The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-12

TIE CsnAatasa ~ &he Press In Europe.
Perhaps TIE most interesting feature of En-
ropesn a6airs Ia the press. 1t is an index to
governments md to the relations subsisting
between them and the people.
The European press is all under shackes,
except that Of England, which is free. The
latter opposed, at first, with bitter scrimony,
the elevation of Louis Napoleon. 1t was igao-
rant of his policy and purposes, besides being
Influenced by an excusable national antipathy
against his house. Such Ind been the conduct
of the nation towards the great Napoleon-a
conduct evincing o nervous cowardice-a sha-
Ky fear and trembling, utterly Inconsistent
with that British courage and muiisk stubborn
ness exhibited on so many previous occasions
that to revive Bonaparte in the French CAPT
tel, and to sound bis name through the nation,
was no less than to proclaim and publish to the
werld again the infamy of England in violat-
ing the rights Of hospitality in the person of
the greatest man that ever lived. 1t was, then,
excusable in the British press to oppose the re-
establishment of the old Bonaparte dynasty
but it's power for the moment was in England,
not ia France.
Now, in the person of Louis Napoleon We
have the representative of the only movement
that can succeed in revolutionizing, in turn,
all Europe. He will fulfil his destiny as the
practical link between old feudalism and com
ing democracy. The press of France is utterly
under his control-in fact, he is to-day the
greatest editor in the world. His position is
the defeat and prostratiou of the old monarchi-
cal system, whose tenures by the Bonaparte
movement, have been abrogated and annulled.
Tho re- establishment of his empire aud it's
control in Europe will signalize the fall of the
British aristooracy; and the change which the
London Cabinet has made-from the German
to French policy-will result in making EGG
land second to France, and utterly destroy her
influence with the governments of the North of
Europe.
Lord Palmerston is the representative Of the
old order and the aristocracy of his country !;
he is nincompoop, and is made to aid move
meat which cannot fell, by the aid of the Bri
tsh free press, to result in the do wnall of that
aristocracy and the establishment in the gov
eminent of the great trade interests Of the ma
ton.
The press of England is an institution OF
democracy. 1t is the power that manages the
public mind of Europe. 1t ia exercised on every
point where men think-in London, Paris, Vi
mighty lever which is moving the Eastern
world; and whatever else it may accomplish, il
is sure to build up the central, trading, COM
mercial interests of the British people.
Day by day the signs of decay are seeu
through the medium Of the press in all the ex-
listing governing classes in England. 1t was
the power of the press that brought Sir Robert
Peel and Lord John Russell and Mr.. Golden,
and few other statesmen, in 1916, TO propose
and carry through, in connection with Robert
J. Walker and the democratic party in this
country, their great project of free trade. That
was concession to commerce-to the indus
try and enterprise of the British nation; and it
was concession made by the aristocracy-ths
first. but it will not be the last. The extension
of the sutirage--in fact, giving effect to the
theory of the constitution of England-has fol-
lowed, and will follow, until through the
peaceful agency of the ballot box, that great
est Of ell sources of revolution, and most effsc-
tive, the aristocracy of England will only have
an historical existence.
France, in respect to popular enlightenment
is far behind her island neighbour; but the seeds
of progress and of political regeneration have
been sown even in that country. The power
Of the throne, which, for centuries, had consoli
dated in itself the authority of the State, until
it eliminated in Louis TX, was all distributed
again in the act of electing Louis Napoleon to oe
the Emperor of France. That election was q re-
volution, employing the ballot box instead OF the
cartridge box, and destroying, in the act itself,
the sanctity which before had surrounded the
person of the chief magistrate Of the nation.
After such an example, who will claim the di-
vine right of kings to reign?-who can put one
man above another as ruler? If revolution
is made thus to sanction the doctrine Of popu-
lar sovereignty, who, after it has been re-
cognized as legitimate movement by all the
sovereigns of the world, and its chief received
into the family of Emperors, will deny the
legal agency of the ballo. box in pulling down
and building up individuals?
The continent of Europe is passing through
the necessary theoretical conditions to reach
the final practical philosophy of life. TIE
theological or fictitious, and the metaphy steal
or abstract, are giving way to the positive ana
the useful. In France it has been the wonder
of the world how, with such enlarged Land hu-
name views, with % much Of political philan-
throphy, sagacity aud energy. she could sub
init to the control Of a single man. But the
truth is, France, with ali her wisdom and talent,
lie utterly i'm PRACTICAL. She has only to learn
one more lesson-and it has been forced upon
her by Louis Napoleon as far as ne had the
power--and then France will take her place
politically by the side Of the United Sta. IS,
and that is, that liberty consists in making
each individual Of the State capable aud will.