Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-04-19
Saturday, April IA.

was cdl'eu an dnudS NliTdbiHS-a year OF WO
ders, but the promise of the present alread
threatens TO outvie the character Of the las
The prctensions Of ls4s will, at all event.
be closely contested by the marvels Of 1919 :
We have before remarked, that conjecture
entirely at sea with reference to the develoE
mcnts of European affairs by any arrival fror
that quarter of the e ODE. And upon no oc
casion has this fact been so s;ngularly demon
stratcd as by the inteleen &c brought hy IN
Niagara, 1t is almost incredible. We ad
vert, Of course, to the Austrian constitution
which, As production contemporaneous will
the apparen, policy OF Austria, as exhibited
by her military arm, is n paradox tha, tn,
skill ofa Machiavelli would hardly Affect "a
rival.
From the most odious desr oiism, reckina
with The blood Of the poor victims to an ov.
erwrouGtt confidence in the prevalence of lih.
eral principles nourishinp the sword in the
intoScaton of triumph with fearful menace.
over the republicans Of Italy carrying fire
and Slaughter deep into Hungarian provinces,
hand in nand with the Russian marauder this
Austria, thus known and recognized by all
people, suddenly assumes an entirely new
character, and with apparent Q; cd faith, pro.
poses consti ution unparalleled in the hber-
ali y Of its provisions under monarchial dis
pensation, as it would seem to be inexplicablo.
Is Austria sincere! Can it be possible thai,
this is project Of Metternch Has he learn
ed to be liberal under tuition ofPlInerslon -
DiI the scheme originate at Olmutz The
puzzle is as prolific ofinquiry as it Is pregnant
with mystery. Yet it will be unravelled .-~
If not by tn, curiosity and ingenuity of the
present moment, the riddle will bo solved at
no distar, day.
ltmay be less a riddle, however, than at
The frs. lance it would appear. The dynas-
ty Of Austria has a new representative, who
in his earlier years may have sympathized
with those natural aspirations for liberty
among which he was nurscd, and which must
have frequently reached his youthful car
Though trained to military exploits, he was
hunter on the Croatian hills, and mingled
nuch with the people. He knew, he must
have known, and felt the growth and expan-
sion the popular desire for freedom and
1t rcguir cd but little shrewdness in a youth
'hus reared to discern the natural hostility of
the Mctternich policy to the popular emotion.
1t is possible that he has brought with him to
the crown something of that better spirit
which anima,cs the people. This, however,
is but conjecture.
The new constitution may be the offspring
OF necessity. Policy may have dictated thu
enlarged display of lbcrality, and if we allow
that the design as TO its fulfllmcnt in practice
is sincere, we cannot resist the impression
that 1t Will be tor good. Itdoes not establish
republic it is true but we must not expect
every revolution to begin at the end. Aus
tra Is every where agtated by an urgent
demand for free institutions the abatement Of
the rigor of the MetternIch aristocracy has be-
come essential to the peace Of Europe. The
resistance ofthe people has shaken the throne,
and expelled Meucrnich. 1t has been sub
dued by arms and awed by bloody massacre,
but groans and agonizes for terrible revenge
This is Austria proper. Hungary, stirred to
the centre with tire hot blood OF Magyars fev.
cred with lndlgnity, thirsts for freedom and
revenge. Prussia, pregnant with the great
design to achieve the federal unity of the Ger
man States, holds up with attractive embel-
llshmenis the auspcious results that must flow
from its lulfIlment. Austria already realizes
the necessity of turning to Russia for aid but
aid for what To go forth upon 4 common
crusade against liberty. To crush i, at home.
To resis, it in Germany. To expel it from
Italy, and especially the Papal States. Aud
at last, TO sit down in disturbed reposo even #
successful, With la'ional cha acter odiOus
to humanity, detcstcd by the people every
where, petted by Russia, and constantly OPP
pressed with an inevitable sense Of fdegra.
daton
On the other hand, wiser counsel, suggest
an entirely different course. The peace Of
Europe may bo preserved ; tho throne Of Aus
ira established upon more enduring iounda
ton the toitcring dynasty pcrpetuacd with
added honors a crusade against liberty avert
ed Russ N aid declined Prussia chcckma,
ed interference between the Roman Repuh-
lie aud the Pope evadei the Italian States
conciliated Charles Albert bafIled and fin
a y " free, indrpcSdent, indylsahle, indls-
sDlublc, constitutional lNSnarchy established. -
Hence the new consiilut,N. Tho out inc Of
this remarkable production which reaches US
BY the Niagara, exhibits margin for tire At
,anmcnt of POLITICAL freedom unsurpassed in
any European monarchy. While in religious
matters il is also in advance of all other ma.
tors, not excepting republican France. II is
second to France only with respect to the ,uf
frage and this no doubt will he gradually en-
arged. AT present. is restricted TO persons