The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-23

II is q very curious and remarkable feasufe OF |
The tines that while there ia everywhere appa- |
rant the most intense and revolutionary inter-
nal connections in nearly all the States OF tue
world, there is a striking tendency to interna-
tional harmony. This is so even in the ms9st
Of fearful and bloody war. The struggle be-
tween the Allied Powers and Russia is one
which involves territorial differences alone
no questions of national honor, Of economy, OF
rights, are involved. Upon all theAe
points the contending parties are. confessody
nearer together than at any past period Of
their history The truth i becoming more
and more obvious every day, that the greatest
struggles We are to witness are to be in the in
ternal go9ernments of States. The London
Times says Of its own people: i" At this moment
a man can do, we should be sorry to say how
many, things he could not do fifty years ago."
and Ire politician may dread that in twelve
months his hastily reported words may be
trinmphantly quoted by an opponent who,
though perhaps equally ignorant, was too wise
to be prophetic"
In truth, England is in a state of revolution
"a revolution of ideas--a peaceful process of
equalization--up which the higher classes
are being depressed and the lower orders
gradually but certainly exalted. It is the
auickening season of her political CESSATION.
All this is effected by the press--by the fear
less discussion Of men and measures-by criti-
cisms upon legislation, upon military opera
lions, upon public agents in the Cabinet and
in the Ged---upon hoary customs, which have
manacled The people and bound them to the
car of proscriptive aristocracy. 1t is revo-
luton based upon the enlightenment Of the
human mind, upon practical philosophy, upon
cause and effect in government. 1t cannot go
backward, for each right secured to the masses
becomes an interpreter and guide Of ano-
Their, and so on to the condition Of absolute
equality.
Within little more than six years France h.
emerged from two revolutions. To say that
she has passed through those ordeals without
reaping the fruits of experience, or to deny to
the existing state of things in that empire a
striking Improvement upon the policy and rule
of Louis Philippe, is more than the truth will
warrant. Every approach to perfect order in
connection with just administration of law.
produces an approximate equality in the State,
and is 50 much gained to the cause of popular
liberty 1t is alike the province OF liberal
government to secure the highest state of Or
der and the most perfect distribution of re-
wards and burdens. Whether this result is
effected by the imperial sway of one man,
or of the whole people, is, for the time being,
of no immediate practical consequence.
Enlightened popular rule is better, because
under it each man becomes O guardian of
the common welfare, his own rights rest.
ing upon the prompt enforcement of those
of his neighbors. Thus linked together in
body polite, justice is secured in the present
and security in the future. Meanwhile, the
more perfect the government, even under the
control Of ~ single man, the more certain are
the people to become truly enlightened and
prepared for popular sovereignty. There is
no fact of the day more clearly exhibited than
that the government of France under Napoleon
is rapidly casting off its prescrptige forms and
verging towards free institutions. On this sub
ject the Times says 1--WE France and Eng
land) have quarrellel for legitimacy, and now
we both have monarchies founded on the viii
of the people
Italy is in state of tutclage, nearly in the
centre between republcansm, absolutism, and
anarchy. She is essentially deprived of all
selfcontrol, waiting the settlement of the quar-
rel between England France, Austria, Prussia
and Russia. Whether she is to remain al home
in the hands Of her people, be strangled by The
military despotism Of Austria, be the political
tool and playth of France, or he smothered
in the meshes of the Vatican, ii is moi easy to
determine.
Prussia is in condition not unlike that of
England. The education Of her people has
been advanced so far that the public mind en-
tiers into, and, TO great extent, controls, the
councils Of the State. The king is in his pa
lace, while the people are on the throne.
The Austrian empire, with all its powerful
armies and ornaments, is composed of almost
innumerable States, having little affinity for
each other and less confidence in their com
mon government. The German element in
that power Is not ouly predominant, but from
its intelligent and Independent character must
union now existing under Francis Joseph.
Russia is nj war with the Western Powers.
and is Just emerging from the long night of
Asiatic sleep into which her nationality was
cast. 1t Is a remarkable fact bearing upon the
unsettled condition of the nations Of Western
Europe, that one of the chief offences commit
ted by the late Emperor Nicholas, was his Of
fort to introduce his people to more intimate
commercial intercourse with the great States
OF Christendom. Even if he contemplated the
seizure of Constantinople, il was with q view
Of opening the trade of his empire to the world.
That trade would have been the messenger OF
civilization, and ultimately. by its enlargement
and lis connection with all the interests of the
Russian Empire, have placed the Gar under
bonds to keep the peace with all people. There
Is n necessity growing out of the cnlielteu-