The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-30

The Position Of England.
One of the most extraordinary features presented by
European affairs the present moment the negative
position of Great Britain For nearly century that pow
e has been merely the first point OF strength, bui
also the active and efficient IN controlling European
affairs In the great struggle between Napoleon, with
nearly all Europe at his back, and England, the latter
proved victorious She held the purse OF the wordshe
was mistress OF the seas-her armies though small were
nearly invncible, and il was finally British general AT
the head of British army, that decided the iae OF the
world on the field OF Waterloo.
William Pitt was not only the Prime Minister of Eng
land but the decentralization of the British empire Tor The
past centurystrong, far SEEING perseveTng ndomia
BILE 1t this England which stood at the head OF the
five great powers alter the battle OF Waterloo and IN he
Congress of Vienna 1t is in this position have been
long trained 10 regard her, that in considering tle
OF European policy, our first question always mas
been-What soW England do2
But things changed. There IS mlghiy cohVui-
sion in Europe, which, in the space OF hue more u,l
twevemonth has produced more significant events man
any other period OF the same space W te me
agitation one point is clear bdt Od Mtngs are passing
array Monarchy system OF government win lis
train of old IDEAS is crumbng TO dust Nothing Is now
more familiar TO than 10 hear that Suea and such
King has run apny-thus coupling with majesty and
crowned heads the OF terms and associations The most
vulgar and degrading When reflect that even mon
archy has its only foundation in public opinion, II is mn
possible to the prophetic bearing OF such facts
The recent changes in Europe so fresh IN the minds
that France has passed from monarchy to re.
public the Pope has fled before popul revolution and
the States OF the church are now organized as republic
Every of the monachs OF Italy, great and small has
been mastered by his people compelled to grant a
constitution The EmPi.r 4 A stna has been forced
10 abdcate; and his ~ ventured to take the
helm under chartr F amy is maelslTon OF
agitation and rev an. .dngary is fighting for inde-
pendence, and thrs not only TO achieve the glorl-
most wicked and debasng political despotsm in Europe,
perhaps in the world. Ont of two hundred and thirty
millions, which constitute the population of Europe the
spirit of revolution, less emphatic and sweeping,
has reached nearly one hundred and fifty millions!
Sixty years ago nne-ienihs of the governments of Eu
rope were gidy despoc AT the present moment there
this has not happened without involving vast changes.
The monstrous fiction of the divine right of kings is
poded bastiles are out OF vogue public opinion begins
10 take the place of royal mandates the people. not
crowned heads, becoming the soveregns The Pope,
the key stone of the arch of despos has dropped from
his place, and is now an outcast without crown or
throne. The shattered fragments OF the arch are now
falling to the earth around him.
Thus, then, old ideas, old Institutions old landmarks,
all involved in comprehensive phrasethe balance of
Europe-that ark of the covenant with the legitimiss
OF Europe for the last centuyare invaded, shaken an
bnt annihilated. All those principles and predictions
touching European politics, which England has been ac-
cusomed TO chersh--and for which she has waded
through of bloodare threatened with destruction
Yet England does not more! This surely is significant
Russia, indeed, cannot be quiet this state of things
and already the vast baalons of the Gar march
ing TO the rescue But England does not nope. How
different the of things at the outbreak of the
French revolution IN l7s9a revolution far less aglta
ling It's immediate consequences than that OF February
lS4S, From the issuing of the famous manifesto of the
Duke OF brunswick to the close OF the struggle Just
quarter OF century aferward, whether on the battle
field or in the cabinet at camp court in the conflict of
might, or the argument for ght with pen and sword.
with mind and money, England everywhere the
leader, the very Achilles of the contest.
But ga change has over the spirit of her dream"
And what is this changer If we look at the aspect of
affairs in England, it is not difficult to explain the
ing enigma-Engiand not aohat she Das. She has
reached the zenith of her glory, and having passed the
eliminating point IS now descending from the proud ele
walton which she has so long maintained. Burdened
with debt, smten with poverty embarrassed with per-
picking counsels her naval ascen1ency questioned by
rival in the West, her protective policy initiated by rival
nations till it has been turned against her, of her
colonies burden, and others on the of asserting
their Independence this presents complication of
difficulties which may well absorb the whole attention of
government
But this is all great political change has
taken place in Eng land within twenty years-the inev.
liable result of long peace The reform bill of 1882
was the index of that change to which allude A
large infusion of the popular will has been thrown into
the English government; and however remote this may
be from system, yet II is impossible for any British
minister to play again the part of Pitt in the squan
derDg of English blood and English in foreign
inrgues or continental The English people will
not endure It, especially IN the present disastrous and
barrassed state OF the country.
But for this restraint upon their movements, there can
be little doubt that the British Neutrality-suspicious., of
sentiay monarchca--woud in the present crisis be
standing by the side OF Russia Even the internal
troubles 10 which we advert might be disegarded per
haps remedy, or at least an alienation might be sought
IN The stimulus which would arise from foreign war
Bat this course is impossible Engknd must stay al
home-for II she mingle in European agitaons beyond
the exercise OF merely moral influence she hazards
the very existence of her political system.
The condition of England, then, compared with the
days in which she sung Rule Britannia" all over the
world is OF humiliation and if coming events cast
their shadows before she has by means reached the
bottom of that descent to which her destiny evidently i'm
pels her.