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


dispute to the arbitrament of European Con
gress, to be composed of all the sovereigns il
Europe. 1t has attracted great attention from
the general impression that it was written by
the Emperor of the French and expresses hi:
views. In France, it seems to meet with I
pretty general approval. In Germany, too, il
is liked well enough. But the London Times
assais it with the utmost fury, and declares
that so far as England is concerned, she will
never submit her cause to "a 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 aseribed to the En-
peror, il looks very much as though he were
tired of the war, and anxious TO wind it up
like the last European war, by confederacy
of sovereigns, of which he would be himself
the leading spirit. II the idea were adopted, of
course, the Congress would deal not only with
the pacifcation but with the government of
Europe. Not only with the settlement of the
Black Sea and the Prncipalities, but with the
control of the people of Germany, Russia,
Spain and France. Not only with the extln.
guishment of Russian designs on Turkey, but
with the annihlation 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.
sovereigns.
The world moves in circle, and events
ceaselessly repeat themselves. For many
years, people have been reading of the Con-
crosses of Ax-la. Chapele and Carlsbad and
Troppau, and Verona, and Layback, and
scarcely believed that such enormites as
were practised by the allied sovereigns at
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 king without abusing
him. People would not believe that men like
the Emperors of Austria and Russla, the Kings
of France and Prussia, Metternich, Castle
reagh, NesseIrode and 1alleyrand actually met
together in the face of day to cheat every one
who did not belong to their privileged class.
They could not reconcile TO their notions of
probability that these sovereigns and states
men could have had the unspeakable folly to
declare, as they did at Layback, that they
would unitedly make war on any country
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 Persgny, and the other Empe-
ror Alexander and his man Nesselrode, and
the other Emperor Francis Joseph and his man
Me.ternich, and King Frederick William and
his man Maneuffel, and no end OF small Ger
man Counts and Princes, each with his man
Friday-and perhaps some great English
Duke OF Lord, but this is not certaln-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 and
sovereigns of the year of our Lord 1896
cannot RELY upon precedent for everything
On one point, at all events, they will find no
belp jr the records of their prototypes, and
that poiut is the Hulseman letter. In the face
of that letter-immorta memorial of giant
mind-it will be hard, one would think, for
the assembled statesmen and soveregns 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-sx hundred thou
sand to one, million to another, and half a
million to third-they should re-enact the
Layback statute and outlaw the people OF the
United States, we take it that America could
bear it. But European reates would be bad
stock after that.
Il will be very curious to note the course oi
Encland When Napoleon the elcer was
overthrow, the government of Great Dri'a''
was in the hands of the most odious ollgarchy
that over cursed the civilized world. 1t sided
with the wretched dynasties of the Continent,
and for six or seven years was heart ana
hand with them in their Congresses. When
the Holy Alliance resolved to force Ferdinand
VII. on Spain in spite of the Spanish people,
this ;nfamy was too much for the people OF
England, who had reluctantly submitted 10
the aristocracy, partly from fear, partly from
;nr ,te conservatism. They now rose, ana
forced the government to separate from 'he
European dynastles. Now the question arises
can they do SO agau' There is no douo' ou.
the court party and the arlstocracy "ou'o
willingly join Napoleon in his holy al''ance'
and help keep down the European democrats
with fine relish. But the thunder OF Inc
London Times shows how such proposa'
would be received by the people. IL VIII oe
n tight pull between them. When it comes
TO a fight, the people win; but Tor one 'hou
sand years, or thereabouts, the oligarchy nave
cheated the people, aud really, one does not
see why they should not do so s'il''