Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-06-12

REACTION IN EUROPE The cause of Free
dom in Europe was never, apparently, at a.
lower ebb than now. War, which had
nothing to recommend it, even in its earlier
and brighter DAYS, except the visionary hope
that ii might lead to the emancipation of
Italy or Poland, has Just been terminated,
after having vastly increased the strength of
the AZ soluto powers, diminished the influ-
ence of the leading free State abroad, and
destroyed every present prospect of resur-
rection of the peoples. They point signif-
cantly TO he fact that the two most stringent
despotisms of modern times--that of Louis
Napoleon and that of the Russian Autocrat
are rumored to have formed secret but
close alliance. They tell rs that the Aus
trian Government has entered into a concor-
dat, prostratins all southern Germany at the
feet of the spiritual power Nor is this the
whole they add. In mems minds, they as
sert, reaction has been going on, ever since
the disastrous events Of 1913, which threat
ems to continue, till it has surrendered every
thing to the domination Of kingly and priest
" tyranny The principles of religious as
well as political liberty are assailed, they
tell us, in every quarter, with the utmost
skill of sophistry, with the whole force Of
conservative authority. Rights, which had
been won for humanity, even in the dark
DAYS Of the seventeenth and eighteenth con-
turtles, they asseverate, are now abandoned
without a word or treacherously betrayed.
The clouds, they cry, drive low ard dark,
obscuring the light of heaven. The night of
freedom, they say. with a sigh, has come
forever.
But let no friend of progress, no former be-
| lever in the final redemption Of the race,
deceive himself with these sad prognostica-
/ tons. Happily, the history Of thousand
ages lies behind us; and that history shows
but one experience, teaches but one lesson.
/ From the frs. dawn of civilization, there has
| been slow, but certain advance among man.
kind from ignorance and slavery towards in
/ tclligence and freedom. Caste, tyranny and
priestcraft have kept up an incessant strug>
\ gle to retain their mastery and often the
battle has fluctuatec, but the final result has
always been in favor Of liberty Caste NO
longer ia the monster that il once was, but
is diving out even in its last stronghold, In
dia. Spiritual despotism, as compared with
what it was three centuries ago, is but the
shadow of its former self; persecution has
nearly ceased federation is generally inner
tied liberty of conscience gains ground eve-
~ generation. Even temporal absolutism is
not the irresponsible, hydra headed dragon
( it was nnder Louis XIV, and other tyrants
of the past, being now compelled, for its own
preservation, TO conciliate the people whom
then it scorned. Although the cause of free
dom may seem TO be lost irrevocably, believe
us, it is not. There must be, as in all for
mer instances, a hnx and redux. But after
! the ebb, the flood Of freedom will come roll
I ing in, deeper than ever, and down viii &c
one by one, before il, these poor week dykes
of willow rushes, which blind absolntism
has been so industriously casting up PhiIa
Ledger.