Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-18
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, n. e, FRIDAY, MARCH IS, 1850
The Qnestions of thc Day.

The Questions of tho Day.
Congress and the State Legislatures have adjourned
and there is comparative dearth of news The news
papers and the people thrown upon other resources for
interest and amusement.
VIII there be war in Europe? Will the President
call an extra session? What will be done with Sickes
These form prominent topics for present discussion
In Europe increased ornaments are the order of the day
From East to West from North to South, the continent
is little than military camp, aud even England
has provided in the navy estimates for increase in
that branch Of her service equal nearly equal to the
whole naval establishment of the United States actually
in commission.
France, Austria Russia, Prussia the German States
even poor Spain-all make show of arming although
there is not one of them able to support the military
establishments already foot without resort to oans
after every expedent has already been tried for the pur
pose Of wrnging money from their reluctant and OPP
pressed people. France and Austria have both armies
in the Papal Territories in Central Italy, ostensbly for
maintaining the authority Of sovereign who possesses
double character and claims to have right to de-
mand assistance frcm the powers Of Catholic Europe
But is evident that this is only the osensibc object
since the forces employed out of all proportion to
the end proposed 1t is evident that the great powers
are mutually Jealous of each other and that their in
creased forces in Italy to watch each other far more
than to protect Pious X.
No doubt Louis Napoleon would like to sgnalize his
reign by humiliatng the Austrian power and there is
as little doubt that Austria, rather the House Of
Hapsburg would take pleasure in crushing the paveue
Emperor of France. But the Austrian treasury is
bankrupt France is already overstrained and the tenn
per of her people might give way under heavier burdens
or a commercial crisis. England wants to sell goods
and peace is the atmosphere of commerce. She will
lend neither money counenance to royal imperial
gentlemen of belligerent procvities.
Some writer, Voltaire, we think defined the Russian
government to be desposm tempered by assassination
That of France at the present day. is virtually much
despotism as that of Russia but it is tempered by the
constant fear of revolution. The French have shown
little ability to establish and maintain weLregulated
freedom but no one doubt their determination and
ability to overthrow any unpopular despotism. The
popular element is thus enabled to make itself felt and
respected if not through the press yet through channels
equally available and equally understandable by any in
teigent ruler Measurably, the same reasoning will ap
ply to nearly every government on earth. No King,
Emperor, or Cabinet will now dare to make with.
out the national consent without having secured the
support of the people, Witness how even in Russia
during the Crimean war, every effort made
to arouse the popular ZEAL how in effect appeals
were made to the people to sustain the government Of
Holy Russia. This national popular clement this mill
ionheaded million mouthed and million-bclied clement
has grown to be power in all states and cannot agar
be ignored 1t has got tired of having its heads broker
and its bellies starved and its backs burdcncd at the cap
rice of mere rulers and without its consent. Popu
lar consent essential preliminary to war, either al
its inception or during its continuance. Ict but the
popular belly Of France be unduy starved or the popu
lar back be unduIy burdCned the popular head be III
oloriousIy broken, and then the deugC OF revolution
and Napoleon knows that. When England, with hel
money power, says peace" and Russia, with her ply
steal power, says peace and the people OF France
and Austria demand the avoidance OF all that may throw
them out of labor aud deprive them Of bread there may
still be war but it will be act OF reckCSsDcsS anC
folly on the part of the Sovereign Soycregns engaging
in it. from which their own ruin may be safely predict
ed. What men may do is hard to say-what they vii
probably do VIC can speculate on. We dc not thnl
that Louis Napoleon will probably 90 to war.
Most certainly the President is extremely anxious t
avoid calling an extra session. 1t would be desirable t.
above all, Mr. Buchanan must naturally feel rppug
nant to calling together House of Representa-
tives which will not include the representatives Q
all or nearly all Of The States and therefore may go int
course of partizan legislation at variance with the
wishes of majority of the people of the United States
especially when it is known that the very object OF Nh
Grow and his party i'll pursuing course calculated
render an extra session necessary the obtaining of
undue and dishonest advantage.
We suppose Scklcs will be tried. We don't know
whether or not he will be convicted We think not
but we trust the thing will be disposed Of The trio
consisting of Sickles Sckles' wife and Key Nigh
have all slain and eaten each other up withou
ustfying SO much fuss Unfortunately they did not
So 1t is sincerely to be hoped that when such case
occur hereafter the plan Of mutual deyouraton may
adopted