The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-09

cognsed by this office by persons Ginning to DO agents TO
the Union ~ ~ Y Ap ss-6
EUROPEAN POIITICS.--THE SPEECH OF COUNT
CAvOUR. lHh8e
We attach more than ordinary significance to the
short speech which published yesterday of
Count Cayour in relation to the position Of Sardinia
in connexion with the present attitude of Europe.
1t will be remembered that Sardinia was one of the
allies against Russia in the late Crimean war; and
the policy Of that alliance questioned directly
by his adversary in the bold declaration that 'We
want no alliances with governments; our ally is the
revolution" smat
1t is, perhaps the most difficult thing in the world
for an American writer to convey to the American.
mind the idea that revolution against the exercise
of power by afew men is not always justifable as
measure Of redress Of grievances And yetiti is OBJ
vious that such remedies-even where remedies are
conceded to be necessary not always and under
all circumstances appropriately applied. The con-
diton Of the patient, his habits and constitution,
should be duly considered before tho sntdote to the
disease can be safely administered In the medical
scienoe tho treatment of patient is varied in diff
ferent climates so in the political world depending
upon the conditions of society and the development
of the human mind amongst the people, remedies for
evils should be adapted not so much to the imine-
date end sought to the capacity of the people to
maintain the advantages which change ofgovernment
proposes. 1.-THE people themselves, in other words,
remain Indifferent to, and ignorant Of the duties Of
selfgovcrnment- if they are not impressed with the
dignities and endowed with the intelligence necess
ny to govern themselvesif they support theirlead-
ers from sympathy in the cause Of popular lib
crty, and not from vital, pervading conviction that
it their right and their duty to exercise tho pow
ers OF the State-nothing but evil can result from
Such violent escapades partake
far Of the character of the tornado than of that
serene, temperate action of men engaged in the
great work of assuming the functions Of government
TO themselves If they acquire that which they are
unable to appreciate and disqualified to use, it
follows that they become the subjects Of ambition in
another form, liable to BIO led into conflicts by the
hostile claims of leaders and opening perpetual
civil commotioh and wars, We have no faith what
ever in the too current dogma of the day that the
liberties Of people are to be secured and mairl
tanned by the death Of existing rulers. Magazines,
explosive elements, and Internal machines not
the weapons which people educated to be free, are
likely to employ to secure their enfranchsement
We'hold it to be law of human progress that
great duty can be properly discharged except by
the possession and exercise of the faculties of the
mind adapted to the work to be performed. All the
and every current experience of society teach
common lesson upon this subject Qualification for
appointed duties liz exacted in all the relations of
human industry and life. To this end the mechanic
is instructed, the lawyer physician, and clergyman
taught to this end experience and observation are
required Of the man Of science and study and invcs-
tgation Of the legislator, the Judge and the states
man exacted. aisisa 81 b .sifa Vair w Vitl 4ttl
Count Cavour calls the disciples Of revolution in
Europe--those who adhere to the great doctrine of
the right of assassination naugurated in the at
tempt upon the life of the Emperor Napoleon in the
Rue Lepelletier-" madmen---nadmen to think that a
revolution threatening the principles Of society can
be favorable to the of liberty in Europe-mad-
men who know not that its surest effect would be
the destruction Of all lberty;p and he might have
added, if we see rightly the low condition Of popu
lar education in those countries and the equivoca
state Of public and private morals, without even
laying the foundations or sowing the seeds Of pos
sible future regeneration favorable to the cause Of
selfgovcrnment. a2aet ~ sl4
The speech of Count Cavour is little remarkable
in another particular concerning the policy of the
Sandman government permanently to rely upon the
friendship Of England and France, as protection
against the encroachments of tho great States
of Europe. AT this distance and with the i'm
paired confidence of the American mind in any
grand system Of alliance on tho other side of the
water, we should say the dependence which The
Sandman government places upon the present polit
cal combinations Of Europe is altogether too great
We have no faith in the stability of any System
which is not based upon the principles of sefgov-
ernment. This is not mere opinion, but, we re-
gard it. is logical necessarily, the tendency Of all gov
eminent being in that direction We should despair,
however, of the ultimate triumph Of the popular
cause, if it were made to depend, for its advance
ment, upon political spasms, the sole reliance Of
tho advocates Of revolution in Europe. 1t is true
that our people at least, should begin TO draw dis
tincton, far transatlantic brethren are con
cerned between the advocates Of revolution--which
seems to be mere joint-stock enterprise Of few
wild advonturers-and the real friends of popular
liberty Nor can it DO said that the American peo
pie have no interest in this subject-they are the
only people on the earth with whom has been in