The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-16
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

The remarkable political changes in Eu-
rope, during the past year, have attracted uni
versal attention, nor have the excitements of
an unusually interesting Presidential canvass,
the destructive ravages of the Cholera, or the |
adventurous spirit awakened by the unparal-
leled discoveries in California, taken away
from the minds of our people the conscious
ness that the most magnificent and remarka-
BILE drama in modern history has been, and
still is, going forward, across the Atlantic. We
can no more confidently predict theend Of
these things at the present moment, than when,
ten months ago, the whole world was startled
by the flight of Louis Philippe, and the disso-
luton of the French Monarchy. We are in
deed assured now, as We were then, that the
elements can never again become entirely qui-
ct, until human liberty is regained throughout
Europe, and the last relics of feudal and &C.
clesiastical oppression are extingnished within
her borders But when and how this great
work is to be brought about-how many years
and how many lives are to be consumed in the
struggle-remains yet as undetermined as be-
fore.
The state of the Old World, at the present
time, is one of peculiar interest-not less so
than at any former stage of these revolutiona-
~ proceedings-an suggests reflections on
which the wise may ponder with profit. We
have room for only a rapid sketch of the pres
ent condition of things, as brought TO our
knowledge by the latest arrivals from across
| the water.
The British Isles, it appears, were never
more quiet than at present. English and
Scotch Chartism, and Irish Repeal, which, at
times, presented threatening aspect, and
seemed to place the perpetuity of the British
Government in imminent hazard, have long
since ceased their Intellectual struggles, and the
English throne never, apparently, was more
secure, and its authority more universally ac-
guessed in, than at this moment.
France is, and will probably continue for
some time to come, the great point of interest
the central power of revolutionary Europe.
The French Republic is fully organized-a
constitution has been proclaimed and accepted
by the people-a President has been elected
by universal suffrage, who has already enter
ed upon his duties. 1t is circumstance not
little remarkable that the new head Of French
affairs is the nephew, and heir apparent, of
the Emperor Napoleon, in whose person the
old Republic was transformed into the most
splendid and powerful Empire ofmodern times.
The immense majority of Louis Napoleon,
(5,500,OO0 out of 900, 900 votes) is due sole
ly to his name, and indicates quite plainly the
veneration in which the mass of the people
hold the memory of their former Emperor, if
not ,rhat kind ola Republic they most cordial
ly desire.
In Italy, the state of affairs is pcrpetually
changing, and the final results defy conjecture.
The Pope IS still at Gaeta, within the domin-
ions of the King of Naples, whittier he fled
from Rome, startled by the impetuosity of that
liberal spirit which he himself at first cncour-
aged, and which at length aspired to dictate
his course, in all that pertains to his temporal
sway. His taking refuge with the despotic
King Of Naples exposes him to the suspicion,
in many quarters, that his support of liber-
al measures was mere hypocrisy, and that
he has all the while been playing into the
hands of the enemies of civil liberty. We be-
leve this Suspicion unjust-but that Plus IX.
has forever lost his political influence, is I'M
doubleday true, and the permanency of his &C.
clesastical sway is more than ever questiona-
bic.
In Prussia, the King has been compelled to
grant his subjects constitution, securing to
them liberty of the press, trial by jury, free
dom of religion, education, the right Of petit
ton, &c.-In Austria, the OLD Emperor, Fer
dinand, has abdicated in favor of his nephew,
Francis Joseph, who ascends the throne with
warm professions in favor Of constitutional lib
erty, and with the confidence of the people
that his professed liberal views will be carried
out in his conduct.
Everything, throughout Europe, points to
the ultimate overthrow of feu1al and aristo-
cratic oppression and the establishment of free
institutions similar to those We now enjoy.
The example of Republic like ours, for the
last half century, has been felt throughout the
civilized world, and we have only to be true
to ourselves and to the high trust committed
to us by Providence, in order to exert COM
handing and decisive influence among the ma
tons of the world, during the ages to cone.
HON. GEO. P. MARSH.
The high consideration in which the talents and