Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-14
VERMONT PHOENIX.
BrattleborO, Friday, April IA, lS4S'


| The SpITN eI Fftcuoh !" h"iVP"
No citizen uf this free Republic can fail to
sympathize with the masses of European mon
arches, in their struggle to shake oft their
chains. The spirit which redeemed the people
of France from the despotian of Louis Philippe,
has spread like electric fluid all over Europe
The recent news shows that even the down-trod-
den subjects of Austria have thrown of the yoke,
and are making a resolutc and earnest strike io'
| freedom And who knows but il may penetrate /
the frozen veins of the serfs Of Russia Almost /
every monarchy of Europe is lettering and cru,
bling; and maintaining n dubious existence by |
yielding to the earnest demand Of the people 10
be heard and represented. The masses are be- |
ginning to learn their power, and it is curious ,o
observe how quickly and easily the dcfenoss |
erected by Kings, with much labor and ca |
pcnse, 10 secure their thrones, crumbe down
and disappear before the united action of the
masses Louis Philippe built Notifications, and
brought two hundred thousand troops to Pars,
to cnslavc the pcoplc-ho forgot that oven the
army made up Of the people, and, like them,
loved freedom and hated tyranny. When the
people turned upon their opprcssor, and the
King called upon his troops to shed the blood Of
their brethren they answered by embracing their
fellow citizens, and turning tlIeir weapons upon
him. Then was seen the utter weakness and
helpessness of the monarch upon hit throne, de-
serted and unsupported by the poople-tben was
seen the strength and power of the masses, act
ing under common impulse and for common
object. Abandoned by his subjects Louis Phil
Iippe became a fugitive in his own palace, and
was as powerless as the lowest mental Of his
household
The consciousness Of strength in the Justice
of their cause, pcrvades the masss throughout
all Europe. 1t runs through and animaies them
all, as by common paisntion and one after an
other, the One Man power wisely yields to the
torrent We know that these attempts at self.
4 government or yepublcanisin in Europe are
, looked upon with doubt and distrust. v recall
the bloody scenes o. the old French revolution
the horrors of its rcign, and the despotsm in
which it ended. We remember the succeeding
revolution, which placed Louis Philippe on The
throne from which he has just been hnrlcd-nnd
reasoning from the past, some are ready 10 be-
/ lieve that the people-the masses of Europe, ere
incapable Of, are too ignorant to sustain pure
republic. But TO US, these movements are full
of hope and encouragement see in them
the small cloud in the west, which Is soon to
overshadow the dynas;ies of Europe, and with
its genial showers resusoita,e, de' copc and ex.
pand the imprisoned and benumbed faculties Of
n man, and teach him to stand erect in the full
i enjoyment and exercise of all the mental as well
as physical powers which God ha, given him
. 1t may not be done at once. 1t may-it must
I, be gradual The people, uueducaied and unac-
c customed to selfgovernment, may be deceived,
a as they have been in France. Corrupt and am
= bilious dcmRgogues may abuse their confidence,
i and attempt successfully for a time TO replace
+ the yoke upon their necks but the spirit Of pro-
d gress is there, and it will continue its march
In all these attempts, the people will learn some
thing; the thirst for freedom, the experiments
|, at seEgovernment, will teach them 10 think aud
study; schools, the fountains Of liberty, VIII be
: encouraged and increased; and thus intelligence
and education be diilused among the masses.
= The first revolution in France was a Volcano of
It human passion. Ages Of tyranny had gathered
upon, and ground into dust the liberties % the
= people, and it is scarcely wonderful, though no
less lamenable, that, like the released tenant Of
y dungeon, the sudden restoration to light and
liberty, with power to wreak vengeance upon the
: ,oppressor, should drive reason from her thTune,
and convert the masses into madmen. Thoush
that effort terminated in another despotisnl, the
people had become enlightened, and accustomed
: TO think and 1hson; the semblance of popalar
q representation was preserved, even by Bona
parte, and though dazzled and seduced By the
l. splendor that surrounded his name, to place
him on the throne, they did il voluntarily and Of
l, choice But when Bourbon, destitute Of the
e genius and grandeur of Napoleon, and thrust up
to ON her by her enemies, tried to enssvc France,
o. another revolution, and This time far less vo-
=. lent one, banshcd the tyrant, and substituted
limited sovereignty, recognizing and guarantee
Is ing the representative rights Of the people This
b provision brought into exercise, though imper-
; iecly, to be sure, the elective franchise, and was
an important advance towards a republican gov
g ernment. Louis Philippe violated his pledges
d and now another revolution, peaeeabe and we'll
y nigh boodless, has demolished royalty; and the
: people Of France, after more than half cenlu-
y rvs framing and apprenticeship, are about 10
pit try republican form of government. They
may fail again; the other nations of Europe
i may not attain to it for long time to come, and
Of until after repeated and perhaps bloody revda-
a tons; but the ball is rolling, and We have fGth
Il to believe that all the nations of Europe will yet
y be redeemed, rcgcncrated, and dsenthralle d."
Nor is there any reason why this should not
VS. happen. Thousands of emigrants from the vi
e rous kingdoms of Europe land upon our shores
! annually soon become acquainted with our ia-
# situations, and make intelligent and valuable CT
lie liens. Is there any reason why they would nat
exhibit the same intelligence and moderation, d
y allowed to participate in representative gov
II ernment in their native eountry9 We mnst
!, make some allowance for the ignorance and
bondage which has oppressed them, and not ex-
u peet them to comprehend and exercise at once
| the duties of selfqoyernment, No one can fail