The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-02
The Prospect In Europe.

The Prospect In Europe.
The thoughtful observer OF the progress OF events in
Europe cannot but be impressed with the conv con that
its social and political condition is fated soon to sustain
some disastrous shock The evidences OF instability,
uncertainty and discontentof Impotence under oppres-
sion and wrong. and of eager anxiety for revolution
meet the eye wheresoever it may be turned the
face of European society, The heayes with the
swell OF approaching storm--thc bird OF peace finds
place of rest. Piedmont. Belgium, and Switzerland the
last and only abiding places OF constitutional liberty
the continent do not enjoy that epose which should be
the legitimate result Of their free institutions but have
caught the contagon of disaecon and discomfort from
contact with the totterng despotisms around them.
Quiet and peaceful themselves they necessarily in
voved in the broiIs OF angry and aggressive neghbors
The effect of their domestic institutions is counter
acted by external violence, and they compelled
to prepare to meet the probable contingency Of war,
when, but for the ambition and OF absoutism,
they might repose in peace and security under the
shadow Of constitutional freedom. England is in pre-
cisely the condition. period of unusual domestic
confidence and contentment happens TO be period OF
extraordinary uneasiness and alarm from the apprehen
sion OF foreign invasion and the increased productive
OF labor is than counerbalanced by the in.
creased expenditure for purposes of national defence
Yet these countries only do the least semblance
OF peace and stability The social condition and political
status OF Russia may not be in danger OF disturbance but
that this power apprehends the contingency of is
manifest from the movements OF its army. Prussia
agtaed both by angry domestic controversy respecting
the constitution of its legislature. and by the fear of
continental struggle. The energies Of France controlled
by the will of capricous despo and eager for warlke
adventure threaten precpaie themselves upon Europe
in hostile invasion. Spain is in the midst OF retro
gessive revolution and though riding present the
wave of reaction. may at any moment be thrown back
beyond its original position by the rising tide Of popular
resistance. Portugal is but puny Spain Italy is goad-
ed TO the brink of instruction by the wrongs and
tons OF the most ntolerable tyranny that outraged
humanity. The utmost energies of Austria are employed
in depressing provincial revolt and in holding together
the FESTIVE members Of its heterogeneous empire
Such the uneasy and unstable condition OF Europe
government and society when in the month OF January
the "eastern question" obIuded itself upon the arena
still further compcae the difficulties and to increase the
pers OF the crisslha question which has been for more
than century the puzzle and the Of the statesmen
OF Europe. The Sublime Porte following the fashion OF
Austrian dcspolisn, undertook to subjugae province
which, though nomnaly subject 10 lis authority had been
Tor half century exempt from the burdens OF its rule.
The brave barbarans OF Montenegro revol,ed and the
Porte poured IN upon them its savage soldery. In
stany, Austria and Russia approached the scene OF
ton, but on different pretexs and with different de-
signs. Austria made preience Of sympathy for the
Christian" bleeding from the scimilar of the Moslem
Russia professed to be only spectator OF the strife
but in fac, meant TO throw the shield OF its protec-
ton over the Scavic population OF Montenegro, with
the uterior object OF anne xaton Austria is already
alarmed al the rapid strides OF Russian empire, and
begins to feel the pressure of Russian influence in its
Sclavonic provinces. Thus, Austria and Russia, 80
recently confedera,es in The crusade against Hungarian
liberty, stand in secret aniagonism within sight OF
the Montsnegrne struggle. Meanwhile the western
powers begin 10 manifest an interest 10 the matter The
Vienna correspondent Of the London Times writes that
the fall Of Mohammedan power in Europe is approach
ing. and that the invasion OF Turkey by Austria or Rus
sia is improbable event The English ambassador
to the Porte, home leave OF absence, sdespached
Immediately TO Consantinople. The Emperor OF the
French, ambitious OF Eastern conquest. and think
ing, perchance. that the dream OF "my Uncle" may
be dspelled now by no Acre repulse, manifet,s
great concern for the fate OF Turkey and it's Esyp-
tan province. Thus has the revolt OF few
thousands Of semicvilized mounaineers on the con.
fines OF Western Asia thrown the continent, OF Europe
into state Of extreme agitation, il no, OF inevitable
warfare
From this rapid glance at the political condition and
prospects OF Europe, will be seen that there are three
sources OF dsust and ranking dscontent from which
general war may resu-he Intervention Of Austria or
Russia IN The affairs OF Turkey the ambition OF Louis Ma
poleon, and the nsuec,on OF the down troden peoples
To these may properly be added the financial embarrass
meni in which all the monarchical powers, with the e1
cepuon OF Russia have involved themselves by their i'm
meose military establishments
About the unsettled and critical condition of Europe
there can be dispute II may be useless 10 speculate
upon causes, for when the train is laid spark NAV
produce an explosion The monarchs them selves be-
tray their anxiety and their fears in the vigilance of their
police, and in the energy and immensely of their prepara
lions for The suppression OF revolt ard the exsences OF
continental strife There is much Of philosophical
analogy Of rhetorical beauty in the sime Of MAJ.
zini--,he surface OF European society is but crust,
under which bos the red lava OF revolution With
out the intervention of great Cause the existence
OF which ia no, now suspected. the bloody scene. Of
Isis will be enacted before The lapse OF many month.
Not TO nourish spirit Of selfish triumph, but rather TO
inculoate a lesson OF patriotism, turn from the
contemplation OF this sad spectacle OF human folly
and human misery 10 the present happiness and
bright prospects Of our own coun,sy. Here no des-
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