The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-14
For the National Era.
Sketch of the Political History of Europe
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, In 1914,
THE PRESENT TIME.
For the National Err
CHAPTER "
THE SENT tt,
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.

humanity, whose hearts revolt at the indigni-
| ties and cruel expressions which nations have
so often had to endure from the hands of their
rulers, cannot evon now, without mixed feel
ings Of pity and anger, think Of the political
state Of Europe at the close of the year 1919.
From the mouth of the Tagus and the shores
of the Atlantic to the wilderness of Siberia,
from the Mediterranean sea to the Polar re-
gions of the north, there were but three or four
nations that did not smart under the iron rod
of despotism. Almost everywhere, in Europe,
the people were lying PROSTATE at the feet of
naughty mobiles, crafty priests, and princes
| claiming their thrones in virtue of Divine ap.
/ pointment.
This terrible and deplorable condition had
the effect, even upon many pious persons, of
inspiring them with doubts as to Gods paternal
care of mankind. They could not reconcile the
intolerable suiferings of so many millions of hu-
man beings, for the sake of the wauton pleas
ures of few thousands, with the bcnevoence
of Providence. But those who abandoned
themselves to despair had forgotten or were
ignorant of the great truth, which the history
of the human race teaches, that it is only by
the road of sorrows and woes, and through the
baptism of blood, that nations can obtain free
dom and happiness.
1t was not until the Athenians had seen
their city plundered and burnt by the host Of
the Persian despot, nor until, rising above this
terrible blow of fortune, they had braved and
conquered the most numerous force that ty
rant ever brought together for the subsection
of freemen, that they became the freest and
most glorious people known to human records
1t was not until after a long period of suffer.
ings and ever-msmorable exploits of heroism,
that the Swiss. and some centuries later, the
inhabitants of the United Provinces Of Hol-
land, acquired their freedom, and established
republics in the midst of monarchical Europe.
1t was not until after the most sanguinary
struggle against the then would-be tyrant OF
Europe, that the Swedes, under the leadership
of the immortal Gustavus Adolphus, and the
great generals of bis school, acquired the never
fading glory of having, in behalf of the whole
civilized world, indicated the freedom of con-
| science.
/ have mentioned the name Of the most gen.
erous and most magnaninous of princes, and
| cannot forbear setting forth the example OF
selfsacrifcing greatness that monarch be-
queathed to posterity.
To Gustavus Adolphus the Protestants OF
Germany, when on the brink of destruction,
came to seek for aid against the Archduke OF
Austria, the King of Bohemia and Hungary,
the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Ferdinand
ii, the most powerful monarch of that time,
who had taken for the aim of his life the re-
| IL 6 IL.
ism in all the States that belonged to his EN-
pire, well as in those that might succumb
before his powerful arms.
Gustayus Adolphus was too judicious and
too we'll informed prince not to be fully aware
of the great dangers to which he should ex-
pose, not only his army, but also at least part
of his kingdom, by granting the prayers of the
| German Professionals, and declaring war against
the mighty Ferdinand, who possessed numerous
armies commanded by generals then deemed
the ablest and most experienced Of the age
The wisest statesmen of Sweden, and among
them the celebrated Chancellor, Count Oxen
sterna, impored Gustavus not to involve him
self and his kingdom in a war, for the successful
issue of which there was Scarcely any reasona.
BILE hope at all. But that noble prince, follow.
ing the dictates of his magnanmous heart,
listened rather to the voice of the oppressed
| Protestants Of Germany, and took the generous
resolution to hazard his own life, and the hap
piness of Sweden, in vindcation of civil and
religious freedom. Relying, as he expressed
himself upon the favor of Heaven, on account
of the Justice Of his cause, and upon the swords
Of his valiant Swedes, he landed in Germany,
with only $4,000 men, to fight the arbiter Of
Europe, and his-until then-ever.victorious
/ generals.
After n most brilliant career, the Swedish
hero fell, in the midst Of the terrible battle at
| Lutzen, which, after the death of the valorous
| Poppenheim, ended in the retreat of the proud
| Vallenstein. The Swedes had bought their
victory as dearly as possible, having lost the
greatest of their Kings, and large number of
their bravest men. But Europe was saved
| from the danger of being Frustrated at the feet
of bigoted despot and the foundation was laid
of the ever-memorable peace of Westphalia
which was the glorious result of the generous
policy adopted by Gustavus Adolphus, to whom
the civilized world is indebted for annihilating
the dangerous designs of Ferdinand, and for
indicating, at so decisive time, the cause of
oppressed humanity,
We Justly honor those who have died for
their country's sake, but we ought still more to
honor him who sacrificed his noble life for the
religious and civil liberty of the whole world.
The examples which | have now brought
forth, and innumerabe more afforded by his.
tory, show clearly that there was not so much
reason as many supposed, for despairing of
salvation, and of the possibility of indicating
the cause of Freedom in Europe, against the
formidable combination of the princes and
privileged classes, which, at the end of 1919
weighed so heavily upon the European nations.
1t seems to be the wise regulation Of Heaven,
that physical force, however formidable it may
be- must at last yield to the attacks of public
opinion and moral courage.
Sagacious men, therefore, discovered in the
dark clouds that hung over all Europe, at the
end of the year 1919, the evident signs of the
approaching thunderstorm which was to purify
the political atmosphere from its poisonous
vapors. They had not to welt long for the
realization, at least in part, Of these expecta-
tons.
On the LIST of January, 1920, the lightning
flash of reviving Liberty scattered in pieces the
structure that despotisrn and prfestcraft had
raised in Spain.
The seed of liberal ideas which had been |
sown in all the countries which had been over |
run by the republican and imperial armies of
France, though partly trampled down and |
destroyed by the enemies of Freedom, had |
nevertheless; not been altogether annihilated |
Wherever it had fallen in a genial soil, it had /
taken root, and continued to grow, in spite Of |
all attempts at extirpating it, Wstered by the
blood of the martyrs of Liberty, it was extend.
ing itself with increasing rapidity and irresisti
bic strength.
No human opposition can prevent the de-
velopment of Gods plans with the human race.
Hence its progress towards universal freedom,
though slow, is nevertheless steadily going on.
Consequently, it must finally reach its glori-
Gus destination"