The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-06-02
EUROPE AND AMEKICA.

Iu the troubled slatcpi Europe, our country.
men may icaln To appreciate the blessings of
their own government, and the Importance TO
their highest ntrrests OF preserving inviolatc the
Constitution and the Union. We are too ant to
over rate "the ills We have" and to nndcr-ratc
those that happily eve know not cf" What
those unknown ills are. however, wo may form
rome idea from the state Of things in Europe.
An extent Of territory not too large If the peo.
pie were free and intelligent, for single gov vern.
inent. cut ur into scores Of independent sover.
eighties with conflicting interests sieepIess
jealousies, large standing armies heavy taxa.
tion, and occasional wars, in which the masses
have nothing to gain and everything to lose
this is Tie condition Of Europe, and this wond
be- our own condition. If the union Of the States
were overthrown. The immense emigration to
this country from the old world has not been
prompted alone by the crowded state of popu.
lation, aud the consequent difficulty Of obtaining
the means OF lie. 1t is because the rewards of
industry are materially diminished hv the cx-
pense of supporting large standing armies and
costly thrones. aud exposed to he swep, away ut
any moment by destructive wars. ii is because
the masses are sill vassas as completely as un.
der the feuial system. more oppressed in peace
equally subject to military duty in time of war.
and receiving no equivalent Of law md pro,cc.
tion like the feudal visssl rccciv ell from his
lord. They here possess the name of freedom.
but none Of its attributes. and are not only Gn.
prived themselves Of political aud social equality,
but have no hope of it for their Iostcrity. A man
may he resigned Z" n life Of i'll rcquiIed toll anu
OF grinding suhjection 10 dcspo'isn il he has the
prospect of better dcsi,nv for his child. In
che cabins Of the European pcasan,ry there is no
such hope, no prospect of any fate for tho liti 10
pratters about the hearth, but the collar OF the
eerf in peace, and To he food for powder in the
wars Of their despotic masters The wives,
mothers and daughters Of these military despo
s,sms may wcltrcmbe al every breadth of hos.
Every thing Of he lu,,e they hnv" ,ha, gives
charm I" existence. is put in peril at the first
clash Of arms Every VIII" has read the
horrors which follow ed the march Of host lie
armies in the rnne Of Napoleon, the conf,acratun
and sacking "l towns the universal Psnden,o-
MUM Of Inst. rapnc aud blood, the dessoated
fields and destruction "r private property. the
enckcloh anl nshrs which coi4.e ed ten Thousand
tines ten Thousand hr-avcd households, n,ay rer.
ceive some nflhr reasons which have sw"lvJ 10
such gigantic I'ro,,ortions the exodus from the
old world to the new. Here is a country divitl.
ed by wide ocean from the wars aud ambitions
which have rendered ,tei, lives hnrthcn in
Europe. in which industry aud integrity are re.
warded i'll which families may remain in
peace and secnry u,,'lcr their own vine and
fig tree. lIruc" there are stronger adv coates
of tho tm;or than the adopted population Of
America. They have seen aud felt what we
have not, the political, social nnl domestic mise.
dependent governments and they shudd-r with
l"r'"r at the idea Of bon., "vertakrn in their
land Of refuge by the fountain prolific Of every
curse that humanity can suffer, from which
thsy have just escaped
A division Of the States, when once com.
menced. can never stop at one division. The
spirit of 'liscord, the demon OF ambition the foul
fiend Of dernag"gm"ism. will not be exercised by
their triumph and success. 1f such govern
ment as this, framed by the most complete hu
man wisdom. cdhsrcra,el by tho most exalted
rirtue Of sclf-sacrit;c". hnl!owcd by the purest
patriot blood. illustrated by the most gloru,ls
deeds of herd!sn, cr.wned By the grnndesl vic
tories OF battle aud the most brilnn, achieve
'nents OF human progress, securing t" every
man political equality. civil AID religious liberty,
universal peace and prosperity, if such govern.
ment succumhs t" the corruption aud sefshness
rf human nature. what expect of the
petty political structures that will he built upon
its ruins! What can We look for but as many
separate empires as Europe. with large stand
aug armies. frequent wars heavy taxes, and the
universal degradnion and misery OF our poster
i,y.-Richmond Dispatch.