The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-04
The Foreign News-PrOgress OF the Great
European Revolution.

We give in our columns to-day, an additional
assortment of extracts from the French and Eng
fish journals, comprising the details of some
OF the most important events of that stupendous
revolutionary drama which Is now in progress on
the continent of Europe. These extracts possess
all the romantic interest and freshness of novel,
in addition to that impressive reality which belongs
to events destined to exercise the grandest in
fuence on future ages. Our private correspon-
dence from London, Paris, and the other great ca
pitfalls of Europe, Also is already in possession,
giving still more recent and interesting details, of a
more graphic and accurate character than can be
found elsewhere; but this we must reserve for our
issue of tomorrow.
We call the events now taking place IN Europe,
the great revolutionary drama of the age; and,
assuredy 1t is revolution of the deepest and
mightiest character to the human race, and parti-
cuary to the civilized nations both sides of the
Atlantic. The first act of the drama is now pre-
sented; but its progress and denouenent are in
volved in mpenetrable obscurity. Looking ever
the expanse of Europe, the mind appears to be be-
wdered with outbreaks, fnleutes, battles, procla-
nations, bulletins, quarrels between the princes
and the people, difficulties even among the revolu-
tionsts themselves and all to such an extent as to
throw the whole contest into state of inexTicable
confusion, on which no settled opinion can be
formed as to the course and policy of either party
Yet all Europe, on this side of Russia, presents,
after all, some settled feature of common order,
from which the mind can discern the great lead
ing principles and movements at work beneath
the surface. Those principles and feelings, which
may take years and years to work out the re-
volution which they have begun--the various
conflicts between the princes and the aristo-
cracy on one hand, and the popular masses on
the other-may present themselves in different
aspects in the North and In the South-in Ger
many and in Italy-in France and in England; but
they all have common origin, and tend to the
same result-he final destruction of all hereditary
power and hereditary privileges, and the ultimate
triumph of equal rights and equal privileges among
all classes-rich and poor, high and low-as we en-
joy them on this side of the water.
The parliamentary and election contests in Eng
land and France, are, at this day, of the same cha
racter, and spring from the same general feeling,
as the warike struggles in Italy and Germany.
The same principles, operating in these different
countries, produce the same results, varying in
degree and intensity; the difference IN the
individual features of each, arising from the
advanced stage of popular liberty as applied
to the governments now existing in France
and England, in comparison with the back
ward condition of the same growth in Italy
and Germany. In all European countries, how
ever, the progress of the grand revolutionary
drama has to encounter the same obstacles. Even
in their own ranks-that is to say, among those
who claim to act with them-the friends of liberty
find the bitterest foes Thus far, the progress of Ii.
berty,ln regulated form, in France, England and the
rest of Europe has been shackled and INSTRUCTED by
the pestilent heresies of I" socialists" and indv-
duals whose theories and morals intimidate and
frighten the conservative portion of the middle
classes, who are in favor of peaceful and progress
sve revolution, until they become alarmed by the
destructive and anarchical views and acts of the
ultraists Of all kinds. Another obstacle to revolu
tionary progress and the peaceful development Of
the highest order of republican liberty in Europe,
has arisen from the terrible accumulation of debt
which hangs over the leading governments there,
binding to the old order Of things large classes Of
the intelligence connected with commerce, trade
and finance.
This is but brief and cursory expression of
some of the ideas which 60 to explain the singular
state of confusion which attends the revolutionary
drama now enactng on the other side of the ocean.
Perplexlty and confusion of all kinds appear to
minge in the history of each day, and every sue
ceeding week and it requires the incest discrmi-
nation and the most acute analysis, to point out
the exact progress which the cause of human
rights has made, amid the violent conflicts of fac
tons, from the destructive socialists and infdes,
round to the yranncal despots and their interested
supporters. Yet no one can doubt the ultimate
triumph Of rational and popular liberty, in political
and civil government in Europe Still, we cannot
but fear that that triumph will be obtained only af
ter wading through oceans of blood, and after
many years of toll and difficulty, if not civil war,
in the different countries of Europe, and perhaps
general war itself. The multiform struggle in the
various nations of Europe, may retain its present
characteristics until the leading governments reach
that point when their credit will be demolished,
their public securities become worthless, and
general reputation OF the public debts occurs. Then
new Crisis will come up, and the great struggle
between feudal privileges and popular rights will
have fair chance of being decided on its own
merits
The INVESTIGATION INTO THE LATE MASSACRE
AT Aston PLACE We understand that the secret
investigation into the causes of the recent kmeute
and massacre at Astor Place, which the Mayer
and the city authorities have delegated to Judge
Edmonds, has been going on in a very private and
very unusual way, during the whole of last week.
On Saturday last Captain Rynders made his ap-
peerance before this secret tribunal, and was exa-
mined by the chief inquisitor. According to the