The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-06
Approaching Revolutionary struggiesin
Europe.

Approaching Revolutionary struggiesin
Europe.
The details Of the European news which we
publish this morning are Of the highest signifi-
canoe. Everywhere among the nations OF the
Old World we see signs Of coming storm.
The revolutionary spirit of the people, which
mas SO long lain dormant, il once more quick
ening into life, and the crowned heads OF Eu-
rope may well tremble for the safety OF their
sceptres and their kingdoms. From England
apart from political evils-the cry comes that
terrible want and suffering are felt all through
the land. The effects Of our civil war are now
addressing themselves to the English people IN
the most practical manner possible. The Thun-
dersr of Printing House square groans In
agony, and piteously asks for American cotton.
:" The myriads," he says. who few years ago
were reading with tears the tragic tale Of negro
suffering and wrong little thought that they
would one day exchange sentimental for an
actual participation in that story" The results
of abolition agitation have now been brought
to their own doors. Hinc ilg lochSyns.
The supplies of cotton in English hands are
nearly exhausted. Mills are closing on oil
sides, and thousands of operatives are daily
being thrown out Of employment. The Efforts
Of benevolence are taxed to their utmost limit,
and the unemployed are resorting to the des-
perate alternative Of selling their clothing 70
purchase food. Worse than this, new tribe
OF mendicants is being created; and when
the bitter necessities of want and famine shall
press the people little farther the aristocracy
and cottonocracy must look to themselves.
Well may the English press look fearfully at
the future, and warn the authorities to apply
remedy before it be too late. If employment
be not found for the fifty thousand pauperized
English tradesmen, and provision made to
counteract the 'fearful mass Of restitution be-
hind them," the British nation must at once
prepare to grapple with the horrors of revolu-
ton.
Nor are the prospects in France whit moro
cheering. The scarcity Of cotton is severely
felt throughout the French empire, though not
to such an extent as in Great Britain. Many
of the French factories have been compelled to
close, and large numbers of their operatives
have been thrown upon their own resources.
Revolutionary professions have become
somewhat frequent, and nothing but the vigil
lance of the police has prevented more serious
outbreaks. In the meantime the finances of
the empire are anything but fourishing; and, to
add to the embarrassments of the government,
as well as Of the people, we now learn that the
Severe frosts in Lower Burgundy have de-
stroyed the magnificent vine crops with which
the country was covered This unexpected
event will not tend to mitigate the sufferings of
the laboring classes, but rather to increase their
irritation and render them susceptible to the
revolutionary influences which are at work
everywhere around them.
The other continental nations are all strug-
Cling with difficulties no less dangerous and
threatening. Popular agitation for cheap food
and fuller liberty has never been so unanimous
at any time in Europe From all the indica-
tions Of the European press it is evident that
the revolutionary spirit is once more about to
walk abroad in all its majesty and terror. As
yet we hear but the ominous mutterings Of the
rage in its fury, and it's course be marked by.
the overthrow Of empires and of thrones The
revolutionary fire has long slumbered in
France; but it is plain that the people are being
again imbued with the old spirit that has pre-
yiously convulsed all Europe. The agitation
which exists amongst the students and the
laboring classes, their street professions and
the clamor of the latter for employment, and
the haste of the government to find it for
them, are all highly significant facts. In
Spain, Italy Germany, Hungary, and even
in Russia, we also see daily evidences of
tho impotence of the masses, and of their
desire to deliver themselves from the grip
Of their opprcssors. Opcn revolution has not yet
spread to England, inasmuch as the whole at
tention of that nation was recently engrossed
by the prospect of war with the United
States; but in the natural course Of events she
must be drawn into the g, ne al struggle Thus
we see that Europe is on the very brink of a po-
litical convulsion that may ere long delugo the
continent with blood. And this is very nat,-
raj. No great people can be precipitated into
a conflict like that in which we are engaged
for the preservation Of national existence,
right. liberty, and all the glorios that surround
nat;onality-withou oil the other nations OF
the civilized world being seriously affected by
the contest. The instruction in this country
was designed to break up democracy and pave
the way for absolute despotism. These were
the views of the Southern politicians, and they
are now beginning to be understood
in Europe. Tho attempts of the monar-
chical governments and the aristocratic press to
frown down and write down the cause
Of democracy and our national unity have en-
tirely failed. But their efforts in favor Of abso-
lutism and against free government have on
lightened the people whom they govern SO un-
Justly as to their true aim and designs, as well
as TO the motives which govern them. The
progress Of our arms is watched with eager in
terest by the people Of Europe who aspire to
n -