The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-16
osiniors In EUroPe-The Great Problem
OF the Age.

4
states, has bad no parallel since tie early days
It 'aa French Revolution There is de-
gree u truth in this assertion; but how vastly
different wss the memorable and terrible
strueg,e Of oppressed ignorance, with royal
aad aris'ocratic tyranny, from the eh'vairic
siaud which the civilized and enlightened
masses of the New World, are making against
the inroads Of anarchy and military despot-
Ism. The French Revolution inaueurated
wsr which ended in the downfall of the fsudai
Institutions and the cries of the Middle Ages,
and the destruction Of the Divine right of kings
in Europe. 1t aimed at the establishment
ola democratic republic, for which the peo-
| pie we're then unified, and eliminated in the
imperial despotism, which still interposes its
shadow, between Europe and the eDioyments OF
true freedom. The population of France was
less than twenty-six millions, nine enths of
whom were semi barbarous. The country was
| impoverished, overwhelmed with debt, and
| possessed of comparatively scanty resources.
Means Of communication were difficult, expen-
] sive and tedious; the progress of events was
slow; and weeks sometimes elapsed, before the
j
remote provinces Of the kingdom. The reverse
of all these things, is the case in the United
| States
The first colonizers of North America, we're
hardy, clear headed, Independent men, pos
sessed Of the best knowledge and experience
that Europe afforded, who voluntarily exiled
themselves from their homes, either to pos
sess greater religious freedom; to enjoy
the absence of restraint, in an UNEMPLOYED
and thinly settled hemisphere; or to acquire
| agricultural or commercial wealth more ra-
| pidly than was deemed possible in the beaten
| paths OF the Old World. Their descendants in
creased and multiplied; but they retained the
] vigorous energy of their forefathers, with in
creased wisdom and capacity for self-govern-
ment. Their revolt against Great Britain was
| no wild outburst of starving frenzy; nor was it
conjured into existence by the ambition of reck
less demagogues. 1t was the spontaneous up
rising Of upright, intelligent millions, and was
founded on the soundest principles of political
and social economy. Its success was inevita-
BILE; and every result which the statesmen of the
day foresaw would be derived from it, has been
realized, beyond the widest dreams of the
most visionary Imagination among them. Only
three quarters of a century have elapsed, and
the great nation of which they laid the corner
stone, has become the wonder and admiration
of the earth. 1t extends from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean, and, by slight exercise of
strength, could embrace within its boundaries
the territory from the Arctic Ocean to the ORR
noco. Its population has increased from
three to thirty.two millions Telegraphs, rail-
roads, and steamboats,, have given to this pro-
digious empire single pulse, which beats
simultaneously at distances of thousands of
miles makes each point a centre; identifies all
interests; and endows with magnetic commu-
nifty of intelligence every part of the magnif-
cent, and harmonious whole. Well may an ex-
| element exist, unparalleled by that of the
French Revolution, or any previous epoch, in
view Of dangers menacing 30 beautiful a
abric.
The greatest problem of this or any other
age, is in progress of solution in the United
States. 1t is whether man is capable of the
enjoyment of liberty, and free institutions;
whether civilization can be rendered perma-
nent by those who have attained it; or whether
he sublimest national product OF human wis
dom and virtue, aided by benefcent Provi-
dence can be dashed to pieces at the first blow
which is struck at ii by treason and domestic
violence. European statesmen have not ceased
to predict that republican institutions, in
civilized nation, were chimerical in theory, de-
lusive in practice, and that they could not
Withstand the severe tests of anarchy or mill
tary power when fairly directed against them
Experience will now teach whether this
foIeboding has been correct 1t has already
demonstrated that we are impregnable against
attacks from without; but rebellion has never
reared its head in a formidable shape, since the
United States became nation. Humanity re-
coils at the sacrilege, and asks whether the i'm
| pious attempt can be crowned with success,
which would cause the very angels to mourn.
| We believe that the question is already answer
ed. The language Of the London Times itself,
shows that the people of the Union are alive to
the perils by which the republic is surrounded,
| prepared to meet them, and that order will
speedily evolve from the present chaos.
INCONSISTENCIES OF ENGLISH OPINIONS on
| AMERICAN AFrAIRs.--One of our local contem-
| poraries quotes from the London Times New
| York letter, dated April l6, and sets down its
authorship to Mr. Russell There are two facts
| opposed to the correctness of this assumption.
In the first place, the views expressed in it are
dramatically opposite to those developed by
that gentleman in his correspondence, both be.
| fore and since and in the next, Mr. Russell
was in Charleston. and not in New York, when
it was written, which was only few days after
the fall OF Fort Sumter. 1t is no doubt
from the pen Of Bancroft Davis, the Ameri-
can correspondent Of the London Times, and it
shows the difference between the speculations
| of an intelligent and well informed native