Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-08
Europe and America.

Whatever Louis Napoleon, the republican
despot ruler. not by the grace of God, but
by The omnlpoient ro1 populi may do for
France, or with France, he is con!erring
great benefits on the United States His
coup d. etat has turned the tide of prosperity
full upon us. The wealth of Europe in
money, muscle, and mind, is coming bither
for investment, and we have use and room
Tor all. Every reactionary and oppressive
movement in Europe sends thrill Of JOY
through Wall street. and Il pulsalion Of new
blood into our life current. As long as there
was free government in Europe, or hope
for liberal nstii utions, people chung TO the
dear associations OF their lathcr-lands. Now
that such hope is dying Out--now that a des-
polism is based on universal suffiage-now
that the ewes of liberty in the old world look
dark and drear, the eye Of hope is turned to-
wards the star of freedoms empire in the
west. The rich are sending hIher their gold
that they may lay up treasures in the serene
security of our once desplsed democracies.
Authors, artists, and all men of free thought
and aspiration. are seeking for new spheres
of acton here. Europe has long sent us
hardy lahorers; now we shall have her in-
genious arlizans, the moulders of her wealth
INTO all Iorms of luxury and beauty. And
why not Our soil is as rich, our scenery
as grand, our skies as fair, and the same sun
and stars shine above us. If the majority OF
the people of France want desporism, let
them enjoy it, ii they want the glories oi
conquest let them pay the dear price in The
horrors of war; ant. let the few who prize
freedom come where ii can be enjoyed.
We are not so sanguine as many in our
hopes of human progress. The geologists
,eI us that it took millions of ages TO gel the
world into even its present adaPtedness to
the wants of the races that now inhablt IT,.
Why should we expect political and social
reforms 10 be of a more rapid growth? 1t
NAV require centuries 10 fit an enslaved peo-
pie for The enjoyment OF liberty. And this
is natural, even physiological necessity.
Men are born the very creatures they are
They get their characters by the laws OF he
redilary descent. Nicholas |. is born des-
pot, and cannot help his inclinaiions 10 rule
The deslinies of the millions who are born 10
revere and obey him. The sovereigns OF
Europe are born with he instinct OF ruling
The people have equally the Unborn and he
redirary instinct Of submission. Louis Ma
poleon is an nborn usurper. few years, n
few newspapers, and some political discus
sion are not going 10 take from men the inn
press of generations. They are too stub
bornIy what birth makes them, while eduea-
rion only confirms or slightly modihes their
dispositions.
No-Europe Is far from freedom, be-
cause her people are not rendy for it, There
are 100 many rulers on the one hand, and too
many slaves on the other. We may look
for wars, revolutions, the extension OF des-
potism, the extinction Of every vest,ge OF
liberal institutions, sooner than the good
time which many have supposed not only
| Coming bur come. 1t is more likely that
EnsIa will he crushed, than that France,
Germany, or Italy, will he free. Every one
feels that great struggle is coming, but The
wsest are MOI most hopeful Of the immediate
results. Many will say 10 have hand IN
the fight; bui manv will come here to en-.
Joy life IN peace and freedon,--a freedom we
know not how 10 appreciate, and which we
cannot guard with a 100 jealous care.-N
| Y. Sunday Times.