Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-04-21
[Ftom Me London 7im,,. .4rril 11

1t is painful satire upon human happiness that peace
so dear to nations is after all only negative blessing.
Certainly II Is matter of immense congratuaiion that
men should longer devote themselves mutual de
struction, aud that the call peace The suit
erers by disease declare that there is no plea
sure like the cessation OF pain BE 1t little much, the
whole at the matter for which the guns have firing
the bells ringing aud people have been going about con
graduating another is the cessation oi horrible
cial disorder. We only were three years
ago, except with some corrected tendencies,
formed habits, and some improved experiences. Could
the nations of Europe have learnt wisdom more cheapy
than by expcIence-eould any nation, anybody learn
wisdom except in the old fashion. Europe would now Ice
the better 10y more than half million OF men, hundred
millions of money, aud much more that be num-
bered, named. The proclamation OF peace i
nothing less than the exposure OF colossal hal.
lucuston to resort to first image, the cure of
hideous disease. Moriyng indeed it is human pride
the best thing have boast OF aud the han.
piest thing 10 be thankful for is that the principal nations
OF the cvizcd world longer doing that which is the
Ordinary employment Of the most brutal .avages This
e utmost that be said IL is only lucid interval in
tie history OF the worlds Madness Indeed this parc-
ular evil the desgn OF gigantic empire against the
liberty OF Europe, has been whole in progress
gradually, aud Of late rapidly npenng into action Two
years Of have dis,iplted century OF preparations
aud brought the East and the West of Europe TO the same
point Of common understanding and mutual respect at
the beginning OF the period; the accumulation of
thought industry providence and natural thus
thrown away, all for want OF little sense a. we
in this instance though the folly may recur
any day in any other quarter.
When bu jbe of centurys growth has thu, burst IN
two years and the greatest military power in the world
has received sharp and sudden check in long ca
it would be expected perhaps that other nation.
would take warning. Unfortunately the national virus
for such call IT, which, after working century in
the constitution, breaks in this form aud de-
mands this rough remedy is subtle fertile in latter
ing Illusions, aud apt apparently cxccp
tona FORM that the most iea full example lost up
on il. There are two empires in modern times which
have been regarded as similar in many Substantial circuu
stances, aud in points Of policy aud which have
cherished themselves im
Russia aud the United Satcs have avowed sort pscu
lar respect for another the COsack aud the epub
can IN the political scale. With the single exception
that they carry the opposite OF government
though equally without constitutional balance or check
they equally boast unlimited territory rapid growth great
military and opinion OF their resource,
and prowc-s which has met with check They have
hitherto been equally confident OF the destiny that old
stumbling block Of Othur nations They have equally
tered maNm- that cannot be admitted by their ncghIors
without sacrifice Of self respect Ever since the year
1913 the two governments have been mtcrchas ng com.
pimrnt-. II only saturday that inserted the
hnrangue Of American Senator. containing favorable
comparison between the two governments. Now il il
rah remarkable thing, and to be noted in the history
Of human decisions that NJ the very moment when one
bubble has burst when ussas dream Of Irresistible pow
and endless dominion has been rudcy aud finally die.
PEELED, the other Power the self boosted parallel the
brother u hOuudess pfotensiOn and special immunity 20
Tar from taking warning by the fate Of it, cOmpecr AT
this vrrging to the suicidal foiya war
not Of sc defence but u Defiance the sole aud
avowcd object Of which il the assumption Of political
position above nll the rest Ot the world
The phrase two years ago that had driltcdr
into No doubt there had been such gradual aud
anOt mpcrceptbe current lately assisted timid and
irrczoute couuse The contrast between the cases aud
the event il that between diff and a collision. A
thousand exhibitions NJ national vanity aud imperial ani
ton. golden revcric confidential conversations diploma.
tic insOencc- Ovef.reacing negotiations line upon line
and prcceD precept have constituted the current ON
which Russi, has ddtei n where shc nov lies. We
have wish whatever deny the faults OF the Power.
who have had 10 teach her this lesson They have suC
fer d. aud probably will suffer IN turn for errors which
shared by MI States n proportion their spirit and
power. We have ouy 10 do with gigantic foly
which led Russia 20 msgno herself exempted from the
common lot and common Law Of nations. Such notions
have been cherished by State other m every sge
since the beginning Of the world We believe there new.
20 was time since the beginning Of history when there
wis not one, than State which conceived H..
self either ~ numerous, we'll situated rich
or so Ingenious, or united, martial
piOus, favored bv Heaven, or 20 pre.cninent for
some other great quality that IL might safely defy MI
The feft u o." world ~ up IT, rules b IT, law,
and mt rsin schemes Incompatible with th peace Of the
woi. No such nitpn yet succeeded n this course
escaped the most signal chasii-rncut Tint has
fallen upon ku-rit, the hands uf gibbons Who
have guf ca-nn ~ admit the martial virtues and the AL
most uuliWted res0uces Of the delinquent l. Il posi-
blc That any other empire W. che void. -pociay that
empire Which i matching itself will Russia a. u
claiming the benefit II the Russian example should
c"0u this very time 10 asserting its most prcppstcfOus
csimsy NJ Europe b fr-0uudiug with the grateful
notes Of peace Every STATE reiJocs Tor tic event which
secures the integrity md Independence Of weak pco-
pie against the schemes ~ powerful ncighiOr. We
t.u-t the triumph will not r mstrcd, the hymn o praise
Jared, and the uvc al Judgment dcfed, 10y the app
II dictat u the W stern hein picre, i'm.
T., f,,s. egu.uct fe-Ycd o. give IT, own lav a.
thu wuff ari o. ctiiu Le hfpug under tir sYilds
iaw that Which he. just made its timely submission TO
European Congress.