The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-26
1.-THE Year of Revolutions

olutlOns. vi course the year alluded TO is thaf
just passed, which, more than any other in the his
tory of the world, merits the appellation bestowed
upon it by the writer in Blackwood Future ages
will look back to that epoch with wonder and ad.
miration, as the time when the reaction, so long
prepared by the evils existing in the bosom of So
ciety, commenced; when the revolutionary pas
sons were developed to their fullest extent and the
antagonistic elements Of progress and conservatism
came into the directest conflict Such was the
year 1S4S. The events which took place during
its course were of nature to demand from him
who should attempt to memorialiZe them, the rejec
ton of all partialities which might prevent him
from viewing them with the eye of philosopher
and philanthropist. But we are fearful that the
present generation, with its party affnties and
prejudices, will have to pass away before such
history will be written IT, for this very cause, we
have not yet found impartial historian of the first
French revolution, should not expect to find one
of the last. The article in Blackwood, to which
we have REFERRED though it does not aspire to the
dignity of history, pretends to be concise rela-
ton of the events of the last year. In work of
usually SO much literary merit, we might look for
the same quality in the present article; but the
most minute and laborous investigation will fail to
discover it. Yet as the work is so generally read
in country, there is some danger that the minds
of its readers may become contaminated by the
fallacies and sophisms contained in this article,
even though they fail to perceive those charms of
style and elegancies of diction which generally
characterize the work. The British Tory writers
noted for the violence of their hatred towards
republicanism in general and democracy in part,.-
ular the author of the article in question far ex-
ceeds any of his predecessors in undsguised malig-
nancy His remarks are nothing but series of
the most disgusting audations of aristocracy and
contemptuous sneers at the people. In the revolu-
tons WEIGH have recently convulsed European So
ciety, he see nothing but the extensive diffusion
and activity of the principles of the robber and
murderer, and he rejoces exceedingly that the
spirit of progress has already been checked and the
tide of revolution turned back upon itself. Let
him beware that the consequences of that retro
graduation are not more disastrous than any thing
to be apprehended from the continued current of
the revolutionary stream. The one truth which
the writer has asserted, the solitary just conclusion
at which he has arrived, is that which has SO long
been painfully evident to ourselves. That truth u.s.
that the revolution has, far, produced no results
commensurate with those it promised at its com.
faded before the artillery of Cavaignac, and the
generous efforts of the Red Republicans awaited
nothing for the reforms so desired and desirable
Yet because the enthusiasts of Frankfort, the So
cialists of Paris, the hotheaded insurgents of Vi
emma, and the Untists of Italy have failed to &C.
complish their particular Objects we do not consider
ourselves bound to yield our preference for democ
racy to give up desire for social progress or to
live in silent admiration of the beauties and bene-
fits of monarchy, arstocracy, and the state of
ciety as it exists in Europe. We may regret that
the end of the year 1s46 the world no nearer
perfection than its commencement, but We may
still hope that another attempt may be more
successful.
1t is immateria, truly says the writer in Black
wood, "whether the head of government is called
a president, dictator an emperor whether the
civic crown is worn by a Napoleon or Cavaignac"
This is immateral; but whether one class of soci.
ETY. shall live in luxurious incidence and another in
laborious misery, is a question quite material 1t
is the problem which the French revolution at
tempted to solve, and whose solution it has failed
in achieving. But so long such state of things
exists, so long will there be contentious lnsurrec
tons and bloodshed; and not until the principle of
Justice prevails in the distribution of the comforts
Of life, will men live in harmony This is truth
our English friends have yet to learn, yet sad expe
renee may some day teach them its existence In
stead of directing their energies to the maintenance
of old abuses, they should rather endeavor to |
ameliorate the condition Of the people, grant them
their rights men, and not wait until they are ex-
forted by force England might then escape the
which have torn society upon the con-
tinent A contrary course will produce the same
effect as in other countries; and the Tory writers
may amuse themselves with picturing the excuses
and wickedness of an English revolution, as they
now do of a French, German and an Italian.
AMERICAN THEATRE-We are glad to notice