Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-04-18

French revolution has come to signify
few weeks, or months at most, of blood and
violence and terror, and then, when satiated
with the horrid feast, relapse into deeper
servitude, more hopeless slavery. And this
is to great degree characteristic of all the
revolutions Of Europe during the past few
hundred years. Not even a foothold has
been gained by them for freedom, nor sim
gle step taken in advance of the civilization
of the age. .. ...., ,........ ..... t.. ...r..s4
Liberty is a goddess not propitiated by
offerings Of human blood. nor does she ap-
pear in the bonnet-rougs of anarchy, but sole
passion Of the generous heart, sole treasure
worthy of being coveted, the first aspiration
Of youth and sublime invocation Of old age,
she ever recognizes the legal superiority Of
authorized magistrates, and moral superiori.
ty of virtue. ..n:.I ...r<e.. .s... ..#.n
In fierce antagonism with rational liberty,
there is faction born of revolution, Of its
bad doctrines and its bad actions, whose
vague perhaps, but constant aim is usurpa-
ton, because being the primary object, it
| soon becomes matter of taste still more than
of necessity. At the other extreme there is
faction born ofpriuilege which detests equal
| ity and seeks to destroy it. Both are rcvo.
lutionary and the agitators Of society. The
one fanatical and without reason-the other
despotic and heart'ess. The one we recog-
nize by its hatred of all legitimate authority,
political, moral, religious, by its inevitable
mobs and infidelity. The other is marked
by its instructive contempt for all rights, pub
lie and private, by its arrogant cupidity
which seeks to appropriate every advantage
Of government and religion to itself. 1t is
IN chnnco hat,u tho o,,;1S l,,,<
better for any people to avoid both. Who
would not prefer English aristocracy and
High Church creed, with all their attendant
evils, rather than the inevitable despotism Of
France with her coarse infi.lelty and shock
ing liccntiousnessp The one draws upon
the liberties of the people for sustenance and
cherishes them as necessary to its existence.
The other swallows them up in debauchcry
and squandcrs them under the dcspotism OF
a mob, or Of an absolute monarch. .... ....
If the whole spirit of revolution in this
country shall be developed, as that of one
section now is, we shall end our national ex-
istence in reign Of terror. Ardcntly as we
are attached to the free institutions of Amer
ica, we would rather that this spirit Of rcvo-
luton, imported, like some foul disease, from
the political prisons Of Europe, the moral and
social pest houses Of the world, hot-beds OF
treason as Of fanaticisn,, this spirit that
tramplcs on law and denies God, should be
crushed out if necessary by the iron heel Of
an absolute despotism, than suffered to spread
its faint until America becomes, like Italy,
the servant OF servants and palsied by liu-
ing tleath. .. ..a s .g-.. p ..'r
1t is not reform that VIC oppose, but while
we protest against sleepy conserpatisna, that
for fear Of innovation would bar all progress
and prevent all reform, we must earnestly
protest against that more fearful spirit of in
fatuated fanaticism that dsregards law, and
God, and humanity, and would brand traitor
on the brow of the true retormer and conser-
vator of peace. -. " ..+ ..' ..
We deprecate all revolution by means of
arms, because we believe in rational, not rant
ing progress. We have, perhaps because
youthful and dreamy, imaginings of distant
voices inviting America to the lofticst desti-
nies. But history teaches US that these may
never be reached save by peaceful progress
and bloodess achievements. The voice of
all the ages proclaims the impotcncy of rcvo-
luton in securing permanent safety to popu-
lar rights. # -af p .t ue. H . =.
The English revolution of 164O began in
defence Of legal privileges, and ended IN a
military despotism. 1t miscarred not be-
cause the English people were untitled for
the responsibilities of sell. government, but
as necessary result Of revolution. 1t COM
menced in defending civil and religious rights
1t ended in civil and religious despotism
1t opened by declaring the sovereignty of the
people, and closed in clevating to supreme
power the most arbitrary monarch England
had ever seen since William the Conqueror.
And thus revolution ever ends. Promising
liberty it loads with chains. To the fanati-
cism that attends it, succeed RIGHTEOUSNESS
in manners, and servility in politics, making
virtue and freedom synonymous with hypoc-
| racy and cant. - g' '.af&t 'aa
Should the South succeed in the present
rebellion, and effect revolution, it requires
no prophet to fortcll the fate of liberty-or
the danger that will surround private and
public rights. The history of every revolu.
ton has been that Of wrong and outrage
And why should we expect other than these
When the most solemn obligations are dis.
regarded, and experience, hoary with age.
receives no respect, other considerations will
be lightly regarded. .lw,1. ...s
T. L. BOWMAN.