The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-23

,,on Of the continental States to I'M. INC e' 'ney
nav. recovered their natural condiuon or resumed
rs,;cs a. once stable in its principles and pro-
rrs..,ve in its results On the contrary, 1t may
veil be doubted whether any OF the states ~nNn
were lately convuissd oy anarchy nave somcien'
cor 6dsncs In their own resources. and In the at
rshm.,t of th~ir subjects, to engage with success
a. .nv energetic political combination. or even TO
Encounter without extreme danger, the Difficult
tiea which il 10 the duty Of governments to sur
mount in the ordinary course Of human Affairs
In France. every thing remains indefinite and OBJ
,cure The desiinies and the policy Of that nation
are for the present developed in the mystery Of q
single mind, and circumscribed by the force Of
single will. From time to time some adventurous
conception or abrupt determination seems likely
to change the course OF affairs, and to renew the
turmoil of the age. But moro habtually taste
for luxurious indulgences, pbiegmatic Incidence
Of Character, which only Rives way to the pressure
of great excitement, and perhaps consciousness
Of failing health, tend to keep the Emperor OF the
French in the passive Snjoyment Of the extraordi-
nary gifts Of fortunec In this respect the pre-
vahnE mood of the French nation corresponds
with that Of its ruler, and he would probably
ind II as perious and "a difficult to rouse that
people to the pursuit Of any great undertak
ing As II has sometimes been 10 restra n them from
such enterprises. The petty mishaps which have
here and there be!allen the diplomacy Of the EN-
pire have not yet rUfied the surface, and the re-
II ciion that any important change abroad would
place France alone, md in opposition to the whole
OF Eurooe, bas thus far proved effectua check
to her ambition. In truth, a. the nation 10 kept
IN profound ignorance of The policy Of the govern
msnt, and even of the events occurring in other
parts OF the world that spring OF popular excite.
ment which had Of late years performed 20 great
part in the affairs Of France, both at homo and
abroad, 10 unbent and at rest But, by The same
rule, the imperial government would not find It
easy to call forth the energies of the nation with
oct some very palpabls emergency, because the
same causes which render 1t submissive to abso-
lutte power, and Indifferent to political questions,
have directed its activity to other objects, and
more especially TO the pursuit of wealth. 10 some
respects government, government conducted
BY men with a nicer sense of honor, with more
acute political insight, with liveier ~ mpathy in
those great questions that sgItate the world, and
with greater freedom of oiscussion, IL more likely
to put the peace of the world and the tranquility
OF the country in jeopardy than government
which acts hke an anodyne after = lever 1T; and
although IL 10 impossible TO reckon in such coun-
try France on the duration Of this period Of sus
pended animation. which 10 obviously the result of
the immoderats tension and alarm Of the prece-
ding years il is long it lasts, inofe nsive to
the rest of the world.
But If We take n rapid survey of tho rest of
Europe, and especially Of the minor States, where
the existing order of Ihiogs IL not supported by
vast rnihtary entertainments, It is curious to OBJ
serve In bow many instances the governments Of
those countries are struggling with difficulties
which are considerable in proportion to their
respective magnitudes. In Portugal, the declining
health OF Marshal Saldanha seems likely, ere long,
to renew the contest of parties for that power
which he obtained BY military revolt, though he
hss since exer1 ised II with moderation. In Spain,
blow has twice been all but struck at the funda
mental principles OF the constitution. Every man
of eminsnce IN politics is arrayed against tho
extraordinary and destructive policy Of the court.
