Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-13
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FROM OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, APRIL 10, ls4s.

There are two very distinctive characteristics OF
the late revolutions in Europe The first is the very
humble, passive, andnsignfcant part playedin them
by the military The other is, the utter absence Of
any religious or anti-religous feeling. Read the
accounts of every revolution which has yet occurred
in ls4S and the soldier will be found TO have passed
for almost nothing in all Of them; and this, in great
measure, by their ownconsent. This inactivity and
nonuse of the military did not arise in any degree
whatever, from its un6tness unpreparedness, for
the Sovereigns and Cabinets Of Europe have during
the last twenty years Tor nearly been chiefly employ
ed in military organization and in preparing delences
and Notifications. Millions of money and the ex-
ercise of The best talents have been devoted to the
purpose of uniting in the army the qualities OF IN
ternal police and external force. As lar as respects
the power Of the soldiery in 1913, as an internal
police the events Of the last six weeks have shown
that the anin,us, the motive principles OF the times
have rendered il either nugatory or unavailable In
France, in Prussia, and in Austria the army was
every thing. Yet in Paris, in Berlin, in Vienna,
and Munich, we find that, with the exception OF the
fight Berlin the soldier has every where learned to
respect the citizen too much TO constitute himself
his executioner In Prussia, where the force of the
military was most relied upon, and most actively
called for even there than any where else, the
poweressness of The army TO stem the popular cur
rent, when it is truly broad and deep and swelled
by all classes, was most fully demonstrated.
Whilst the military have become thus useless as
police they will be found even less serviceable for
awing lettering the encroachments of other coun
tries. Behodng Germany it is uprisen for nation
atty, and bent on freedom who could suppose
France or any other country mad enough to encroach
upon or provoke it! The career Of Frances mill
tary ambition is absolutely closed and precluded
by the events of Germany. A complete change is
likely to take place in the military organization of
all European countries change from the offensive
to the defensive system, and from the active and
expensive army to the militia or national guards.
When that old and costly phantom, the balance of
power, no longer demands immense war budgets in
European continental kingdoms, it surely has less
demand for any corresponding expenditure in Eng
land. Free countries will spurn the idea of being
subsidized, even if we were able and DESTROYS to
enlist them in any future, at present unforeseen,
quarrel: need we fear guard against invasion
from them. Whatever may be the shape of Gov
eminent into which the yet heaving waves raised by
the late political tempests in France, in Germany,
and in Italy may subside, it is probable hatmions
of the armed people, defending the institutions which
they may have established for the good Of the whole,
will render each of these countries invincible and
even invunerable to the others. The age of war
for the sake of conquest is most probably gone by;
and, Of course, that Of war budgets and standing
armies will inevitably follow.
We trust that we do not carry our opfimia prin-
ciples too far, when we hail the present epoch as
one from which viii commence total change in
the foreign policy of each country and consequent
ly, in very great degree, of Its domestic admins
tration also. II will be necessary that Statesmen
throughout the world should throw off tradition and
old official routine, and adapt themselves vigorously
and heartily to the new state Of things. II they do
not do this they will find that their country will no
longer require their services. Men who have good
sense enough to join the onward movement, and
heads and hearts and hands enlightened, bold, and
strong enough to guide and direct it, will rise up
and fill their places.
The British Parliament and Government are
quite inclined, we firmly believe, to go along with
this onward movement Hitherto the principles
which they have eyinced respecting their foreign
policy have been highly liberal and satisfactory
Their conduct towards Italy and Switzerland was
emnenly praiseworthy nor has the course which
they have adopted towards France and the continent
generally been less than what every wel-wisher tc
rational liberty and permanent tranquility could have
desired. The principle Of non-intervention has
been uniformly declared and rigidly adhered to by
France; il is proclaimed in Austria, and hitherto
practised by Russia. Sardinia has, il is true. in.
vaded Lombardy. but this was more popular move.
ment than cabinet or kingly one. Prussia may
have gone further in interference between Denmark
and her revolied Duchies than she ought to have
done, but not too far, il is hoped, 10 battle the exer-
tons Of friendly mediation. England is granting
the exies Of all countries the rights Of hospitality
and the consultations Of courtesy but she must take
care oil her own internal peace, and must guard
against those persons who were unacceptable, and
therefore uncomfortable at home, becoming danger
GUS inmates in the land Of refuge to which thew
have flown, by the dissemination OF doctrines foreign
TO its policy and dangerous TO It's peace We are
no friends 70 the usual rules and regulations Of an
alien law, but the present great influx Of people o.
all names, and nations, and principles to our land
renders caution necessary, and the provision Of some
judcious enactments and safeguards the duty Of the
Government We must have no foreign politics
no reaction, no intrigue. England must not b.
either Coblentz for aristocrats, nor Chapel o
Ease for the communists. Our policy must be tina
Of the most strict and Independent neutrality.
The other remarkable characteristics Of recen
events IN Europe is the entire absence Of the en-
lisment OF any religious feeling its opposite Ii
both the English revolutions, and in both the pre-
ceding French revolutions, religious feelings, mo
hves, and communities played great part. In LAT,
events they have been scarcely perceptible. TIL,
yesuits indeed have been dislodged at Lyons and In
Vienna, and the Italian cities but this was exclusive
ly IN their political character and even then withou
any symptoms OF ynjiciveness or phrenzy. Every
where the secular clergy have gone with the peo
rnIa and h0u had fl r.