The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-17
Coming Events.

The war-cloud thickens on the eastern hori.
zon. Flashes of lurid lightning CLEAN in quicker
succession from its murky folds, and the distant
thunders mutter with deep and ominous voice
world pauses in its hurrying, divergent steps
TO gaze upon il, and expectation stands On tip.
toe The trumpet sounds 10 battle, and muster
ing armies hasten to obey its summons, from the
banks Of the Ticino, from the plains OF Italy,
over the snow-crested Alps and through the por-
tails of the Mediterranean. Mars lie a cruel del
ty,-battle fields ara his altar, and mangled SOL
diers his favored sacrifice. But why are new
victims to be offered, and more blood poured out
upon his shrine?
Austria, wishing to retain the power che has
acquired by fraud and force over her weaker
neighbors, clutches fast the victims of her op-
preston, and will not let them 60. The degen-
crate sons of Roman cOnquerors, chafng beneath
despotism whose chains they have long and im.
patiently worn, deem the hour Of deliyerance at
hand and they strike for the independence OF It.
aly. The Emperor of France, under the pretext
Of enforcing treaty he detests, and securing the
independence of a country be seeks 10 enslave,
-emulating the greatness OF the first Napoleon,
whose footsteps made Europe tremble, and re-
Numbering that the brightest laurels won by
that mighty chiettain were gathered from the
field which now invites his approach-throws in
to the scale the sworn great people mas paced
in his hands.
Thus the battle is set. But 10 4 new, dim,
yet gigantic form ot terror rises up 10 confront
the nations that have hitherto looked on with
careless eyes.
Russia strikes hands with France, and league
is framed between the empires of the North and
West, looking 10 the conquest and partition OF
a continent between these two great powers
England trernbles on the brink Of this abyss that
opens at her feet and threatens to engulf consti-
tutional liberty in Europe. Now the contes; a.
sumes a more formidable aspect, and seems about
to draw the nations OF the old world, great and
small, into the vortex Of strife.
War, a, the present day, is quite different
thing from its namesake Of the age of chivalry.
Then the rf,ail-clad warriors met each other face
to face, and fought hand TO hand, and victory was
the prize OF the strongest arm and bravest soul.
To-day the improvements in the science and
arms of war are so wonderful and perfect that
it has become terrible and swift winged mes.
senger Of destruction, and the highest aspiration
pf the soldier must be to stand As a mark for the
'inerring rifle, or the death-dealing cannon
Hence, we shall probably see a most sangunary
and hear of strange and
''Moviog accidents. By 6"oi AMI field "
How all this will end--whether reason, whose
voice is for peace, shall yet still the ;umut, or
whether the din of arms shall drive despots mad
and thrones shall toppe and fall, and crowns be
broken beneath the iron hail OF the Storm none
can foretel.
IfAustrian despotsm shall sink with the house
Of Hapsburg, TO rise no more, and repubcanism
shall obtain an impregnabe ioothold in continent
tai Europe, it will be well, even if Freedom wades
to her arm pits in blood. We are on the thresh-
hold of stirring events but tits ours to wait and
watch.