NaryaeE himself ia kept IN Punishment and in
disgrace. The palace is the scene Of intrigues
between Christina, hupoz, and their creatures,
which can only De compared to the scandslous
excuses of Godoy. The Queen herself has moro
than once been on the point of destroying that
constitutional charter which IS her best title TO the
md ne o.
have prolonged its existence in Spain to eXhb. TO
the world The degradation Of \ race of kings
Another member of that house, the King OF Naples
has made himself the lackey and the tool OF Louts
Ma poleon. His Minister in Paris was the frat |
to run with his ready-made credentials to re-
cognise the new Empire; and the late prosccu
for expressions contained in their private letters
assisted by the reports of the police in Naples
to the Minister of Police in Paris. The Papal |
government continues TO exhibit the total and |
rretrievable decay of its temporal authority, in
direct connexion with unlimited and unprece-
tented claims to spiritual supremacy. French |
brigade is It's only defence in Rome; but in France
Il prohibits books tmpugns the eccl siastical law
suspends the clergy from their functions, and |
pub ishes edicts which received by French |
bishops on their knees with he iulsome sjaculation
% Peter has spoken by the bps OF the immortal |
Plus TX " In Piedmont the government struggles |
rnanully In defence of the rights of the house Of
Savoy, the independence of the State, and the |
franchises of the people. But, with /
II its ability and zeal, 1t IL the government of
intelligent minority, detested by large portion /
# the upper ca aud OF the clergy, i'll supported
IN some parts Of the kings dominions, and liable |
o be betrayed, In an emergency, by the Italian |
people. between Austria and Piedmont, a. we'll |
u bet cen Austria and Switzerland the seeds of /
hostility and III neighbo rhood have been sown By |
mis- misc bievous instruction; and the bnet
ID Turin has once more been led to expose itself |
% reril by spirited defe nee of men who have done
,othing 10 win the respect of the country. In |
witgsrlsnd the old sore has broken afresh in
he ca anton of Friburg. Trsin has been openly
nensced By Austra; the effect OF the Austrian
minister's last note at Berne was such that the
~ les Federal Council was on the point OF sending
,im his passports; and France no de- herself in
eadlness TO make counter demonstration the
western frontier. To Belgium the French cabinet
as despatched NJ His de Butenval, who had re-
emily proved himself at Turin to be one OF their
most unscrupuous agents; and some weeks ago
n intimation reached the little court Of Brussels
D the effect that any serious acquisition made oy
,ussia IN the East would be held oy France ~ con-
titute a suf lent ground or pretext Tor the abo-
ion Of existing territorial treaties on her own i'm
o sdiats frontier At any rate, the language Of
a. His de Butenval has revived the ready appre-
ensions Of the Belgian government; and per-
ans il ia in copnexion with this cifcumstan nee
hat the Young Duke Of Brabant, " hose ma jority |
,as recently celebrated q national festival BY |
be whole Of Belgium, 10 shortly to proceed to
Jenna to pay bis respects to the Austrian court.
dean " hiie KING Leopold proceeds to Berlin, and
be Emperor Of Russia to Warsaw, whence il 10
robable that these sovereigns will repair, with
be King of Prussia, 70 Vienna. In Holland,
vhere the principles of free Protestant people
re indistructioly rooted IN the staunch sup
ort and primitive manners OF the nation, the
'oos has repeated, with aggravating circum-
rances the adront already offered to England, by
ne establishment of Papal bierarcny without
ne assent or know led ge OF the crown. The king
as availed himself of the energy displayed oy the
Ultra Protestant party TO eject ministry to which
ie was not warmly attached; and, by the dissoiu-
ion Of the Second Chamber of the States, the new
abinet throws itself upon the high Orange and
party in the country. Lastly, IN Den
mark where the constitution framed In lo&5 has
placed the supreme power in the hands
# the minority, by requiring on certain questions
hat rts buttons should be carried BY three-fourths
If the votes gwen. the government 10 once more
brov into agitation by he refusal OF the Assem-
,ly to acce e to the conditions to which the very |
xissence and integrity of the Danish monarchy
IRE att,che This absurd conduct Of the minor- |
ty tends snha ppily to undermine the constitution
tseIf and possibly, to affect the indepenoence Oh
he State Such is the general aspect OF Europe
IN sey, raj points without adverung 10 the most
yrays Questions Of all, which may be slowly ad
5ancng 10 their solution in the East and assured
v ths.S difjc ulties and embarr assmentA are suf-
1cisnt.v great though they present no gVound Tor
,erious aporehensions as long as they are confined
within limits which do not justify or ADMIT OF the
active Intervention of the greater powers.