The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-02
The World in Eighteen Hundred and Fifty
Three

The World in Eighteen Hundred and Fifty
Three.
II has long been a more or less universally
recognized idea. that in the life Of man there
were a certain number of stages or turning
points when his whole physical nature under
went change. These points were denominated
climacterics. five were to conceive the same
theory applied to humanity as a unit we might
well imagine that it has been of late approach
ing one of those climacterics. The current
year has been. indeed, pregnant OF remarkable
events: and at the moment we write society
in various quarters Of the world is in process
of fermentation from various causes, the ulti-
mate tendencies of which mans finite under
standing would in vain essay to estimate.
Suffice il for us to enumerate what is passing
throu ghout the world. and leave each of our
readers to draw on his own imagination for the
effects which those several movements are cal
culated to produce.
In the two most populous quarters of the
world-where civilization has had her earliest
longest and most favored home and where
mankind has made the greatest progress in in
telligence and refinement established order
of things is menaced with violent dissolution.
Europe and Asia are now in q transition state;
the ancient landmarks which either has main
tanned for ages are being removed; the barriers
Of wrong and prejudice are being swept away
before the tide of renovated and regenerated
humanity and the struggle whose result is no
longer doubtful, is maintained with equal des-
peration between the conflicting principles of
progress and retrogression.
The last tidings received from Europe arc
pregnant with meaning to him who would read
Alright the worlds book and trace cause and
effect. The Cossack and the Turk are about to
engage in war wherein the worst elements of
fanaticism and barbarity would be brought into
play The other great Powers Of that Continent
have expended months of diplomacy in the vain
endeavor to reconcile the dissensions between
the Sultan and the Car, well knowing that
hostilities being once commenced it would be
impossible for them to resist the current Of in
volved interests which would draw them into
the vortex of war. Aud revolution is biding its
time, waiting for the suspicious moment to ar
rive when the armies of the despots shall be en-
gagged to strike an effective blow and make a
concerted movement for popular freedom.
Another feature in the European intelligence
which has tendency to hasten the crisis is the
alarming scarcity Of food. 4 partial famine is
dreaded and riots arising from that cause have
already taken place in some Of the Continental
cities. Experience has taught that periods Of
scarcity are the most dangerous to governments.
as discomfort and rebellion are very apt at
such seasons to be manifested by the masses
And last, ii not worst scourge of all, the Asiatic
cholera has again made its appearance in seve-
raj parts Of the Continent.
IL Asia events Of no less magnitude and i'm
portance are transpiring The dynasty which
has SO long ruled the great Chinese empire is
lettering to its fall. The barriers which have
for centuries shut out that nation from ccmmu-
MON and fellowship with the rest of the world
are being violently broken down by its own |
people, at length awakened 10 their true inte-
rests and rights; and soon, if the revolution
progresses successfully to the end, China, with
its three hundred and fifty million Of inhabi-
tants. will have become an active constituent
part of the family Of nations. The islands Of
Japan will probably also be soon found de-
parting from their antiquated, barbarous sys-
TEN Of exclusiveness and joining China in the
march Of progress and humanity. Asia, too
like Europe, is not exempt from the scoarges Of
famine and pestilence.
As to Africa there are no marked changes
in its condition. But, nevertheless, we may
well cherish the belief that with the French
colony Of Algeria spreading civilization on its
northern borders. the English colony Of the !
Cape Of Good Hope at the south, and the re-
public Of Liberia on the western coast. that
great unknown continent is yet destined to re-
sumo once more its ancient greatness.
While the Old World is thus seen engaged in |
q struggle to emerge from the gloom Of des- |
potism, ignorance, and baEbarity, we have
good cause to congratulate ourselves on the
freedom and happiness which we enjoy and
the vast expansion to which we have attained
and ere attaining in all the paths Of nations
progress And yet even the United States is
not entirely free from the danger Of becoming
involved in the war which is now impending
over the nations Of Europe. However. it's re
suits we can have no fear Of and feel assured
that so far as we are concerned the rights o.
humanity will not suffer.
We commenced this article by stating our be- |
lief that mankind was approaching one Of its |
climacterics. Not only in the political view
Of affairs we have glanced at is this indicated,
but it is no less SO, perhaps In the remarkable
events which have characterized this epoch. |
hurricanes have recently swept |
over the globe, carrying devastation in their
path. Earthquakes have been ararmingly fire.
luent, violent, and destructive to life and pro-
perty. Shipwrecks and railroad disasters have
been more than usually numerous and terrible;
harvests have failed in many portions of the
earth yellow fever has ragged with frightful vi |
rulence in South America, the West India
islands. and the coasts of our Southern States; |