The southern press., 1852-01-17

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and virtue, they might in time become free and
happy. But the throes which gave birth to a
Napoleon seem to have exhausted the mother
and, instead Of revolutions producing heroes and
statesmen, they are led by poets, romance wri
ters, star gazing philosophers, political peda,
gogues, aud men bearing no other recommends;
ton but great name, which only renders their
littleness more conspicuous. Revolutions, with,
out great men, always end in abortions There
must be Washington to make an American
revolution in Europe, which seems laboring I'M.
der the curse of medocrity or at best only pro-
duces pigmies and monsters There is, how
ever, one grand excepton--the Hungarian exile
Ii must be confessed, however, that the people
of Europe are not without apology for the bad
use they have hitherto made of their temporary
freedom. The excuses of the first French reyo-
luton may be traced, in no 81 all degree, to the
interference Of foreign powers, which excited the
fever Of liberty to phrenzy, by the infusion of
! patriotism and vengeance. From the moment of
that interference, the domestic enemies Of liberty
became the enemies of France. They were
doubly traitors: traitors to their country and
traitors to its cause. The aristocracy which
intrigued with these foreign powers, to make
war against the republic of France, or who joined
them in doing so, deserved death, as do that
miserable remnant which at this moment stands
ready TO league with any foreign despot who will
aid in overthrowing the republic, and restoring
a Bourbon or an Orleans They are as much
traitors to France, as any members Of Congress
would have been during the revolution, or since,
had they intrigued with the enemy to prevent
the establishment of the republic, or to bring the
United States again under despotic govern
eminent. Political principle must be at low
ebb in France, when representatives Of the peo-
pie stand up in the National Assembly of a
great republic, and openly advocate the restora-
ton ola monarchy, which it cost them oceans Of
blood to overthrow.
| Liberty is surrounded by despotism in all
parts of Europe, and every throe is repressed by
the bayonet. The people are watched with an
incessant sleepless vigilance by spies and police
officers, and combination is extremely difficult
| if not impracticabe. Peacefully they can do
nothing, and every effort must be resort to
violence. They cannotrevolutionize their coun-
try by the peaceful ballot box anywhere but in
France, and even there it is questionable whether
the people or the army rules. When they rise,
it must be to pull down, not to preserve; and
ha;no oppooad b,y fo.oo tbo,, ,,n
compelled to resort to force to defend themselves
If, in doing this, they are sometimes, if not al.
ways, led to excuses, which involve the limo.
cent with the guilty, those who resist their joint
demands, and thus goad them into violence, are
responsible. 1t is in this point of view we
should contemplate the throes Of every revolu-
ton. It is struggle for life and liberty: it is
the slave breaking his chains, and with the frag.
ments knocking down everything in his way.
But it is not despotism alone that presents
barrier to rational liberty in Europe. Philoso-
piers and reformers-at least those who pre-
tend TO be so-are now its most dangerous
foes. In maintaining the rights of person, they
are laboring TO overthrow those of property;
and in attempting to remedy the abuses of
bad government, they sweep away all the re-
straints of good one. Hopeless il would seem
of mending the old machine, they would if pos
sible annihiate the very principle which gives il
life and action; and in the impotence of their
suiTerings urder despotism throw all the re.
siraints of authority to the winds. BY taking
this course, they have afforded the enemies of all
liberty, arguments for their own overthrow, and
a pretext-nay, just ground for opposing
them. They have in addition TO this, awakened
the fears Of the timid for their lives, and Of all
those who possess any for their property. They
have united against them the middle classes
that in every country enjoying any portion Of
the blessings Of freedom, constitute the bone and
marrow Of the State, which can never be reyoln.
tiouized, so long as they give their cordial sup
port 10 the government Owing TO the danger
Gus principles Of socialism, now 30 prevalent in
Europe, almost all those Of that class, who have
any thing TO lose, or whose livelihood depends
on a profession, trade or business which can
only be successfully prosecuted in time Of par
tial tranquiliiy--all these have been frightened
from the ranks Of liberty, and are DESTROYS
rather 10 take shelter in the dead calm ofdcspo
tism, than be forever tossed on the waves Of an.
archy, and in danger Of losing ship, cargo, lives
and all.
With regard TO tlie proportion Of the people
Of Europe, infected with this fatal disease of so.
cialism, have no data TO Judge, but presume il
has been exaggerated, for the purpose Of not
only awakening the apprehensions Of the mid
die classes, but Of justifying the violent inca.
sures resored to for the purpose Of suppressing
them. II We may draw our conclusions from
the emigsnts from that quarter, Germany is
deeply infected with socialism. Philosophers.
stult6ed by tobacco and small beer, and hay-
ing no more practical knowledge Of the world
than if they had lived all their lives in an empty