The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-17
CITY OF WASHINGTON
SUNDAY MORNING, FEB. II. 1850.


II the year ls4s is memorable for lis revolutions for
the victories achieved by the people their oppres
sors and for the advancement OF the general OF lib
erty and humanity, the year is49 must be regarded
equally memorable for its conservative reaction. Ia ls4s
in France, Germany Hungary Rome, and other States
OF Europe, the people upon their yannca rulers,
and extorted from them concessions which, il they had
been duly observed by the ruling and privileged classes
would have resulted in great ameioraton OF the cond
ton Of the popular Masses and in the general improve
nent OF society. Satisfied with those concessions the
people content gave credit the sincerity OF their
kings, and permitted them again to 60 at large Here
their great error, the events of the last year have
proved Alter lung the people into state OF security
by insdious and faering concessions. and promises
which they designed to keep they were enabled
to gain time, to strengthen their positions to win back
their armies, and finally fall upon and crush the peo
pie.
Hence has conservative reaction taken place in all
those countries OF Europe in which the standard Of liberty
and reform had been raised The chiefs OF the conserva
tive system, the Enperors OF Russia and Austria now
riot in the blood and evei in the possessions Of the
conquered and PROSTATE friends Of popular liberty and
ca reform In France, the reaconsts headed by each
erous President, are rapidly bringing the government
back to monarchy and the establishment Of the order
Of things existing before the revolution Of Is4s. Such
is the state Of things the continent OF Europe The
people have been conquered, trust temporarily and
conservatism reigns trumphaa, and supreme
The spirit OF conservative reaction is also mani
Testing itself in England Within the las, few years. i'm
porant and sautary changes have taken place in the
Legislation Of Great Britain AMI more important than all
else is the introduction OF the system OF free trade by
the sta hJaJt
food. This reform so beneficial and benefcent to the
laborng masses, cut deeply into the privileges Of the
landed aristocracy. who are the true tories or, as
they call themselves, the conservatives OF England;
and, Of course, it vehementy opposed by that
class, before it became entrenched and fortified
among the legislative acts Of the government Then,
and until recently, the conservatives. acquiesced in
fate which all the indications Of the times seemed to
proclaim their memorable destiny But they have seen
how successfully the mperalsts and monarchsts Of the
continent have combated the people and from heir tri.
umphs they have taken courage, and now boldly raise
the standard Of reaction in their own country The res
toraton Of the cornaw monopolyihe protective sys-
tenn OF the British tory nobtyis the motto inscribed
upon their banner They now shout, Down with free
trade and up with the prices OF corn" in order that the
people may be starved and the nobility saved. And again
they throw down the glove OF defiance to The liberal and
progressive party in England, and dare them to the
fict
But the reactiouiss give the defiance in Drawer OF
more gallant terms than the liberals accept it. The in.
uepd and able Golden has accepted the challenge, and
invited them TO the field OF combat As the class
are everywhere the conservatives OF England inso-
lent and aggressive They have the hardihood and i'm
pudence to hint 10 Golden that, il he pursues his
schemes, his life may be the forfeit But that bold
reformer hurs back the threat and tells them 10 be-
ware that all their schemes and devices for crushing
down brave and generous people, which they have
combined into one immense and gigantic system
OF wrong, injustice, and oppression may fall with them
in the conflict What will be the result OF this new
campaign which the conservative reactonists have
solved TO wage cannot be doubtful in England They
will be defeated and compelled yield up the people
other privileges which they have enjoyed for ages at the
peoples expense. The people of England are too en-
ighened and too brave 10 be driven back in the great
work of reform in the present age Of progress and i'm
provement
But conservative reaction is not confined to Eu.
rope II is even attempted here. During the las,
presidential term, the democracy OF America achieved
wonders for their country and for the general OF
humanity In defence Of their country, and the vindi
cation OF the rights OF its citizens, they waged
against neghboring power, which, for the briancy OF
its events and the importance Of its results, is
Piled in the history Of nations. They developed the fact
that the United States OF America is a military power
OF the first order they illustrated the national character BY
unrvaed victories they added domain ample enough
for an empire the sovereignty OF the Union and they ell
evaed the republic to the first rank OF nations Such
the fruits OF their external and foreign policy AT home
they achieved civic victories important in their
influences upon the we'll being Of the country. They es.
ablished sound system Of currency and finance, and in
roduced in the commercial policy Of the country the
principles OF free trade And the results OF all these grand
martial and civic achievements the unexampled pros
pety and happiness Of the people No presidential term in
our history has been so splendid and brilliant that Of
Mr.. Polk. and such will be the voice Of posterty.
But like the monsrchists and aristocrats Of Europe
the conservatives OF this country, through the in
strumenalty Of the basest acts OF duplicy. hypoc-
risy, and falsehood succeeded in wrestling the gov.
eminent from the hands of the democracy, and like their
counterparts the conservatives Of Europe they have
begun the work Of reaction REFRIGERATION in all
the great measures OF Legislative reform adopted by
the Democracy, is now the mllyng cry Of the conser
vative wings Of this country The tariff be repealed
the old coruptng system Of internal improvements long
since condemned by the people, must be revved and all