New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-12-23


was generally acquie seed in IS the only prac'
ticable form OF government. Even IN England Tue
spirit Of political reform had been constantly
on the dec inc Judicial, commercial, AID admin
istratiye legislation, the latter with an undcuo'ed
terdencg toward Capitalization. occupied the atten-
ton OF Parliament The attempts at keeping alive
popular political movement failed most sigually'
the Middle Glass Reform part! going quiet! 70 sleep
and suffering 81 immense defeat IL Lord Palme!-'
.ton's general election Of ISL, while Charti'm
had fallen completely 10 pieces.
OF al the European nations, Russia wss The hr's
to awake from this political erharsy. The CrimeAn
war. though concluded without any very suostan-
tai o.s of territory and, far a. the East Is con-
cefned. even Of prestige. had stil Inundated her
pride. For the first time, she had been compelled
to abandon the principle, that whatever lands
she nnexes she never again gives up. her who'e
system of administration IN is most perfect branch
the ulilitary-hsd broken doxn completely,
and had TO be admitted failure. The work III
which Nicholas had labCred, day and night, for
twenty. FIVE years, had crumbled uto ruins with the
ramparts ard forts of Seba.topol. Still, with the
existing political state Of the country no other
system Of administration was possible than the
exclusive aud exaggerated bureaucratic sys'
TEN which existed. To lay foundation for
better system Ale xsnder ii. had TO recur to the
idea demonstrating the serfs. He mad two forGl,-
dabe opponents TO contend with, the nobility aud
that very bureaucracy which lie mtenced 70 reform
I sgairst IL ewn WILL aId which at the same time WAS
TO serve a. the instrument Of his designs. To sup
port him, he had nothing but the triduonary pas
siye obedience Of that inert mass OF Russian serts
and merchants which had hitherto been excluded
from The right even Of thinking about their poitl-
cal condition. To make their support available, he
was compelled 70 create kind Of public opinion,
and at least the shadow OF press. Accordingly,
the censorship was relaxed, and civil, welinten-
toned and well-behayed discussion was invited;
even slight and polite criticisms of the acts OF public
officers were permitted. The degree Of liberty
of debate now existing in Russia would seem ridi-
culously smsll in any country Of Europe except
France but stil, 20 people who knew the Ru'sIs
of Nichoas the stsp in advance appears enormous,
and, combined with the difficulties necessarily
arising from the emanoiE stion of the serfs, this
awakening to political life of the more educated
classes of Russia is full of good omens.
TIE next political revival took place in Prussia.
When tie King had temporarily retired from
active government, it soon became Known that his
mental arrangement was iucurable, AMI that sooner
or later his brother would haze 10 be appointed
Regent, with full powers. This intermediate Pc
riod gave Iise 10 some agitation, which, under the
pre.ext Of camor for a dehnitiTe Regency, was
in fact directed against the existence of an unPop
ular Ministry When, two months ago, the Re
gency was finally established. the Ministry changed,
and q new House of Representatives elected, the
pol,tiesi ..ovo-.e.t, 80 long dnmmch up at once
cleared road for itself, and turned the former
msjority oct of the Legislature, almost to man.
What all the present manifestation in Prussia Will
ultimately lead to. has been ar alyzed 10 these
columns on former occasions; here We have merely
to register the fact that the political revival hss
taken place.
The existence Of such movement could mol.
remain unrotced in the remainder OF Germany. La
fact, il is already making itself felt in the smaller
States: and changes of Ministry, shiitiDgs Of ma
jorties aud yacilatOns of policy, are sure to de-
yelop themselves as the movement in Prussia takes
a more defrte shape. And, not ollyin the small
fry of German monarchies but n Austria As well, il
this movement beginning TO be seriously felt. The
Cor stitutonsl party in Austria have, at present,
10 chance Of inducing the GoyernmeDt to make
second trial Of Represe NATIVE Institutions; so, tue
oily means lhey have of keeping the question be-
fore the public is TO praise the return to SOUND
" Constitutional Government in Prussia; snd, IN
deed, il is wonderful how popular Prussia has at
once become in Austria and South Germany. But
no matter what BE- its expression the movement -
IN existence even in AustTls.
Another focus of agitation is Italy. Compare
lively quiet since the peace with Russia, the pot-
zeal infection, aided BY Bonsparti't lnttigues was
sure to spread 70 this iltlammabe nation The
old anti. smoking movement has begun again in
Lombar1y; the Duchess of Parma finds it conSen-
lent to allow Ristori TO declaim aganst the Aus
trans under the cloak of judith preaching a holy
war against tie Assyrians, and that within hearing
of the Austrian garrison Of Plaeebzi. The position
of the French army OF occupation at Rome, and OF
the Papal Government there, are becoming equally
difficult. Naples is even ready TO rise and, 70
crown all. Victor Emanuel Of Sardinia calls upon
his generals 10 be prepared, for they may possibly
have 70 smell powder again in the Spring.
Even France has been seized By this new spirit.
Gont.lemb,rt', paper against Comparison was a
striking proof ofa reawakenipg life among the French
middle-casses. II now appears that not only had
Monta,embert prepared snotter essay, but N. Fal-
our, tie ex-Mnister Louis Napoleon, Is also com
Jog out It'll strong article against the existing state
c ,,;,os Thu .,;.I of Nontalemhart resolve Itself