The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-01
THE PROPOSED HOLY ALLIANCE IN
EUROPE.
frrom the N. Y. Uerald.l

A pamphlet has appeared IN Paris recon.
mending the belligerent Powers to refer their
disputeto the nrbitrament Of u European Con-
gress, to be composed Of all the sovereigns in
Europe. 1t has attracted grent attention from
the general impression that 1t was written by
the Emperor of the French and expresses his
views. In France, it seems to meet with a
pretty general approval. In Germany, too, it
is liked well enough. But the London Times
assails il with the utmost fury, and declares
that so far as England is concerned, she will
never submit,her cause to IN congress in
which Russia would be omnipotent by the
votes of her vassals and her mercenaries."
Assuming that the sentiments contained in
this pamphlet are rightly ascribed to the En-
pcror, il looks very ,',uch MS though he were
tired Of the war, and anxious 10 wind It up
like the last European war, by confederacy
of soveregns, Of which he would be himself
the leading spirit. II the idea were adopted, of
course, the Congress would deal not only with
the pucifcation but with the government Of
Europe. Not only with the settlement of the
Black Sea and the Principalities, but slBith III
control Of the people of Germany, Russid,
Spain and France. Not only with the extin.
guishment of Russian designs on Turkey, but
with the annihilation Of democratic move.
ments all over Europe. At least this is the
fair inference from history, our experience Of
the character of the French Emperor and our
knowledge of his wants and those of his CO.
soveregns.
The world moves in circle, and events
ceaselessly repeat themselves. Forc.pany
years, people have been reading of IN con.
crosses of Aix-la. Chapelle and Carlsbad and
Troppau, and Verona, and Layback, and
scarcely believed that such enormties rs
were practised by the allied sovereigns ut
these places within the lifetime of grayhaired
men were real. Some have felt inclined to
distrust the historian-to suspect that he
was such red hot democrat that he
couldn't speak of a king without abusing
him. People would not believe that men like
the Emperors of Austria and Russia, the Kings
of France and Prussia, Metternich, Castle.
reagh, Nesselrode and 1'aleyrsnd actually met
together in the face of day to cheat every one
who did not belong to their privileged class.
They could not reconcile 10 their notions of
probability that these sovereigns and states.
men could have had the unspeakable folly to
declare, rs they did at Layback, that they
would unitedly make war on any country
where the democratic principle wns asserted.
Generation Of unbelievers!
While We write, perhaps, the orders have
gone forth for other congresses, and we shall
again hear perhaps that the Emperor Napoleon
and his friend Persigny, and the other Empe.
ror Alexander and his man Nesserode, and
the other Emperor Francis Joseph and his man
Me.ternich, and King Frederick William and
his man Manteuffel, and no end Of small Ger.
man Counts and Princes, each with his man
Friday-and perhaps some great English
Duke or Lord, but this is not certain-have
met in some quiet little city, and settled the
affairs Of Europe over Johanisburger, and de.
cided what men shall think and how they
shall speak, and wherewithal they shall be
humbugged for the next twenty years to
come.
One thing is certain. The diplomats mud
sovereigns of the year of our Lord 1856
cannot rely upon precedent for everything
On one point, at oil events, they will find no
help ir the records of their prototypes, and
that point is the Hulseman letter. In the face
Of that letter-immortal memorial of giant
mind-it will be hard, one would think, fol
the assembled statesmen and sovereigns to
write down that republicanism is rank rebel.
lion against God and man, to be put down
with the strong hand. II they should-if, on
the strength Of this great war of theirs, and
their tremendous armies-six hundred thou.
sand to one, a million to another, and half a
million to third-they should re.enact the
Layback statute and utlaw the people of the
United States, we take it that America could
bear it. But European rentes would be bad
stock after that.
1t will be very curious to note the course Of
England. When Napoleon the elder was
overthrown, tho government of Great Britain
was in the hands Of the most odious oligarchy
that ever cursed the civilized world. 1t sided
with the wretched dynasties Of the Continent
and for six or seven years was heart and
hand with them in their Congresses. When
the Holy Alliance resolved to force Ferdinand
VII. on Spain in spite of the Spanish people
this infamy was too much for the people ol
England, who had reluctantly submitted to
the arstocracy, partly from fear, partly from
innate conservatism. They now rose, and
forced the government to separate from the
European dynastles. Now the question arises
can they do so hgnin? There is no doubt but
the court party and the aristocrncy would
willingly join Napoleon in his holy alliance
and help keep down the European democrats
with fine relish. But the thunder Of the
London Times shows how such a proposal
would be received by the people. 1t will be
tight pull between them. When it comes
to a fight, the people win; but for ono thou
sand years, or thereabouts, the oligarchy have
cheated the people, and really, one does moi
see why they should not do SO still.
|
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