The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-12
WASHINGTON, d. c..
For the National Era
Sketch of the Political History of Europe,
FROM
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE PRESENT TIME.
CHAPTER Will
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.

STA and turkey, which, on the part OF the lat
ter Power was conducted with much spirit, and
at 6rst with more success than what might
have been expected. The Russian Generals
met with a most obstinate resistance, especial
ly at the fortress Schumls, which was defended
with so signal valor that the Russian soldiers
were induced to adopt the ridiculous opinion,
that the Governor of that place was no other
Parsonage than Napoleon, who, they said, was
not dead, but, having escaped from st. Helena,
was now come to avenge the unfortunate cam
paign of 1912. Yes, the same story was circu-
lated in a German pamphlet, the author OF
which pretended, conclusively, to have proved
that the Governor of Schumla WAS really Ma
poleon himself. The heated Imagination of the
Russian soldiers bore at least ample testimony
of The heroism aud skill displayed by Hussein
Pasha, the commanderinchiefo of the garrison,
in the vainly besieged fortress.
But despite the bravery of the Turkish troops,
the war terminated unfortunately for Turkey,
on account of the famous march across The
Balkan, BY the celebrated Diebiisch. who, after
Possessing himself of Adrianope, threatened To
direct his victorious march against CONSTANT
nople itself The Sultan, finding it impossible
10 avert by force the threatening calamity, hast
ened to conclude, by the mediation of the four
other great European Powers, disadvantage
Gus peace with Russia, on the 18th of Septem-
Der, 1929.
Public opinion in Europe had meanwhile un-
dergone complete change. The articles O.
the leading statesmen could no longer conceal
the gross receptions which had been praciiced
upon the European people FIRST, in rousing
them to seek for liberty in the defeat Of Napo-
leon; and then in snbj-cting them TO the dis
honorable tyranny of weak princes, unscrupu-
lous politicians, illustrous fools, and decorated
knaves. II had in the course of fourteen
fifteen years, become evident to every intelli-
gent man, that the European nations had moi
TO expect the least benefit from the Holy Ali.
ance.
The contemplate advocates Of the Divine
right of Kings, and of the duty of the people to
pay absolute obedience to their rulers we're no
more the oracles of the day. Neither elegance
of diction nor subtilty of reasoning could
longer supply the deficiency Of sincerity. Rea
son and truth had begun to sway the minds Of
men again and both the tricks of diplomarisrs
and sophisfical arguments of the hired panegyr
lists Of Kings had lost their power Of blind
folding the multi ude. Those who hal suffe,-
ed every kind of cruelty for freedoms sake
were no longer viewed as madmen or criminals
but the noble victims of despotism. Every
generous heart in Europe was longing for de-
liverance from the dishonorable oppression tn
which the most civilized portion of the human
race had become subject, by its credulity in
coa6ling in the promises and assurances of
Princes.
But the Russians were kept in obedience by
the lash and by ignorance; the Italians, by the
fear Of Austrian bayoneis ,the Spaniards, by ex-
ecutoners and priestcraft: and the Portuguese,
by the desporism of Don Miguel, who after the
d-a Of his father, on the 9th of March, 1926,
had returned to Portugal, and taken possession
Of tn rens of Government The united forces
of n number of Princes, the repeated persecu-
tons against the Liberals and the most artful
web of diplomatic skill, kept the Germans in
subi-ction, who besides, on account of their
natural slowness, are not very fit for revolution
airy movements, which require rapidity Of
thoughts and of actions.
'xture of snperstitious reverence for and
praisew. .rrhv obedience 10 their old laws and
Institutions, the deceitfully bred and firmly en-.
terrained conviction that they we're really the
freest # the European people, and their GUS
tom of giving vent TO their complaints rather
in high-spunding words than In bold resistance,
ma, the English peope-whie murmuring
slogS, and much disp pleased with the admins
r.tion of Wellngton-unft to show Europe
the road II freedom.
The IRISH. divided among themselves by re-
Gg1 ,us di>senslons, were not able, with any
hope of success. to attempt the vindication OF
the independence for which they were so ar.
dently longing.
But the time had arrived when the patience
of the French 10 bear I'M uries and insults was
at last exhausted, and Europe had again to
thank that polite, generous, and chivalrous
nation for a glorious example how to resist the
attempts of Kings to subject them to slavery.
The courtiers who, in order to acquire the
favor of the royal family, had endeavured To
rldcule the noblc efforts of the magnanimous
Benjamin Constant; the aristocrats, who had
scornfuy spoken of Lafayette, and evinced
so much contempt against the so called up
starts-the very men who had covered France
with immortal glory; the bigoted priests, who
surrounded the throne, and besieged the con-
science of the King, pretending to hold In their
sinful hands the keys of Heaven, in order To
close the royal ear against the just complaints
of the natinn-were all aroused unexpec edly
from their sleep of security by the laundering
voices of the Parisians, who had arisen in vim
dication of the liberty of France.
But let us for a moment retrace the events
which bad led to this revolution.
The Villele NJ nistry had cont ,ued TO pursue
their reactionary course. and had thus, day after
day become more odious to the nation, that
became especially much exasperated by u most
rigorous las directed against the press, which
had been brought forth by the Ministers, for
the adoption of the Chambers. but wh,ch, on
account of the resistance which IL met with on
the part of the Upper House, was Withdrawn
on April 18th, 1927.
Twelve days afterwards. on the occasion of a
general review of the National Guard OF Paris,
there were raised from the ranks loud impreca
tious against the Je,uifs. This led TO the DIS
solution vt these troops, on the following day,
BY a royal decree.
The journals FASTENED to express their disap-
probation OF this arbitrsy act, in severe but
Just words Then appeared, on June Oath, an
ordinance which introduced the censure again,
and ordered the establishment Of censure offices
in all The departments, with rigorous instruc
tons. Thus deadly was declared on the
part of the Government, against the ConstItu-
ton and its supporters; but this proved only a
means 10 awaken the nation 10 a consciousness
of its rights and OF its strength. The French
are not people that can long be insulted with
impunity.
The spirit which had thus been provoked
manifested itself in most palpsble manner, at
tae elections that took place after the dissolu.
too If the Chamber of Deputies, on the 9th OF
- .h>~a oil