Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-05-15
The Present Political State of Hu'

l LAG a AVSVAb ~V~S
rope.
We have in this country but little idea of the
tremendous oppression that prevails through
the greater part of Europe. A despotism crush
ing, grinding and heart-rending treads the peo'
pie in the dust. 1t is a hundred-fold worse in
many respects than it was before the late rev.
~olutions which convulsed its kingdoms. 1t is m
exasperated reaction of crowned heads against
popular freedom. The immense burdens in the
shape of taxes is the least of the evils that now
aflict the people. They are governed by the
bayonet. Espionage exists almost every where.
The police is a military police. In several coun-
tries the ordinary administrations of justice are
suppressed and courts martial take its place.
Men are arrested, and if the forms of trial are
respected, it is only a mockery Of all justice.
The houses of the people are visited almost
every week and searched from top to bottom.
The mere possession of publications unfriendly
to the government is sufficient for imprison-
ment or exile. The dreary prisons of Naples
are filled with between twenty and thirty thou
sand men whose only crime has been that they
have dispIeased a Tyrant or brought his suspi-
cion upon them. It may be safely calculated
that in Naples, and in Tuscany, in Lombardy
and in other sections of that district of Europe,
one hundred thousand men are immured in
cells fiji only for the destruction of human life.
In Hungary, the poor market people cannot 60
to market without a passport; when they have
sold their marketing they must 60 the police
office and have their passport uiSfd before they
can 60 home. No persons can meet without
having aspy present, and if, by stealth, they
manage to assemble together, it is very proba-
Bile that before one week has passed, they will
be Intercepted as to their business--so hope
less is it to try to escape the eye of the police.
In France, there can be no free expression of
thought. The Press is muzzled. Nothing
appears in it but what has previously passed
the scrutiny of censors. Political power is in
the hands of one man. Call him President.
Prince or Emperor, or by any other title, his
power is despotic, and none the less oppressive
because, in consequence of an overwhelming
vote of the nation elevating him to be its chief,
he can claim to be the expression of the pop
ular will" In Austria, the iron heel of the ty-
rant presses all the more heavily because of
the fear and agitation which frightened him in
the years Of lS48 and ls49. The sacred
rights Of conscience are trampled on every
Only in two or three spots on the map
Of Europe does civil and religious liberty still
i've to bless the people, but it lives surround
ID and menaced on all sides. Sad picture But
s Europe to remain in this condition? The
nations are now governed in such a manner |
it would seem as if they could not stand it
ong. Another general breaking up appears
Inevitable. But they are not yet prepared for
successful revolution. The people of Europe
lave to be educated. They must cease to con-
ound liberty with lawnessness. They must
earn that the only true basis of civil liberty
s to be found in self-government, in subdueing
he passions, controlling the appetites, and in
the paths of virtue. Even in Hungary
five millions of people represented by
are prepared for Republican ~institu-
ions, there are ten millions more who are best
If under the present government. Intelligence
nd virtue are the foundations of the Republic
an edifce. Where the people do not possess
hem, Constitutions are mere waste paper, the
oys with which their rulers at once please and
leceive them. 1t will be a long time, in our
pinion, before the masses of Europe are capa-
lie offorming and approaching Republican Con-
titutions.