The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-30
European Affairs.

| PAaIs, NOVEMBER 81, 1880
The institutions and customs of our own country
have been 80 vilely caricatured by professional
ook-makers, who seem to have embarked in for
eign travel the better TO palm off, upon European
credulty, opinions conceived in ignorance, and
PreJudices INDUCED from the cradle as the current
| impressions OF soourn in the United Stat6B that
am admonished against the example of those wri-
ters VINO Imagine themselves capable Of absorbing
the spirit OF a people by crossing their territory
upon a railroad, or comprehending the genius of
nation by promenading upon the boulevards of its
capital. ANY one prone to disparage whatever il
new, or even announcement in a foreign land
may ma In the peculiaritiss of people, speak
| ing uilercnt language and governed by differ
ent laws than those he has been accustomed to-
enough to feed fat whatever grudge tho indu gence
OF spirit OF intolerant criticism may appease It
Is suinclent, as 1t has been abundant excuse for
foreign commentators upon American constitu-
lions, and social organizations arising under them
that they der from those of their own country TO
| condemn without stint or discriminati ton They
seem TO have forgotten that the greatest advantage
PROMISED oy distant travel was an opportunity to
Judge OF the value of public institutions by wit
Messing the blessings they confer and not by mar
rowy estimating the differences in manners which
| they produce; and, moreover, if it were not for
These very differences, they might Just we'll have
remained at home, for all they could gain from ac-
curing fresh knowledge, or the means of compar-
ing methods of government and industry designed
for the advancement and happiness of the human
race. Whatever progress the United States have
made In the good opinion of Europe has been owing
10 the progress she has made in the arts which ex-
TORT admiration, and especially in the power which
commands respect The gibes of Cockney dom
make sorry army in presence of the American
men oi-war and merchantmen which no joke.
whilst the annual statistics of the Treasury De-
partment overiays the small wit of itnerant CEN
| sure fnongers These ARE the provocations of Eu-
ropean esteem; and is TO be doubted if the liberty
our institutions secure to would produce the
least appreciate sensation, this side of the Allan
tic, If the national ensign did not wave over cotton
bags and tobacco well as freemen
! would be obnoxious to my own censure if
were to write OF European politics one speaking
by authority Apart from newness here the Office
OF prophecy is hazardous one at all tines it would
be especially 30 to DESTROYS of the credit of pre-
dictbg events on this continent six months in ad-
vance OF their coming. There is Just as much rea-
SOD, to all appearances, TO suppose that this time
next year there will be no vestige of republic in
Europe, as there is to apprehend war between
Prussia and Austria about the affairs of the German
Conlederacy. But whether there exist a republic
year hence, or war be declared ere this crosses
the ocean, the claims of the people and the rights
OF man will receive equal respect in each contin-
gency-and that is next to at all II is impos-
sble to appreciate the interest which hundred
millions of people have in the question of ambition
between the courts of Berlin and Vienna about
which they may be called upon to cut each others
Threats, just as it is to discover the value which
restoration of either branch of defunct dynasty
would confer on the franchises Of Frenchmen II
would be marvellous to contemplate the chances
which have made two princes, lately outcasts
suppllcans for popular recognition, arbiers of the
fate of Germany, the peace of the world, if the
restoration throughout Europe did not deprive these
examples of their singuarity. With the exception
of France there is place where there is any SEM
blance of popular advantage left from the revou-
tions of +s; and in the Italian States-especiay in
the dominions of the church-the recoil has been
greater than the propulsion.
II IT would be imprudent to attempt to anayze
and collate the Of the retrograde move
ments in their detail it scarcely be 30 to assign
general reason for the failure of the liberal move
men, which is painful in recital sufficient for
the catastrophc-the unpreparedness of the people
for free government. The commissions which for
season crimsoned the soil of Europe, if they
have not proved successful in establishing free
governments on solid foundations, have sufficed to
prove how great boon liberty ia where enoyed
II is not condition which may be vaulted into: il
must be won by long training and habits of free
opinion, handed down from generation TO genera
ton. Were II otherwise, no people would remain
IN bondage longer than was necessary to mature
plan Of resistance to tyranny. 1t is by contem-
plating the bloodshed, the civil wars the dreadful
slaughters which the struggles for liberty osc-
where produce, that we learn to estimate the in
heritance which the of the Revolution be-
queathcd US They won and enjoy it, and,
whilst we rejoice in our possession, should re-
gard them as the accumulation of long years of
patience, suffering, and daring, and which none
others can possess who do not go through, or sue
coed those who have passed through like trials
The world is yet destined to witness other fail
ures to achieve liberty by a coup de main. Ii re-
quires the sacrifice of life rather for its preserva
ton than its creation. II does not originate with
the sword, nor ia it humanized by it, 1t must first
have being and a resting place in the hearts and
understandings of men il must exist as a senti-
ment and principle. II must summons it's sup
porters it's defence, and marshal its votares in
the field. Its victories then establish lasting forms
of government, and promise perpetual increase of
happiness. But apprehend that no amount of
sudden success can metamorphose the Neapoltan
lszaroni Roman bsnditti into nations Of free
men. 1t will not answer that the leader. be ami
mated by love of freedom, and comprehend lite
responsibilities and exactions. Tho masses must
likewise be ready for the duties well the
licenses of free government else the hopefulest be-
ginnings will be likely TO end in similar
to those which have ovcrtaken the revolutionary
cause in Europe
did not purpose, in commencing this letter, to
select any of the transactions Of the last years
for special comment. ! designed merely to init
mate the impressions Of the result, in actual ad-
vantage to the cause Of liberty, Of the desperate
struggles which the people have had with their
princes. If have been unable to the same
favorable omens which others have discovered in
them, IL lie not because feel lcss than they for the
many, or dctest more heartily the. few, who have
kept the knowledge of good from their reach. II
my anticipations of the future gloomy in
respect TO the uneducated of this continent
they compensated by the glow which own
sheds upon it's destny. have not sought to de
scribe the habits, customs, and social state of any
OF the countries which have visited, either to