The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05
For the National Era.
Sketch of the Political History of Europe,
FROM
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE ESENT TIME.
CHAPTER VII.
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.

CHAPTER VII.
At the death of the Emperor Alexander, the
cause of freedom bore, in Europe, very
mournful aspect again. Russia, Germany, TIA
ly, and Spain, obeyed with trembling awe the
mods of their rulers. Only seventeen cham
pions of Liberty graced the Chamber of Depu-
ties, in France; and the gracious smiles of
Charles X had already proved to be but fraudu-
lent snares, the easier to subject too generous
nation to the most immense sacrifices in behalf
of the privileged few. The English, cheated
as they have always been by the shadow in
stead of the reality were allowed to glory in
imaginary freedom, while starved to death by
the means Of enormous taxes, for the benefit
of the aristocracy and the clergy. Holland had
seen its King turn merchant, busy in accumu-
lating wealth. and did greatly repent of the folly
of presenting a diadem to the family of Orange.
Portugal, after enjoying a CLEAN of Liberty,
was the prey of two royal factions. In the
so-called free cities of Germany-Hamburgh
Bremen, Lubbock, and Frankforton-theM ayn-
moneyed aristocrats and merchant princes,
ruled with unlimited sway, under the protection
of the German Confederation, and in the
shadow of the Holy Alliance. Switzerland,
divided into many different parties, was partly
subjected to the sway of an oligarchy, and part
ly enjoyed precarious liberty, more as par
ticular favor of the Allied Monarchs, than in
consequence of any admitted right. The chill
dren of Hellas-the heroic descendants of the
nobility of mankind-had spoken of freedom,
and bravely fought against tyranny; hence
the Holy Alliance had refused to aid them in
their just struggle. Denmark, without any pro-
lection against despotism but the liberal spirit
of its inhabitants and the patriarchal senti-
ments of its venerable King, had no cause to
complain of oppression. But Sweden and
Norway alone supported their old renown of
being the homes of freemen. The indomitable
spirit of the Swedish peasantry was a sure guar
antee of the maintenance of the ancient hber-
ty of the Swedes; and Norway possessed as
free Constitution even as the United States.
Thus, at the death of the Emperor Alex
ander, the political situation of Europe was
very gloomy-portending indeed, increased suf-
ferings to the nations. The dead Gear had, in
the course of his eventful life, furnished the
world with a new and most remarkable exam
pie how naturally benevolent and noble heart
might, by sophistical reasonings and evil advi-
ces, become insensible, or at least passive, in
the face of enormous sufferings, on the part of
great portion of the human race, produced
by the very acts of its owner. Had the Empe-
ror Alexander been born private citizen,
there is every reason to suppose that he would,
in every respect, have proved good and viz
tuous man. But being the heir of mighty
sceptre, and educated in the poisonous atmo-
sphere of Court, he was easily induced, even
while wishing to become the benefactor of En-
rope, to sanction a long series of measures CAL
culated to infict the most unjustihable wrongs
and the greatest miseres upon many millions
of his fellow-men. His fanatical attachment
to the doctrine of the dirine right of Princes,
and consequently to the principles of the Holy
Alliance, had made him blind to the deplorable
results of the course of policy which he and
his Allies had resolved to pursue relative to the
European nations. Even if he became at last
aware OF the great mistake which he had COM
mltted, he had no time left to alter his course
and amend his errors. But though he died,
perhaps, amidst the agonies. of his awakening
conscience, we cannot therefore be sure that
he would have pursued more iustifable course,
had his days been prolonged; because, alas
Junius was not wrong in saying that a death
bed repentance seldom lasts beyond restitu.
ton" Still, with due consideration to the
frailty of human nature, justice bids us to &C.
| knowledge that Alexander was rather a good
| than bad ruler.
| On his death, it was found that the next heir