American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-23

All minds appear to have attained, with I'M
usual unanimity, the conclusion that the era of
general revolution is about to dawn, and that
Europe is soon to witness terrible struggle
between the friends Of freedom on the one side
and the ruling powers and their hired soldiery
on the other.
On the part of the republicans, such prcpa-
ratory measures are being concerted as time
and opportunity warrant, while there is little
doubt that the rulers Of the different govern
ments, from the Emperor of Russia down to the
President, or whatever he may be called, of
France, are agreed to make common their con-
tests with the people, and to oppose and crush
each revolutionary effort by their united power
We look with awe upon the prospect, antici-
pating dreadful conflict, a terrible aggregate
of human suffering, and the flowing of blood
like water upon the battlefield and scaffold,
And what the great result will be, heaven only
knows! Whether it is to prove the triumph or
the prostration Of civil and religious liberty
may not be known to man until the great con-
summation is before us. We are not without
our apprehensions rs to this result In the
right of the people Of every cline to the enjoy
ment Of "life, liberty, and the pursuit Of hap
piness," we firmly believe; but it has not APP
peared in the past that condition Of thraldom
and oppression affords n good school in which
to acquire the moderation and liberality that
will prepare men for self government; nor is
the transition through blood and carnage
adapted to soothe the harsher asperities OF our
nature.
Still, if this be the only avenue to freedom,
let us enter it, and rest our hopes on the sue
cess Of good cause and the courage and endu-
rance Of its champions. The blasphemy Of
those who claim the divine right Of kings =
will surely be rebuked, and the miserable alb
surdity must be swept from before the vision Of
men. God, and nature, and human experience
concurrently approve the spirit of republicanisn
and the representative form Of government
peace and prosperity attend those government
established in obedience thereto; and the oc
cupaDt Of every throne is unhappy and insecure
in his jealous regard Of the growth Of this spirit
in the bosoms Of his people. These, things arc
but premonitions that the day Of regal and i'm
perial power is passing away, and that thrones
can henceforth depend for their perpetuity upor
nought but the power Of the bayonet aud tn
base servitude Of parasites and sycophants.
But how shall men arise in their disunite
helplessness, and oppose the organized tyraDn
by which they are oppressed How shall tn
lovers Of peace, whose path has ever been in tn
humble and lowly pursuits of private life, arts
in the name of freedom to oppose the tutore,
and disciplined men of blood, who know notbin.
ofjustice or duty beyond obeying master an,
receiving for their maintenance the price Of a.
blood they shed?
These are fearful questions, and well may
tremble in anticipation Of the realities bcfor
us; but let il be remembered that the indomit
able viii, the consciousness Of right, and til
glorious end in view, hare heretofore inspire
such strength and prOrass ss have bSSsbied I'd
most magnificent n fyTapts ~ the duet. an
borne the standard q Eass-y ana sost6os {
triumphant victory.
II is the missoTt.ns u anon. 10 one isssiplss,
ness Of a disorgaDi1sd opaasfspr, ~ enSbasik ~
vaguely upon the fearful sss 81 rerdusteps an
the failure to succeed ia hsnos, ~ tbs anamis
Of freedom, interpreted - 1sppss eis sbsssnsza
of their cause oh4n hsrs a.s sosi.sss yns