The Delaware herald., 1854-05-17
Original Artitlts.
Written for the Herald.
e u r o P e.
BY JEENs.

CIvTL and Religious Liberty is the dearest
treasure which a people can acquire. Free
dom of thought develops mental strength, as
freedom of action physical. When man is
shackled by the letters of tyranny and ground
down by the iron-hand of oppression, he be-
comes imbecile in thought and action, and
mere apology for that noble being which ne was
created; and when natiens, now enslaved by
.despotc rulers--though once free and indepen-
dent as the winds which swept through their
ancient forests--mutter deep groans of execra-
.tion against their oppressors, can we, as Ameri-
cans, do less than extend our generous sympa-
thy! viii not every true American weep over
their wrongs and glory in their triumphs!-
Dark indeed is the past of continental Europe.
The tocsin of liberty, sounded again and again,
too oft has been hushed by the death-wail Of ex-
piring patriots. The grim old castles that top
her heights, like yuitures perched on mountain
'crags, speak but too plainly of the prison, the
torture, and the block. The land of the Spar
tan and the home of Demosthenes are enslaved
by the Turk, and where Roman eloquence
poured forth its richest tide and Numbered in
its deepest tone, corrupt Priesthood wields
the sceptre of power. The city of the Seven
Hills is but phantom of its former self-and
"a Senatus, Populusque Romani," talismlnic
words that reared the Coliseum and conquered
the proudest nations Of the earth, are found but
on the page of history or sculptured on the
column long since o'erthrown. But why speak
of particular nations! The night Of Tyranny
has settled down over the whole land, and not a
single star CLEANS to mark the Freeman's
Home. The people groan beneath the opI,res-
ssiye acts of their rulers, but are compelled to
smother their groans within their own bosCms I;
they weep over their wrongs, but shed their
lbriny tears in secret; they appeal to the God Of
Heaven, but only utter their prayers in the
silent night, ie@A
- ~ And meath the vosceess stars"
The Press--that great mouth piece of a ma
tion--csn only speak that which strict GEN.
sorship dictates. Every one must shout q God
save the King" though dire execrations are
burning upon his tongue. The head must be
uncovered, as Royalty passes, and tina. body
bowed, which only should PROSTATE itself in
the presence of HIM before whom the Seriphic
hosts bow their heads in constant adorati,n.--
The patriot scarcely echoes his song amid his
native hills, before prison-cell becomes his
dark, dark home. Revolution has swept over
almost every country in Europei and while the
storm played in the Heavens and the waves
Numbered beneath, many brilliant gems were
washed upon the shore; but, with the hushina
.ofthe tempest, and the subsidence of the waters
they either rolled back or proved to be worth
Cess stones But five brief years ago, France
went blazing up the political heavens--a fam
ing meteor political astronomers brought thei
telescopes to bear upon it, and imrnediafel,
, Pronounced il star of the first magnitude tha
was destined long to rule nsovereign Of the as
sendant" hut while they were engat,ed il
specplating upon its orbit and the time of il
revolution. behold another light, illuInininl
the wheie eastern sky, broke in upon their view
Le4er stafs uejnbled around, and, quickly fol
lowing, came the exElting shouts of the patr
OTIS OF Hungary. and soon the notes of Italia
freedom were sounded on the breeze. Polit
tcians ssserfed that Europe's iisinthrsllmer
was surely about 10 come. Star by saar. n
stepping stones, they pushed the A AneeIs,f III
'crty up the heavens, and, in Imagination. the
had already seated her high on her Zenit
throne; already the fair spirit. standiur uuo
the Colissun, lavcd one hand in the IJrsi. Will
with the other she smoothed the lock-, Of II
free sons Of the Emerald Isle, But, alas the
!. bright antisipations--how were they rallied
Those stars, that shone with such splendo
sAwers bat Ineteoric stones, that paled q the
:. ere, al5f ~ d. s.s
sasas ~ a~ AMI black and hsasy fell 10 sarth.T
= Al. al l1ave disappeared, sud the f'loom
.the nreseuts suiaht il bpt darker hom thtl brigf
pes Of that previous unnatural liehS Il the