The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07


great people are moved and governed, may be
exploded. and the fres OF a coniagration kindled
WHICH may envelope all Europe Wonderful and
mysterious Providence! that the destiny OF great
nation--it may be Of a whole continent-shoud be
go intimately entwined with the fate the life Of one
man, ana he OF no anecedent position, Significance
or renown! Nothing can be more striking charac
teris,ic Of the age in which live than this single
iact II may well be regarded as oIninous; and
teach us that, nationally, nothing ~ society or
government can be regarded as go fixed and ~eH
established as to defy cunvulson and overthrow
The complication Of causes hns recently become so
curious and intricate to make all reasoning
from them to effects abortive. We can neither per-
ceive nor comprehend the inhniie variety Of mi
mute yet operative fbrcg and elements OK ~hch the
moral tissue 10 compounded. The faculties OF the
greatest intellects stand rebuked, mortified, and
cGnfounded by rapid, successive, and unexpected
Developments Yet speculations and coDjccturcs
as to the future however extravagant or visionary
they may be, will still occupy the thought and i'm
aginations of men.
The more sanguine believers in the increased
knowledge and civilization Of the age, cure gua
rantees OF the ultimate triumph Of liberty, basing
their calculations the fact that the late changes
in Europe papably retrogressive, affirm that
the spirit Of liberty the continent of Europe ia
not exiting uished; that il is only entanged for
time in the tolls of the hunters, and that il will
speedily break The vain fetters and rouse itself to
greater energies than II has yet display ed in
combating its enemies. IT Is this class of specula
tora the sgns Of the times who affirm that 1
this moment, Europe 10 on the verge Of the great
war OF opinion often forctoid-a conflict between
antagonistc principles Of government--the one
supporting free and the other despotic forms.
There 10 another class who go still further in their
| conjectures, and suggest that Europe is probably
upon the verge of still more terrible and fornida
BILE war-a war bet ween classes-a NOR sangunary.
destructive, and wide wasting war than the world
has ever seen--a war between the poverty stricken
masses the one side and The proprieturs by pur.
chase or inheritance Of the SOIL and the depusiaries
OF all other descriptions OF wealth, the accumua-
AZ. - \
years on the other side. There have teen wars OF
ambition and conquest, wars bet~e zen races, wars
OF religious creeds, wars for civil and religious
liberty; ahd. for any thing we forcsec, the
blood OF many more such wars may yet stain the
earth. Nation will continue 10 rise up ngainst
nation, race against race, and the tide of victory
will yet ebb and flow on many battle field on
which freedom shall contend against oppression.
But there are several causes which will prevent
postpone for ages either this last great conflict
which threatens the civilization Of Europe, forstold
by some the solution of the problem, propounded
by others, who maintain that civilization, when
ever 1t reaches certain stage in any of the great
divisions oi the globe, must finally yield to the
great law of change-to the inevitable destruction
and decay, the seeds of which are planted in every
fcrm of society known in the history of the world.
The civilization Of any of people, like the
nations they compose, and like individual man, 1t
IS said, has Its ages, its eliminating point, after
which it must gradually decline and be lost to
view. or only live in history But though the civ.
iiization Of western Eurupe may have reached its
eliminating point; though its populations and
the races OF which they are composed may be verg-
ing to decline and though in numbers overstock- K
ing the land, they do yet just upon their east.
borders, there ID still that great storehouse OF
nations-of fresh and vigorous races, to replenisb
and reinvigorate their decaying energies-to pre-
serve, to perpetuate and tinay bc TO advance their
civilization. The discovery Of this world Of
ours, and the facilities supplied W imig ration Ivy
modern inventions. will mitigate, if not remove,
the great evil OF redundant populations. Aud so
trlE fhRr IA tn atrn h. NaNa
trophe OF that war of glasses, of declining civ
ilization in Europe, which some of the despondng
prophets of the timcs have suggested certain OF
| probable.
