Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-15
Causes of the Wars which have prevailed be
tween Europe and Asia
I l'ran Aiison lisiors Of Eur Pc

From lison's iiisiors Of Eur9pe.]
Surviving all the changes of time of religion,
of empire and of dynasty, one great contest has
in every age of the world divided mankind. It's
the war of Asia aud Europe-the strife of the de-
scendants Of Shem with the sons Of Japhet. All
other contests sink into gnioance in compari-
son. The nations of Europe and Asia have had
many and bloody wars among each other, bat
they have been nothing compared To those
terrible strifes which in different ages have in
manner preeipiiated hemisphere upon tie
other This enduring warfare has alternately
pierced each hemisphere to the heart it
brought the arms of Alexander 10 Babylon, aud
those of England TO Cabool; it conducted the
Saracous to Tours am Attlia to chaons.
In one age il induced the disasters of Julian
in another the Moscow retreat--it led To the fall
OF Rome and Consiantinoplc it precptnted Eu-
rope upon Asia during the Crusades. and Asia
upon Europe during the fervor Of Mohammedan
conquest. Caesar preparing an expedition
against the Parthians when he was assassinated
Napoleon persisted from attempting one against
Russia. The Goths, who overturned the Roman
empire, appeared first supplinnts on the Lower
Danube. and they were themselves impeeA by
u human wave VIII oh on the frontier of Chi
ma. IT is the east, not the north. which IN
cry age has threatened Europe; il is in the table
land of Iartary that the greatest conquerors of
mankind have been bred.
The chiefhe whose exploits form the theme
of history song have in different ages signili-
zcd themselves III tho immortal contest asainst
these ruthless barbarians. Achilles, Ihemistocle,
Leondas, Alexander Pompey. Marius, Bell sarus
Constantine Paleologus, Charles Martel, Godfrey
of Boulilon, Richard C9nr de Lion. John llunnia-
des, Scanderbeg. John Sobieski, Don John of
.,..Ii fi5.F.
Lord Lake and Napoleon have III successive ages
carried it on. 1t has been sung in one ago by
Homer in another by Tasso ii has awakened ut
one period the powers of Herodotus, in another
those Of Gibbon. 1t began with the siege of Troy
but it will not end with that of Sebastopol.
II is owing to the different characters of the
race fmon who have peoped the two continents
that this strife has been long continued and
terrible. Though all profnme history not less
than Holy Writ teaches thut the human race
originally spr0ng from one family in the centre
of the eastern continent vet the descendants of
Adam who soourned in Asia were essentially
different from those who wandered TO Europe
Nor was this surprising; we see differences as
grent in the same household every day arbund us.
II the difference of character which rendered
their acts different the Asiaties remained at Ii )me
because they were bnissve;the Europeans wan
dered abroad, because they were turbulent. Au-
thority was necessary TO the one as it was de-
tasteful to the other.
So essentially was this the distinctive charae.
ter of the two races, and the original cause at
their separation that it characterized the oppo-
site sides in the very first ages OF their existence
Pram governed the tributary states of Troy
with the authority of sultan; but the Grecla
host elected the king of men to rule them. II
was composed of many different Independent bod
les; and the FIRST epic in the world narrates tha
wrath of one of its eheftans. and the woes his in
subordination brought upon the children of Hell
| las. The first great strife recorded in authentic
| history was between the forces of the great king
| and the coaesced troops of the European rcpub
lies; and the same character has distinguished
| the opposite sides TO this day. Athens and Lac
edamon were the prototypes OF France ard Eng
| land, Thermopvle of lnkermann. Cyrus of Noh-
olas; so early did nature ailx one character upon
the different Of men, and indelihle is Tho
| impress of her hand
From this original diversity in the character
of the two great dominat races of men has
| risen difference not less remarkable in thf
sources of their strength and the means of THEN
resistance. Unity renders Asia Formidable di.
versity has constituted the strength of Europe
Multtudes OF slaves, impeed by one impulse
oheyng one direction. follow the standards of the
Eastern sultan; crowds of freemen nctuated h,
opposite passions often torn by discordant in
terests, form the phalanxes of Western liberty
The strength of Asia consists mainly in the unit,
ofpower and administration which, in the hand,
! Of an able and energetic monarch. can be per
severingly directed to one object; that of Europ.
is found in the resources which the enemy O
| freemen furnishes to the state. and the eourar
with which. when the danger arrives it is re
PEELED.
The weakness of the despotic dynasties o
; Asia is to be found in their entire dependence OIL
the vigor and capacity of the ruling sovereign
} and the destruction of the national resources b.
the oppression or .venalty of subordinate gov