The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-19
Alarr.lna Condltlon in Europe.

Many of our people have been at q loss
ts account for the extraordinary ebullition
OF rage on the part Of the English govern
ment at the preparation of an act by one
of our steamers, which, to say the least, is
no worse than what England has claimed
the right of doing for years. The develop
ments of every mali from Europe go to
show that the seizure Of Mason and Slidell
Is not cause of war, but is to be made q
pretext. The true cause we think may be
CLEANED FROM the following paragraphs
which appeared in the London Chronicle of
Nov. 2sth;
The prestiges of desperate winter are
multiplying. Far and wide, upon the CONT
nent financial clouds gather over the polit-
ical and industrial prospect. The New
World confagration threatens to consume
the materials of prosperity to millions on
both sides of the Atlantic. At home, the
disastrous prelude has already begun fore
running, we cannot but anticipate, a period
of general suffering, in which naturally and
inevitably, the poorer classes will endure
the utmost bitterness of the blight. Nor il
it possible, Notwithstanding the sincere re-
ports of Sir Robert Peel, to doubt that Ire
ordeal, comparatively lenient perhaps, yet
aggravated by the diminished capacity OF
England to relieve her. We know that the
fair weather prophets are arguing different
ly; they subsist, of course, upon artificial
confidence; they are nothing if not de-
claiming about the unexampled fortunes of
the British empire. But all this rhapsody
will not set single mill going, will bring
comfort to no Lancashire cottage, will
neither open a cotton market nor create
cotton supply. Surveying the broad arena
of Europe, can it be honestly affirmed that
the aspects of the season are cheerful
There is no panic, but, ct the same time,
there is no approach to a settlement of
existing complications in Italy. The French
horizon is IN all directions dark, ominous
and melancholy. Austria stands upon the
brink of civil war, and Russia is returning
to barbarism. The French nation, notvith-
standing commercial treaties, is not buying
of US with any particular enthusiasm.
Turkey can hardly be kept afOat; and, else
where, statesmen must work necessarily at
the pumps to prevent the peace of Europe
from sinking into fsthomless depths of
slaughter.
In the United Kingdom matters are not
improving. An humble test is afforded in
the dizziness ofthe stated fairs; wages have
fallen twenty per cent. old men in the az
ricultural districts, can scarcely secure en-
ployment at any price; the unhired multi
tudes threaten to be dsmally large, and to
them the winter threatens a long series of
sore privations. And then, what of that
mighty aggregate to which the eotton-pod
gives labor and life-that four millions,
stricken by the curse of civil war beyond
the seas Their earnings have wighered
from livelihood into pittance; they are
struggling with want; soon they may have
to face starvation for them the times are
hard indeed" halEtime" is hard-time"
with a vengeance.
Of course our Government is to blame for
all this. The Chinese refused to buy opium
and had it crammed down their throats at
the point of the bayonet. Our people, in
consideration of the terrible struggle tor
the preservation of their Government, have
ceased to import cotton fabrics, and are to
be treated as were the Chinese, the only va
Ration being in the character of the dose.
Instead of opium, we must swallow cotton,
whether we desire it or not. We must not
allow any 'falling off in the demand for
Manchester goods, because in that lies half
the mystery of the desolate haze which hangs
round the forthcoming Christmas"
Hear the Chronicle further;
Al Manchester, We are told, there Is
scarcely business enough doing TO test the
strength of prices, yet the news from India
has not been unfavorable. Add to this state
of things the depression of the silk trade in
all parts of England, the prodigious caIAmis
ties which have oyertaken the fishing trade,
the results of the late storms, and hun
dred other accidents presaglng great distress
among the poorest of the poor II is not
for humanity to repins underline visitstions
of God. We must accept the hurricane,
the pestilence and the. blight from the
Power that sent them; but the one over
whelming cause of all that we suffer and,
shall suffer, as the year darkens to its end
is the American civil war, and the Amer
lean civil war has been rendered doubiy
grievous to civilization bees1se the North
has blockaded the South.
The winter is upon US, gloomy and threaten
ing, the warehouses are rapidly filing
the coming Christmas will be black for
many political frost has preceded the ice
and snow of December. There must be
sorrow and tears-unhappily, too, crime
and desperation-in uncounted homes be-
fore this year has been rung out. will the
Government, then, render what help it can
to Q country compelled, BY sn usuFpation Of
maritime prerogative, to share in the pun
ishment of folly and wirkedness not Der
own2 Be it remembered that compassion
for the suffering classes is not the only sem
iiment that the rich may experience during
a season Of far spread misery.
The Chronicle seems to think that al