The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-26
Frss sent State OF Europe.

Present state OF Europe.
To any who has attentlvely watched the
condition of Europe, since the breaking out of the
French revolution OF February last, that part of the
world presents an interesting and curious spectacle.
1t is, indeed, problem, the solution Of which Is
rendered more and more difficult by every arrival
Of intelligence from that quarter
In order to arrive at probable conclusion Of
what the ultimate suit will be, 1t is necessary for
to take into consideration the state of the con-
tinenal nations previous 10 the French revolution
In the first place, they were borne down by debts
incurred by the prosecution of wars against each
other, during the two preceding centuries, and the
interest Of which was and still Is, heavy burden
on the masses OF the people. Monarchy and des-
iotism were the only recognised forms OF govern
ment; and The people were led to believe that the
right of k ngs TO govern was of divine origin;
and to acknow ledge that right, and to submit to
such government they thought proper, was
preached from the pulpit, and by other means in
etiled into their minds change, however, was
produced by the long peace which succeeded the
wars that followed the accession of Napoleon.
Within that time, civilization progressed at an
exampled rate. The art OF printing diffused
over every country, and education and moral en-
hghtenment followed in Its train. The power Of
steam, as an element Of locomstion land and
water, was also discovered, and this tended to
centrate the nations, and, by making the people of
each more intimate and familiar with the others,
destroyed, In great measure, the national antipa
thies and prejudces which had existed between
them.
The next offspring of the human mind which
promoted civilization, the practical deduction
that the ocean could be navIgated by steam power
This brought the American republic, with Its free
and liberal institutions, within sight almost of the
people of Europe who could not help contrasting
their condition with that OF this country and
though last, not least, the magnetic telegraph has
ust lent It's influence in the same general direc-
ton.
These successive discoveries exercised their
proper Influence on the mind OF Europe. Thought
was stimulated, theories were propounded, sys-
TENS were examined, truth was elected, and error
was retuted. It was natural that In this new state
Of things the science OF government should come
In for It's share OF scrutiny, and II did, The conse-
quence was, the birth and propagation OF new
principles and new ideas, totally adverse to the
monaIchical and despotic forms which had here
tofere existed, and by which Europe had 80 long
been governed. The masses became Disseminated;
they became aware of their strength; they painted
for change, they struggled, they tried, and Louis
Philippe was hurled from his throne, as the first
eruption of the volLano. Other European nations
followed the exsmple OF the people of France; and
from the downfall Of the King of the French to the
present time there has been contest going IN
Europe between democratic principles the one
hand, and those OF aristocracy and despotlsm on
the other.
The result Of this struggle is problem. 1t is
said that there will be reaction in France that
the people will return to monarchy, to the EN-.
pire but we do not believe any such thing.
France may. and probably will, be unsettled for
some time to come; but that the people will ever
consent to yield or give up universal suffrage, we
never will believe. We rather believe that that
country will 60 on in her career, and that she will
become more practically and less theoretically de-
mocratc every year, until she shall settle down into
a state perfect republican action and progressive
repose. We believe the same of England, of Ger
many, of Italy-cf every country Europe.
There is a show of liberty in England, and the
change may not take place there soon many
expect Bat that will occur, sooner or later, we
firmly and rehgiously believe. The same Prlnc-
pies are at work there which drove Louis Philippe
from Pars; which sent the Pope to Gaeta, where
he was remaining at the last accounts; and which
has made Germany and Italy like unto two vast
caulsrons, boiling and bubbllng over their brims
Now, to suppose, at this particular Crisis of the
worlds history, with such influences at work az
we have referred to, at time when France Is &C
tually inundated with newspapers-when every
man thnks-when the human mind is in active
operation-wnen the United States of America Ia
Ca cloud by day, and pillar Of fire by night to
the nations OF Europe, TO struggle and keep
struggling ill they reach the same proud and lofty
pre- emnence which we occupy-when America Is
pursuing her career Of greatness-tO suppose, for
a moment, there is q probability Of monarchy or
the empire being restored in France, Is absurd
1t would be as easy for Europe to return to the age
of Charlie magne.
There will, however, be insurrectlons, revolu-
tons, and struggles, IN ali the countries Of Europe,
tor many years TO come, before there will be re-
pose Every nation must 60 through the same
ordeal which France has already passed, and
which France has yet to pass. Internal war
and insurrecton will successfully follow, before
the end will have been obtained. Then. and not
till then, will Europe be quiescent. The effect of
those things on the commercial Interests of that
part of the world will be disastrous, In spite of the
occasional lighting up Of day. The whole
system OF credit, commercial, national, and inai
yidual, will be snnihilaed and utterly DESTROYED;
and the commercial men of America, who are
intimately connected with the existing state of
things In Europe, will follow in the same tram,
and experience The same results. Until this ordeal