While cannot give myself up to the belief that
| the cause of civil liberty in Europe is irretreya-
| bly, lost. and while / am reluctant the
conclusion that there will be immediate early
effort, by the more rational friends Of freedom,
spontaneous or concerted, to resist the arbitrar "
principles upon which the great powers Of the
tiDent are proceeding TO model their governments;
! to throw oil the hateful incubus; 10 break the
4 cha'ns, ere they arc riveted. which forged to
bind fact their liberties; yet must confess that in
i the intelligence which reaches US from the other
! side OF the Atlantic, zee nothing TO encourage
the expectation Of such movements; and go ! con-
clude that there will be no war ON that ground
Bot come TO n different conclusion from those
who are OF opinion that the quiet which reign,
upon the continent Of Europe is permanent. ol
that there will b~ no within any short period
| There are too many causes Vi dscord, too many
jeslousies, too many rival interests too many out
cast, yet intriguing and influential dyna.tcs, TO,
| many great armies ready 10 take the field; and
| witbal, the never-dying ambition and tbirst fol
dynastic and national sggrandizs me mt, To allow
any strong faith in the hypothesis Of continued
| peace.
1 In coming to this conclusion do not forget the
opposing testimony borne by the stock markc, and
the mercantile classes. Nor am IuuInindful of the
powerful influence OF the purse holders Of Europe
| tue great Inoneycd capitalists upon the question:
| Of peace and war. Nor do forget the plentiful
4 of Il int Inv fhc
inonts most likely 10 disturb the peace. But re
gard professions and diplomatic 81 very
little value. | look To more substantial facts.
look especially to the political necessities which
may drive great nation to war. Notwitbstand.
ing III the ASSURANCES receive from abroad o
permanent tranquility, that there still exists some
nnessiness IN Europe ON ihatsubject, We have only
10 recur 10 the TACT that all the States OF that CONT
Dcnt are looking carefully to the condition Of thci
| national defenccs; and while they all profess viii.
lingness t. dEiIm, they are increasing their nrma
Inents, both by sea and land. In addition TO THE
| when We CONSIDER that here four million
| Of blyoncts ready 20 bc put in motion, and tha
| the different maritime powers can put afioat tive
thousand ships OF war, who shall sny that there Il
no ground TO apprchend war in Europei
| lam aware that there arc many causes, existing
In great force in Europe, 20 make peace deeirablc
! The enormous public debt exceeding in the az
| gregaie seven thousand millions oI doilars under
| winch the States Of Europe are weighed down,
| may restrain the temptations 10 war, IL would
undoubtedly cripple their military energies; but
this is an argumtnt which, like a iwo-edgcd ~ea.
| pom, cuts both ways. To pay tic interest on tli,
! debt, and sustain public credit takes the bread
| from the mouth If labor, cugcnders discoutcni
among the thirty and industrious classes and dcs
! peraiiun among the impovcrish,d Besides, fur
millions OF armed soldery, though their swords are
unsntathed, must bc fcd and pni +; and hence a
constant temptation TO the hrger powers to try The
! chances # var, and by forced contributions to
throw upon their ncighbors the burden ofhtir Sup.
port. The only remedy for this state Of things s
| general dsaruiing BY the great powers. which
their mutual jcalousics will rot permit.
| There is more potent influence still tha. may
possibly exist, To restrain the governments OF Eu
/ rope, and compel them 10 keep peace. The r. pub-
lican Iceas ana fierce democratic spirit which hav
60 deeply infected their populations Of late, and
which have becn the key 10 their policy for thu las,
four years. may yet exist in sufficient force to con.
trcl iheir couucils. The snake that crcpt into the
palaces OF hinge may he scotchcd, not Killed. The
popular volcano whit burst iorthin lS4S with cue
| Jury may not be burnt out il may only slumber,
and the yibraiory motions OF the I" Mountain" may
impart fears Of another irrupton and outpourif <
OF the burning lava. f this should lie SO, II caus.
Of discord, all mutual j,alousics, all ambitious
schemes, VIII be suspended, until this common
danger To- the internal peace f,hc States oi Europe