The daily union., 1852-05-15

which had been made were incompatible
with The spiritual power OF the successor OF o. retef OF
not In my judgment they were not bul skliul ana
steady hand necessary 10 put the new institutions IN
notion and prevent conflict between them ana the spirit
ua prerogatyes OF the Pope No sueh hand was iound
until II too late TO reconcile the eonicng elements
put in motion by ultra progessonsls on the one side and
ultra retrogradists the other IS uue tnat Rossi
at last called to the head OF atias but before he
took the helm the vessel OF State was already driven
upon the breakers II any hand could have arrested It's
and turned aside, was the hand OF that great
man, who, after having undergone the strangest ycssi-
udes of forune having served after being several times
an exile various powers in the highest Offices OF State
died at length the head OF the Papa ministry, by the hand
OF assassin. whilst engaged IN noble effort TO conso-
date the elements OF constitutional liberty In Rome his
death the signal Tor the flight OF the Pope and the
beginning OF the reign OF anarchy-deposed at last TO
make way for returning despoism.
But Mr.. President, France and Italy were not the
only theatres OF convusion and change during the ever
memorable period to which have been referring East
efn and Central Europe were swept over by the same
wrecks Hungary dscontented with Austrian rule
everywhere arbitrary and oppressive, endeayoed 10
cast 1t OIL The struggle was gallant and prolIact.
ed one and had il been for the dssensons amongst
its Chiefs and finally the treason OF OF them, and
the Intervention of Russia with a powerful army, II
would in all probability have been successful. Prussia
and of the smaller German States operated on by the
same disturbing causes, made concessions in time OF
prevent violent and bloody revolutions But all OF them
had TO submit to great and fundamental changes In their
constitutions in order TO ward OIL greater and more vo-
lent These governments, instead OF nerving them
selves to resist the torrent which had swept away 80
many others, politically cast themselves into it. IN order
to guide it into channels the least destructive The con-
sequence was that while il was impossible to prevent
innovation and the subverson OF some OF their Old pre-
negatives, their thrones and dynastes were saved But
whatever may have been at time gained Tor the cause
OF republican government--whaever concessions may
have been made by despoc power, apprehensve for its
very existencemost OF these concessions and acqulsl-
ons have been retracted lost that at present
few vesiges OF them remain Their rerogression has
been even more rapid than their advance; but nowlth-
standing this cannot help but think that the great pop
ular deuge which inundated the continent OF Europe IN
ls4S left behindi in the soil principles OF fertility which
will hereafter produce more vigorous growth OF popu-
lar principles.
the condition OF things in Europe previously to the reVolu
ons OF S4s and the prominent features in their progress
after their commencement trust has been obvious to
The Senate My design was TO show that in Italy as well
as France repubcanism was but element IN the COM
binaon which produced them and that alone il was not
strong enough 10 maintain itself when despoic power
recovering from the blow which it had received prepared
to reasse its powers In Sicily, as have endeavored TO
show, the refusal of the King OF Naples 10 redeem the
pledges OF his predecessors and the abseneesm OF the
mobiles and great landlords from their estates were the
grievances principally complained Of In Venice and
Lombardy, the severity of Austrian rule, hostility
TO foreign domination, and an anxious desire for the
union and independence OF Italy, were the moving
causes. In Rome the revolution produced and con.
trolled by multiplicity OF jarring elements. The
rope, IN edeavoring TO correct the monsroas abuses
which he found existing in all departments OF the govern
ment at the time OF his elevation to the Pontcal chair,
aenaed from him all those who had derived profit from
this corrupt source. Another cassthe older and more
influential cardinals alarmed al the concessions made 10
the people, and fearing from them conflict with their
own privileges, became opponents OF the government
and never ceased to intrigue against IT. But II he had
been cordially sustained by the people, these elements OF
opposition, powerful they would no, have been
able 10 thwart eectuay the operations OF the system OF
government established by the constitution. The people,
however, not satisfied with the concessions which
had been made TO hem and instead OF raying 10 sus.
tain the Pope against the opposition which was pressing
hn from the other side they were camorous IN their de-
mands for concessions and larger privileges; and
eventually suffered themselves TO be made the instruments
by which government designed for their own benefit
and protection to be obstruced or ovehrown From
the rulers OF neighboring governmentsSpan, Austria,
and Naples--he Pope had no sympathy; nor could he
look for aid to any of them All OF them, Austria and
Naples especially blaming him for what they termed The
example OF dangerous and mischevous Innovations were
engaged in constant ntrgues-sometmes stimulating
the people to outbreaks In order TO make the govern
ment which did not restrain them odIous or contemplate
but always covertly aiding The faction laboring Tor
the restoration OF despotic power The government as
sailed both sides, from above and below although
upheld in the last months OF its existence by the strong
arm OF Ross had acquired too much oil downward pro-
cvity before his appointment TO be rescued from de-
stuclon. This minister slain by the hand OF an assas
sin, and the Pope fugitive, republic was proclaimed,
which, after few months OF tumultuous existence was
overthrown by France After the fight OF the Pope and
the overthrow OF the republic in Rome, Austria soon
brought back her revoted provinces in Italy to the sub
jecion OF her arbitrary sway But we are not to con.
cude from this, from the overthrow OF the republic
in Rome by the arms Of France nor the subiugaion OF
Hungary through the intervention of Russia that repub
ican sentiments have been extinguished in Europe, or
that they have even declined retrograded there.
Taking advantage OF favorable circumstances the prnci
pies OF popular sovereignty for while in the
cendant but absolute power raying from It's temporary
check by the OF force and fraud has recovered in
great degree the ground which 1t had lost But all this
proves than that the republican sentiment is not
yet strong enough and well enough schooed TO Withstand
the combinations which despouc power is able 10 make
with ignorance and prejudice for It's suppression
II is true, Mr. President, that the republican govern
ments which on the ruins OF the old despolisms
were guilty OF many and OF great folles. But
is this wonderful Would il not be more 40, that
emerging from the degradation and ignorance in which
is the policy OF despoc rulers TO keep their subjects,
they bad shown themselves al forbearng moderate
a science the most difficult of all, and requiring the
largest experience In the ordinary everyday pursuits
OF life and the occupations OF experience is neces
sary TO So il is in the exercise OF the functions
OF government-in adapting il to the condition OF the
people and the multifarous wants Of society. The late
revolutions step forward, teaching the people at
their strength and their weakness and preparing
them at some future and more auspicous day for the
and maintenance of their rights
do not deny, Mr. President, that late events in Eu-
rope exhibit discouragiDg features II would be folly
10 do So but, in my judgment, il would be greater folly
to despair OF the future renovation and regeneration OF
republican institutions in Europe. As ! have already
said am firm, religious believer in human progress
in the advance OF the human mind and human insttu
not steady and with equal steps, that there are vacila
tons, periods when they stand still, moments when they
20 backward but that their direction is onward and
forward is evident from every tradition and from all his
tory. And that republican institutions those most
natural and dearest TO the human heart s Witnessed by