The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-11


Every breeze that sweeps across the Atlantic
is odorous of rebellion. The continent of Europe
rests upon bed of fire. The sensitive funds
shrink at few harsh words from the Emperor
of the French to the Envoy Of Austria, Stocks
culver at Paris, shake at Berlin, and fall down
at Vienna 1t is beyond peradventure thai
European politics are drifting towards general
revolution like unto that of '48. It NAV
not come this year, nor the next, but that sucl
is the tendency of affairs no sane man can doubt
We. at this distance, can Judge of the affairs Of
Europe better than those who are on the spot
The dcspotic system represses all public sources
Of information, and the movements of the dan
gerous classes" can only be inferred from cores
pondence, either public to the journals of England
and the United States, or private between liberals
and their sympathsers who have been exiled. II
is from such sources that we ascertain the facts
in the case The recent movement of the En-
peror of the French finds no favor with his own
party, which is the party of peace and order
There is deep seated discomfort in France Ever
since.the affair of the Rue Lepelletier the gay
life of Paris has had skeleton at its feast-a
dread apparition which flowers and wine, and
ladies' smiles and courtly splendors, could not
hide. The Imperial crown rests upon bayonets;
the Imperial battalions parade steadily over a
mine, which may explode at any moment.
There is discomfort, too, in Germany. The
men of '48 are still in the field, strength
ened by experience, and only nerved to courage
by defeat. Prussia is not quiet; Austria is far
from being placid; the Poles and Hungarians are
painting for revolution. In Italy the intense
hatred of the native population towards the
Austrians, feeling that breaks out daily in
spite of bayonets and chains, and whips and
dungeons, is well understood here.
Thus the liberal forces are calmly waiting and
preparing for the day when grand coup shall
be made, and the thrones of the despots toppled
down.
But, says the superficial observer, things look
calmly enough now. What if the French EN-
peror does not dare to show his face on the Boule
wards unless surrounded by myriads of unseen
guards; what if the workshops Of Vincennes and
the drill-rooms of Vienna do display unwonted
activity; what if more troops are sent across the
frontier, and what if Italy is in q blaze? Are not
these all ordinary precautions, and is it not
blazing the normal condition of Italian affairs?
True. 1t is true, moreover, that there was
some reform agitation in France in 46 and
al, and banquets for the amelioration of
the entire human race, beginning with Louis
Blanc and Ledru Rollin. But before that time
the press of Paris and the Continent gave signs
Of discomfort. No doubt the socialists precipi-
'tated as well as defeated the revolution of
'4S. No doubt they are quite ready for
another They are always ready to upset old
governments but not always clever in replacing
them. But under Louis Philippe there was,
compared to the present day, freedom of speech
and debate in France Now the repressive screw
is turned on more tightly than before. OF course
there is point where it must stop, and then, as
Louis Quinze said, 'comes the deluge." Now,
the opposition journals of Paris-newspape in
clining to republican views, if not radically re-
publican-have the largest circulation and the
widest influence Such journals as the Steele and
the Presse are not permitted to declare openly
their democratic sentiments, and they are glad to
ventilate them by Selling upon the war side Of
the question in the affairs Of Italy. Their syllo
gism is simple enough: Liberalism in Italy is Ii
beralism in France, and Uice yrsa Shall the armies
of the empire strike down despotism in Italy,
and permit it to flourish in France? And thus
while the government journals cry peace
peace, the opposition presses reiterate there is
no peace. The discussion of exterior affairs
commenced officially cannot be suppressed and
1t is unfortunate for the Emperor that this italian
matter, although nominally exterior, hath yet a
direct bearing upon the permanence of his
throne. So we have sudden diversion in favor
OF peace. The journals of the empire are pa
citc-the shopkeepers are pacific-the Bourse is
pacific-and Messicurs the Projects of the De-
partments report that the provincials are per-
fectly lamb-like unless they can have bout
with perfdious Albion, when they would be
roaring tigers at once.
And that is all: The Emperors French and
Austrian) are to have an official meeting; smiles
the Place de la Bourse and the Rue Vivienne.
The surface is smooth enough. No seditious
journals, no infammatory pamphlets, no disor-
derly assemblages, no solidarity of the nations,
no Marianne, no tonnas roayes--no popular nom
sense OF that sort. The repressive system, and
the remarkable police system, which always has
everybody under surveillance, to prevent mis-
takes, sees to all that. But thisrepresive system
~ is very severity, works back upon its authors.
The republicans work with no less &C.
ierify because their labors are perform
CD IN The dark, and with the glitter
ing knife Of the gullotinc always above
their heads. The absolute monarchs walk
calmly over volcano. The cabinets split hairs
over trifies, while the earth is trembling under
their feet 1t would be as absurd to say that
some OF them did not know this as to assert that
the republicans are not aware that they must
wait for the hour and Tho man That tbov are