The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-11
EUROPE.

where, according TO very vague and uncer-
tain accounts, the Magyars still contend sue
cesslully both against the Austrian troops and
their Russian allies, it must be conceded that
Liberalism appears to be at length declining
all over Europe, and the Republican spirit
last yielding before the desperate resolution
Of kings and princes, fighting for the preser-
walton OF their ancient power and hereditary
honors. We do not suppose the ultimate
result Of things is to be altered freedom is
the destiny, because the natural last stage
OF Political progress Of the race, and, sooner
or later, it will come but, in the meanwhile,
the progress is checked; the way is lost
there is to be longer wandering of the ma
tons in the desert, to punish the golden
cali sins and folies Of Red Republicanism
and Europe seems on the very point Of slip
ping back to the condition that existed four
teen months ago-just as il Louis Philippe
had never been driven out Of France---just as
if the monarchs Of Prussia and Austria had
never been at the feet Of their people, royal
culprits, frightened, pentent, quite willing
to submit to any punishment and degrade
ton which would still concede to them the
shortest respite Of monarchic life, tie small
est shadow Of kingly authority. A Wndisch-
gratz, Jellaehich, and Radetzky have
enabled the Austrian Emperor to turn the
tables on his good people in Austria proper,
Bohemia and Lombardy and they will We
ny soon all unite their forces to reduce Hun
gary to similar submission. The King OF
Prussia, lately outraged and degraded ina
hundred ways, is now Emperor elect Of the
Germanic Confederation, (no body hears
any thing now of tie Germanic Republic,)
although afraid TO accept the honor, not re-
sisted by republican interests, but by royal
rivals; and there are no fighting or dccam
ing democrats in Bavaria, the Polish Prua-
sian Provinces, or even Baden. One single
blow from an old soldier-and not by any
means the wisest and ablest in Europe-has
destroyed all the illusion OF Sandman Hber-
alism-utterly demolished the Janus Of a
have united in his person the incompatible
roles Of prince aud patriot-snd taught his
subjects fierce lesson Of their impotence
and peril, in the blood Of Genoa The
Siciians only fight again, to be defeated
again; Catania IS sacked; Syracuse ca
pitulates and nothing remains but Palermo
and long siege, or short and bloody
storm, to restore the ancient despotism Of
Ferdinand over the whole is,and
The republic Of France still stands; but
its destinies are in the hands Of Democrat
born in the purple-a governor, not chief
servant-a man who, educated to regard
France as his inheritance and the crown Of
Napoleon as his birth-right, had, twice in
his life, raised the banner oil the Empire
to which he seemed almost fairly called by.
the immense popular majorities who voted
for him as President, in preference to the
really republican Cavaignac and Lamartine-
and now unites, with right royal grace and
instinct, with the Austrian and other mon
archs TO settle the Italian difficulties. Every
thing seems to indicate that the Prince Pre-
sident is treading in the steps Of his uncle,
and acting in full expectation and prepara-
ton for change from the Presidency to the
Imperial diadem Of France; and that his
Ministers and the majority Of the Assembly
are acting with him in view Of the same ex-
pected conversion. The vulture has killed
the eagle the Red Republic has destroyed
the real republic Of France the people
themselves seem looking complacently, il not
with desire, to a restoration-the Imperial
restoration-in which the pride ofliberty may
be bartered for peace, prosperity, and certain
protection from the red-handed phianthro.
pists and robber philosopbers--th new-Ian-
gled Marats and Anarcharsis Clootzes of the
day-who have done so much to inure the
republican cause in Europe 1t is the light
air that makes the low barometer and as
tha IF 4.
with the vapor Of mems follies, the column
sinks, and the clouds gather thick and fast
Is republicansm, then, plant that can
not, alter all, flourish in European soil 1t
has, at least, maintained itself amid the ga
ciers Of the Swiss Alps for FIVE hundred
years, and thrice as long, nearly, on the sol
itary Italian hill Of San Marine, and in the
hollow vale Of Andorra amid the wild depths
Of the Pyrennean mountains. The soil is
good and the season propitious. II is the
husbandman only, or those that assume to
direct their labors, who are at fault. The
seed Of the serpent's teeth produces in Eu-
rope, as elsewhere, the usual crops Of armed
men, ready TO be organized into harmonious
communities, or driven, by stones cast
among them, to turn their swords upon each
other. This, however, is not an evil that
can last forever, Experience is gained by
disaster and the popular mind is informed by
failure. II despotism rises again, il rises
enfeebed. Liberalism is checked, but does
not die. All the thrones of Europe may be
restored, but it will be only for time Con-
stitutlonalsm, at least, is inevitable; and in
that is the leaven and awakening principle
\ H. 1a1 will
aspire until it is at last firmly and fully en-
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