Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-08-10
AFFAIRS IN EunorE.-FRAncE AND RoME-

from Europe seem ~ ctIONgs uCy 0uo n1SoS0H@
able doubt, that the progress OF reaction is
complete The people have everywhere sue
combed throughout Western Europe, and on
" the brave, but doomed Hungarians are left
upon its Eastern border to bear aloft the ban
ner of independence for few more months
it may be years. but it is hardly possible that
the struggle can be very long protracted.-I
Rome has fallen-France is less free than un
der Louis Philippe, and the dream of united
and popular Germany has passed away like a
shadow. leaving not trace behind, save in
least. the words of The poet are true" There
is no hope for nations" Last year, Q84S,)
was the year of revolutions this is the year
of counter.revoiutons the next will be re-
membered as the year of tyrannies-- tyran-
MES more CALLING than any which modern Eu-
rope has yet witnessed, and the bitterness OF
oppression will be increased by the remem-
brance of a brief, but brilliant interval of COM
parative .independence-of Elusive hope, lur
ing onward only 10 deceive. ass--.
When, in the beginning of last year, the
French revolution and the expulsion of Louis
Philippe had freed that country from the
shackles of monarchy, her example sent an
instantaneous thrill through the heart OF the
oppressed millions over all Europe, and the
proudest dynasties tottered 10 their base be
meath the awakened feeling of popular sover
eighty. Concessions were made TO the peo-
pie, either wrung from the reluctant hands Of
frightened despots, or voluntarily granted in
accordance with the progress of the age, and il
required no over sanguine imagination to look
forward to the time when the name and the
Office of king would be a forgotten word, or
have an existence only in history. Now,
barely eighteen months since the first blow
was struck, we find the very people who gave
its impulse to the cause of European freedom,
laboring TO undo the work of their own hands.
We find the (so-called) Republic Of France,
like another Cain, stretching forth its frareidal
hands to wipe its younger brother, Rome, from
existence, while Austria and"Prussia form but
the vanguard of Russian despotism in eastern
and middle Europe. Such gigantic successes
at the commencement, ending only in disap-
pointment and ruin, and producing no perma-
nent beneficial result, should al least be fertile
in the lessons of experience, and are worthy
the attentive consideration OF free people
who value their own liberties, and would
avoid the rock upon which their European
brethren have split.
The true cause of the futilty of all attempts
at regeneration in Europe. may be found in
the system of Capitalization, and in the union
of Church and State, which has so long pre-
vailed to greater or less extent upon that
continent 1t is an undoubted fact that no
extended republic, can long exist unless its
several component parts possess the privilege
of local self-government. This was the sys-
TEN which gave its perpetuity to the Roman
republic and empire. Every city scattered
throughout its vast territories, was sort OF
commonwealth within itself, and elected IFS
own local officers, and so tenacious Were these
, isolated republics of their peculiar local gov
} eminent, that long after the fall Of the western
empire, and the conquest of Gaul (the present
France,) by the barbarous tribes of the north,
the people still rallied around these municipal
: corporations, which then formed the only
remnant of law or order which barbarsm had
left, and the bonds of civil society were saved
from total disruption by the vitality of the
Der of the Empire long after its existence as
a nation had passed away. But in modern
. Europe the case is different. Paris is France
Every employee of the government, in the
remotest provinces, derives his authority di
rectly from the central power, and Partisan
mob, by overawing the legislative assembly
or the executive power, by eorruptng its
members, may enslave the nation in day, Oh
: change It's constitution and the administration
of its laws, without once consulting the grea
/. body OF the people. Sucha system is neces
sariIy subversive of all genuine republican
liberty. The same is the case, 10 greater o
t less extent, in every nation in Europe.
But the most potent cause. Of all may b
found in the general infdelity which charac
i terizes the revolutionary party in Europe
: This is an inevitable consequence of the Ion,
: continued union of church and State. which
: has subsisted in the old world, and which, b
{ identifying religion with the abuses and tyran
{ MES that have ground down the people forages
l. has gone far TO destroy its moral infuenc
{ with the people, and connect it in their mind
& with the despotisms with which it has beef
{ ullied. Accustomed TO regard the laws onl
= as an engine of oppression: and knowing litti
p of government but its burdens, it is hardly /
y be wondered at, that men should join religio
% in the same condemnation, when they fin
it, to all outward appearance, partaking j
: the same abuses. To their minds the syster
= Of church government having become inter
l. woven with that of State policy, was pal
of an old and despotic regime OF which the
n must get rid. Beyond all question the horror
!. of the first French revolution sprung fror
n this cause. Had not religion been identife
:. with the government, it would not have falle
- with it. Had it not fallen, the mild infuenc
st of christianity difused through the avenues {
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