderful deeds recorded III authentic or In
fabulous histor among al the nj 5hty achieve
ments of demigods and heros OF the ancient
world and the varied facts that have marked
the history of Europe since the star of Rome
went down ing!oriously In cloud of blood and
/ infamy-there is no event which even fore
Swallowed the great popular achievements that
have just taken place III Europe. So strange
4 is the spectacle that Juvenal himself would b.
|. puzzled TO decide whether il should most com
mand the tears of Herculius or the derision and
broad glee of Democritus Thrones reeed with
lout a blow, and the oldest and strongest and
most dreaded governments in the world, whose
history ran back TO tn at of the imperial Caesars