The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-01
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
From lhe Washington Republic.


WEEKLY, W
From, the Washington Republic.
EUROPEAN AFrARs-Those who were readers
OF the Republic at its commencement Will iI1 .i
the initials if not from the style have no uinou'y
IN recognizing the able pen OF one OF its VI 'S.'o
editors in the following editorial correspondence
of the New Orleans PicayuDe
P.eIs, November 81, 1850,
The institutions and customs oil our own couh
try have been so vilely caricatured by professional
book makers, who seem to have embarked IN Tor
eign travel the better to palm OIL, upon European
credulitv opinions conceived In ignorance, and
preudices INDUCED from the cradle, ms the cur
rent impressions Of sojourn in the United States,
that am admonshed against the example OF those
writers who imagine themselves capable or alb
sorbng the spirit of people by crossing their ter
ritory upon railroad, or comprehendlng the ge-
MUS OF nation by promenading upon the boule-
wards of its capital. Any one prone to disparage
whatever is new, or even announcement IN foreign
land, may find in the pecullaritles of people,
speaking different language, and governed by
different laws than those he has been accustomed
to, enough to feed fat whatever grudge the indulg-
ence Of spirit of intolerant criticism may appease
1t is sufficient, as it las been an abundant excuse
for foreign commentators upon American constitu-
tons, and social organizations arising under them,
that they differ from those OF their own country,
to condemn without stint or discrimination. They
promised by distant travel was an opportunity to
Judge Of the vale ofpublic institutions by witness
ing the blessings they confer, and not by narrowly
estimating the differences in manners which they
produce; and, moreover, If it were not for these
very differences, they might just as well have re-
maned at home, for all they could gain from ac-
quiring 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 to the progress she has made in the arts
which extort admiration, and especially in the
power which commands respect. The gibes of
Cockneydom make sorry array in presence of
the American men-of-war and merchantmen which
are no Joke, whilst the annual statistics OF the
Treasury Department overays the small wit OF
itinerant censure- mongers. These are the provo
cations Of European esteem; and II is to be doubted
if the liberty our institutions secure to us would
produce the least appreciable sensation, this side
Of the Atlantic, if the national ensign did not wave
over cotton bags and tobacco as well as freemen.
| would be obnoxious to my own censure If
were to write Of European politics as one speaking
by authority. Apart from newness here, the Of
fee Of prophecy is hazardous one at all times; II
would he especially so to one DESTROYS of the credit
of predicting events on this continent six months
in advance of their coming. There is just as much
reason, to all appearances, to suppose that this
time nexsyear there will be no vestlge Of repub-
lie in Europe, there is to apprehend war be-
tween Prussia and Austria about the affairs of the
German Confederacy. But whether there eN list
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
coming england that is none at all. Ii is i'm.
nossbIe 10 appreciate the interests which hun.
dred millions OF people have IN the question of am
btlon between the courts of Berlin and Vi:nna,
about which they may be called upon to cut each
others throa,s, just as 1t is to discover the value
=. - Il Iar.1
DYNASTY would confer on the franchises OF French
men, 1t would be marvellous to contemplate the
chances which have made two princes lately out
casts or supplicants for popular recognition, arb-
tiers Of the fate of Germany, or the peace of the
world, if the restoration throughout Europe did
not deprive these examples OF then singuarty.
With the exception OF France, there is no place
where there is any semblance Of popular advan-
tage left from the revolutions OF 48; and In the
Italian States-especally in the dominions of the
church-the reco has been greater than the pro-
pulson.
If il would be imprudent to attempt to analyze
and colate the causes of the retrogade movements
in their detail, it can scarcely be so to assign
general reason for the failure of the liberal move
ment, which is as painful IN recital as sufficient
for the catastrophe-the appropriateness of tbV
people for free government. The commissions
which for a season crlmsoned the soil of Europe,
if they have not proved successful in establishing
free governments on solid foundations, have SUI
feed to prove how great a boon liberty rs where
enjoyed 1t is not condition which may be
vaulled into; it must be won by long training and
habits of free opinion, handed down from genera
lion to generation. Were il otherwise, no people
would remain in bondage longer than neces-
sary TO mature plan of resistance to tyranny. IL
is by contemplating the bloodshed, the civil wars,
the dreadful saughters which the struggles for
liberty elsewhere produce, that we learn TO esti-
mate the inheritance which the men OF the Revo-
sloI. 'ha,r Atf
it; and, whilst we rejoice in our possession. we
should regard them as the accumulation of long
wears Of patience, suffering, and daring and which
none others possess who do not go through,
or succeed those who have passed through like
trials. The world is yet destined to witness other
failures to achieve liberty by coup de main. Ii
requires the sacrifice of life rather for its preserva
ton than its creation. Ii does not originate with
the sword, is il humanlzed by 1t. IL must first
have being and resting place in the hearts and
understanding of men; 1t must exist as sentl-
ment and principle ii must summons its sup
porters to it's defence, and marshal its votares
the field Its victories then establish lasting forms
OF government, and promise perpetual increase of
happiness. But | apprebend that no amount Of
sudden success can metamorphose the Neapolttan
azzaroni or Roman banditti into nations of free
men IL will not answer that the leaders be ami
mated by love Of freedom, and comprehend its
responsibilities and exactions. The masses must
likewise be ready for the duties well as the Ii
censes Of free government, else the hopefulest be
ginnings will be likely to end in reverses smsr
TO those which have overtaken the revolutionary
cause in Europe.
| did not purpose, in commencing this letter, to
select any of the transactions of the last two years
for special comment. | designed merely to init
mate the impressions Of the result, in actual adj
vantage to the cause of liberty, of the desperate
struggles which the people have had with their
princes. If | have been unable to see the same ia
vorable omens which others have discovered in
them, it IL not because feel less than they for the
many, or detest more heartily the few, who have
kept the knowledge Of good from their reach. If
my anticipations Of the near future are gloomy in
respect to the uned ucated masses Of this continent,
thew are compensated by the glow which our own
sheds upon it's destiny. have not sought 70 de-
scribe the habits customs, and social state OF any
of the countries which have visited, either to
praise or dlsparage them. see nothing wonder
rui ia novel habits, as could recognize nothing in
Italian sunsets more magnificent thaa the phe-
nomena of American skies But have sought to
ascertain in which and how much the cause Of
free govern nent b been advanced by the frou-