Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-09-09

~ The following from the New
FORK Herald is very readable. The
Herald has many Wild notions, but 10 |
The following article We think it has
hit the nail on the head precisely
Tbs Farce Gsssas Pswess 81 EsseDs,
sls asd America.
There are now two giants in Europe
who are pushing with even and almost
equal steps the path Of reform in the
social systems Of the Old World, aud
carrying their respective countries to
the highest pitch Of glory and Of pow
er. Napoleon III. and Alexander II.
each came to an imperial succession,
aud each has learned from the errors
of his predecessor to combine progress
with stability and conservatism with
revolution.
The mighty genius Of the first Ma
poleon gave birth to the ideas and po-
iitical combinations that are now
changing the face and the future of
Europe. But impelled by the power
of that very genius, which wished to
anticipate both men and things, and BY
the imperious force Of circumstances,
which aroused simultaneously against
him the sense Of security on the part
of the rest of Europe, Napoleon was
compelled to combat all the nations
within g. short period Of time. The
terrific nature of the struggle exhaust
ed his empire, and France saw Bour>
bon imbecility replaced on her throne
by the united action Of twice twelve
hundred thousand foreign bayonets.-
Peace was restored to Europe; but it
was a peace that for forty yexrs has
been obliged to rely for its preservation
on the power of three millions of bay
onets. During that time France re-
NAMED in q state of almost complete
industrial and political lethargy. The
Napoleonic ideas, however, had taken
root, and grew apace, not only in
France, but in many parts Of Europe,
till at last they fructified in the final
exclusion Of Bourbonism and red re-
publicanism from French soil.
Napoleon III. came with his sagac-
ious intellect to establish the views Of
his uncle, and to-day not one Of the
Napoleonic ideas is forgotten in the
schemes that agitate Europe. Avoid
ing the danger that ruined the first,
the third Napoleon snakes haste
slowly" In constructing the edifice
of his dynasty he does not lay one
course till the preceding one has be-
come cemented: His wars, instead Of
awakening bitter epmeties, seem to
make his friendships more firm. That
with Russia secured for him the recog
milton and apparent alliance Of the
giant of the East. That with Austria
has effected q remarkable change in
the policy of the Germanic Confedera.
ton towards him. Nor is the change
within the domain of France less stri-
king. Railroads are being verywhere
built, public works constructed, indus.
try and commerce stimulated, the ma
terial interests of the people fostered
the laws imbued with wise and con.
servative liberalism, to such a degree
that the second series of Napoleonit
wars, instead of exhausting France
have served only TO show the vasl
extent Of her resources and her power
Her armies and her fleets are now the
first in Europe. 1t is these things
that have made Louis Napoleon thu
arbiter Of that continent.
In hussia a parallel case exists
Nicholas /. initiated policy as vast
and as comprehensive as that of tht
first Napoleon-social reform at home
the extension of the boundaries Of his
empire to the waters of the mediter-
ranean and the farthest confines O
Asia, and the creation OF fleets and
armies that should give weight to hi
power in Europe. Like the first Ma
poleon, he, too, was before his time
Europe, palled with forty years o
peace, was ready to 60 to war against
him, and that OF the Crimea crushe
his mighty soul. Alexander II. saw
the errors of his father. He made
peace with Western Europe, be urged
the construction of railroads, canals
and river steamers at home, he liberia
ted the serfs, he hastened the founding
of new empire on the Asiatic shore
Of the Pacific, he is building teIegraphs
and railroads across northern Asia
and by every possible means is seek.
ing to foster the Development of the
material interests Of his empire and
the elevation of his people. The re,
suit is already being witnessed. Rus
STA stands on q par with imperial
France, and together they give the
law to Europe.
These two imperialisms are pursu.
ing the true conflict against the class
theories Of feudalism. Everywhere
they are undermining the power Of the
mobiles and e.evating the people; and
they are performing another great
good work. Through them Europe
and the world is being freed from the
progress of destructive red republi.
canism, which threatened society with
ruin, and the nation with the rule oil
the worst Of tyrsnnies, that of system
over the individual. On our side w
are pursuing the same war, but 10 !
constructive sense. We have no arts.
tocrscy to be removed, but we are
building up the power Of the people
through the same measures which are
being pursued in France and Russia
the development Of the industrial and
commercial interest. Each of these