Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-19

declared var against Russia, which was con
ciaded by treaty, signed, January OH, 1884, by
which Russia acquired her possessions in the
\ Cnmea.T
Principles ac immniablc, but England Is
not. Her position In 1855 Is exactly antago
nisiic 10 her position In iT7L
UssTED srArEs,G GRMAHy, ENGLAND
AND FmASCE-TuE EMBODIMENT
90 CGvlLaxATsON.
The great and gratifying fact stands out
with marked disiincincss that the tendency Of
the gosernmenis a Europe Is towards freedom.
Their progress ii written In broad letters In
the annals a. almost every State, aud il needs
only 70 compare the institutions they enjoy now
with those tina, existed fifty years ago, 10 dis
cover What an immense stride they have made
IN eisyaiing The people and giving them a
larger portion Of political and social rights.
There is almost as much difference between
the two epochs, when compared, as there is
between the err Of The blue code of Connect
cut and the present Constitutions prevailing
among Us. This tendency Of the European
States towards that form Of government which
Is best adapted TO tho promotion Of peace,
prosperity and happiness among their people
the republican FORMS, indeed, the great and
signal TACT Of the day.
II the people Of ths European States have
lately gained privileges and liberties; IL some
Of then, have acquired, along with them, q de-
gree Of civilization which Is the pride Of the
world, since ], is she triumph Of human in
tellect In all the branches which the mind can
conceive and embrace, how Is il TO he supposed
for single instant that the moment will ar
rive when NIL that work, the accumulated labor
Of the experience and wisdom Of past ages
will suddenly he cut short, liberty destroyed,
and civilization ruined? Are there signs Of
destruction anywhere in the bright constella-
ton we have inst mentioned? Can the pro-
gress we have pointed out intimate such a con-
clusion? Evidently not. Experience teaches
ms that nations have ceased to exist because
they had ceased 10 progress, and no, because
some inexplcable and invisible law had doomed
them TO destruction.
| Since the breaking out Of the modern err,
three States in Europe have shown themselves
to lead the van Of civilization, though they have
employed means widely different, one from the
other, for the same purpose. Germany has sig.
nalized her steps in the career Of civilization
by her religious revolution, because more con-
genial to the character Of her mind, which is
naturally inclined to things Of philosophical
order. England applying to herself the benefit
Of that revolution, made it enure to the benefit
of her politics, and destroyed within herself
the principle Of despotism, which fell on the
scaffold with the head OF Charles the First and
France awaiting herself Of both antecodents
composed an eclectic doctrine with the re-
ligion of Germany and the policy Of Great
Britain, and by the same blow ruins the prin-
ciple of the spiritual omnpotence by means Of
her philosophy, and kills the principle Of
absolutism through her revolution. AT the
same time anothercoun,ry--the United States
separated from the Old World by the ocean,
but linked to il by the strong ties Of religion,
customs, manners, and laws, forming a pro-
longation, as il were, of the civilization Of the
ancient world-sets the example in a practca.
cal way Of the principles for which Europe is
contending, and most triumphantly proves the
right the European people have to contend
for free form Of government by proving the
possibility Of nations being governed by pure
Democratic elements.
The religious revolution in Germany, the
political revolution In England, the eclectic
revolution In France, and the Democratic re.
volution of the United States belong 10 the
same family. ofishoots Of the same tree, they
are grown from the same seed-the seed Of
freedom. Il is as impossible TO separate one
revolution from another, as difficult to ascribc
any Of the liberties we enjoy 10 any other
source than that which we have indicated, as
it would be to. separate the sun from one Of
its satellites, without destroying the whole solar
system. These four countries are co.workers
in the cause, have shed their blood as literally,
the one as the other, for its triumph, and stand
side by side in the field OF civilization, NJ they
have stood formerly on the battle field against
spiritual and temporal oppression.
If civilization is not an empty sound, II IL
has any meaning at all, il signifies nothing
else but the joint action Of these nations, each
in its speciality towards the same object-the
triumph Of liberty--an action which has given
for its result q relative amount Of education,
morals and welfare among the greater portion
of the people. True, civilization does no, run
through the same channel, and liberty was not
expressed In the same manner. Each OF the
four people mentioned, being in different oond
tons, we're not allowed the same means Of exc
cution in the prosecution Of the work. But
each Of them has shown its excellency accord
ing to its ability TO apply the liberty Il possess
ed the Germans have shown il in religion and
in PHILOSOPHY; the English in politics and COM