Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-05

the most eventful period of the civilized world
which has occurred since the fall OF the no
man Empire. The person who, on the h's.
day of January last, might claim tor nlmSeii
a fair acquaintance with the geography anu
the statistics of the Eastern Continent "outo
now, had be slept the mean WHILE md himsell
wofully at fault So sudden SO strange ana
so universal, has the overturnlng OF the old
order of things been, that we can scarcely yet
realize that we are in our waking moments,
and not the subject OF strange romantic
dream. Two brief months ago and all Europe
was quietly slumbering on in the midst of the
longest and the most universal peace which
she has experienced for centuries, and now
there is scarcely a throne in all her borders
that does not totter to its base! The philan-
thropist and the philosopher may we'll pause
and enquire, how and where will all this
mighty revolutionary hurricane end? That II
will ultimately tend to the amelioration Of the
condition of the down-trodden millions OF Eu-
rope, we have not the slightest fear; but we
rope have placed their rights upon solid and
permanent basis, fields of blood and carnage
must first be trodden. Heaven grant that we
may be mistaken! In Germany, the King OF
Prussia, who but few brief months ago ut
terly refused to grant TO his people written
constitution of any kind, has now put himself
at the head of the revolutionary movement in
that quarter of the Continent, and is endcavor-
ing to control the torrent which he was inca
pable 10 STEM Strange state of things! In
Italy the King of Sardinia is endeavoring to
make himself the great champion of Italian
freedom. He has driven the Austrians entire
" out of Italy Austria does not now hold a
single foot of territory there. On the other
hand, Nicholas, the Emperor of Russia, is ma
king mighty preparations to sustain the sink
ing fortunes of Austria and legitimacy. He
can enter the field with an army of half mil
lion OF troops, and he has the best navy in
Europe, England excepted. There is no doubt
of his attempting to stem the torrent of free
dom, which is now bearing every thing before
it. But then what can Russia do, even back
ed by Austria, against all Southern Europe ?
In such a struggle the people of France could
not help aiding Italy and Poland. Terrible,
indeed, will be the struggle, England dare
not interfere on the side of Legitimacy. Her
own situation is too precarions. Her people
are at this moment too deeply imbued with
the spirit of liberty for her to take sides with
the despotic governments of Russia and Aus
tria. We feel as certain as that we now write,
Il general war on the Continent of Europe is
inevitable And who can tell but another
Napoleon may arise, to sit for a season upon
the dark waves of war and rapine, and control
their terrific course? But it would be useless
to speculate. The crisis is rapidly coming on.
All Europe is seething and boiling like a fiery
furnace, and no man can even guess what a
few brief months may bring forth.
A great deal depends upon France. If she
proves true TO herself and TO the cause of ra-
tional liberty, then, indeed, will the future of
Europe be full of bright hope, Should the
cause Of true genuine liberty suffer from mis-
management in her hands, then indeed would
we fear for the human race in the old world
We will hope for the best, and pray that all
will go we'll.