Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-05-12
Sweden and Russia.

SL.1
Stockholm, April 4
The die is cast The Western Powers have at
length declared against the Gar; civilization
social order political progress, has eventually after
twelve months test of patience that appeared mex
haustible, drawn the sword against barbarism on.
preston and lawless usurpat0n, and the curtain has
risen for act in the drama of universal history
the unfolding OF which will exercise most important
influence on the whole social state of Europe.
< The epoch of peace has past. These 40 years
have developed among the greater portion of Europe
almost unanticpated stale OF civilization happi-
ness, and prosperity Other days dawnins
in blood. sacrifice, and suffering their closing no
human mind can foresee. To all appearance the
struggle must be terrific and general, and no nation
no government, can calculate how long they will be
permitted to remain quiet spectators OF a scene of
wal carried on beyond their frontiers The struggle
is for the sacred-the dearest ties of society
lis religious and commercial freedom-the political
rights of the people, and their advancement in civil
zalio0, welfare, and happiness the petty quarrel
respecting access to the church and vault has extend
ed to d magnitude vast and immeasurabe and the
sword must not return 10 its scabbard until the fate
Of Europe has been decided-unl victory shall have
finally declared for the w est or the East-for free
dom or for Cossack power
1t is a great idea, uttered by despotic monarch
but by man who built his despotism on the mass of
the peoples cholce-hat the era of conquest has for
ever passed 1t is no longer the narrow minded self
shness of dynastcs hatcan determine for the world
the boundaries of war OF peace. If Europe be doom
ed for heightened period to forego the blessings Of
peace, and look horrors of war in the face it will
always be satisfaction reflect that this war is not
maintained for the acquisition of terrtory-it is the
people, the most civilized people of Europe urged
by their conscience and their duty, that take arms
to secure for tutury peace and order and once for
ALL to drive despotism, fraud and oppression within
its proper sphere
at is great and glorious sight to see how the We.
ny spirit of the people has rendered the impossible
possble-how the march of civilization has formed
a bond of unity between two nations that have ever
since the of the crusades been at war or contin-
ually suspected and hated each other England and
France, those mplacable foes-those rivals full of
bitterness-have shaken hands across the Channel,
and united in treaty for higher bjecs than nation
al vanity Out of the difference of disposition opin-
ions, and that exists between these two ma
tons, has sprung up unity of mind and action that
must generate feelings of courage and security in the
minds of the weakest and most sceptical of morals
Their cause is the cause of humanity, and wherever
the light of civilization shines, the nations of Europe
look towards the united Western powers as the ban
ner bearers of truth and the champions of better
and brighter futurity.
"In this strife-its morning dawn already risen in
blood over the countries of our nearest neighbors-
the scandinavian people are not yet called to share
1t may be longer or shorter period before the sig
nal is given for them 10 DIN in the struggle the hour
has not yet arrived. They can sit still in peace on
their rocky strand, observers, until the period
when they shall be called upon to act But although
their arms yet rest they not be lukewarm spec
tators of the phases in the struggle the warm sym
pahes of their hearts, their prayers their good
wishes can only have bent--only one feeling of
happiness or Joy fill their breass-to hear that
victory has crowned the united flags Of the Western
powers, and only one feeling of depress them
if-which may God forbid !-another fate than that
of success should attend their efforts. So powerful
ly and universally is the public opinion expressed in
Sweden in Norway, and by our faithful allies, across
the Sound, that not single voice will dare to
raise itself with other wishes. With Joy, hope, and
the sympathy of friends salute from our strand
the flags of England and France and welcome them
10 waters. Their success embodies the promise
of our future happiness the Swedish heart knows
no neutrality between freedom and slavery, be.
tween the light of Western civilization and the
darkness of Eastern oppression. With the for
mer must our hearts warmest sympathies CO. oul
minds brightest hopes: and there is no human
power that can smother the silent but good
wishes that rise in every Swedish breast for the sue
cess of the just cause, and for honorable victory
10 those arms that fight for it,.
/ Cuba IL Parliament.
An interesting debate in Parliament upon the VIII
message and discussion upon the relations of Grea
Britain and the United States to Cuba are the chic
POI lts of interest in the from Great Britain. II
the course of the Cuban discussion, Mr. Bailey
made this remark:
"Alost assuredly unless she fulfilled her engage
ments with us, and took that Cuba should NJ
longer be the grand and, indeed sole seat of TIT
slave trade, which she had undertaken to suppress
, she could not fairly complain if England took ~
measures to preUent Cuba from falling into tie hand
Of the Americans"
To which Sir James Graham officially responded
"Sir J. Graham said, that though he could not a
all in the proposition that, by way Of colIat
eral argument, were TO hand over Cuba to thu
United States, the endeavos of cruisers, both OF
the coast of Cuba and the coast of Africa, shout
be- if possible, augmented, and every used fo
securing the real cooperation of the authorities o
Cuba" Hear.
Mr.. Golden took up the defence Of his colleague
and made the following emphatic declaration
without saying one word about the expedienc,
of giving Cuba to the United States, assisting tina
country take possession of the island, he though
ii would be greatly for the interest of humanity if tn
United States, or any other power that would alto
geher dlscountenance the slave trade, should posses
it" [Cheers