Smyrna times., 1862-05-22
Democracy on Trial.

During the Criwean war the late Prince
Albert was fnriously abused by the British peo.
pie Tor saying. in public speech. that consli.
tutional monarchy was on trial. What he
meant was. that the pending contest would test
whether it was possible 10 carry on great
tulions which were established for peace time.
The event proved that the British SYSTEM was
equal TO the test. The war was brought 10
successful close without any violation of the
laws established for the government of the
British empire in time of peace. II must be
remarked, however, that the war was prOsscu
ted at a point several thousand miles distant
from Great Britain; that England's trade with
Russia was very limited; that the shIef com.
msTce Of Great Britain was not injured by the
! war; and that the number Of individuals whose
| private interests were affected by the war was
very small indeed.
! 10 these important aspects the pending war
| in this country differs essentially from the Rus.
sian war, and il is reasonable TO assume that its
! bearing on our peace institutions must be wide
ly dissimilar. The war is carried on al eur
own doors with people most closely allied 10
Us by ties Of marriag association nd commerce.
il has crippled our trade, and gravely impaired
our industrial energy; and the number Of per.
sons whose interests are directly affected by il
is enormous.
These essential differences explain why il
was necessary, 10 this country, to do what was
not required in England during the contest oil
1854 5, namely, to suspend the operations o
thuse great free institutions which, in peace
time. are the main bUlwsrk Of popular liberty.
II must always bo bone in mind by the can
did observer that since history began there
never was such a rebellion as the enc We ART
now suppressing The rebellion of Cataline
} TO which il has been compared, was only able
10 raise 5000 men, and Of these a large portion
had no better arms than clubs. The famou,
rebellIons which constitute SO important a par
OF the history OF Great Britain and France wer,
,rumpery little Disturbances in comparison witt
the SonIhetn insurTeetion A faint resem ba nc,
NAV be traced between the present contest il
this country and the religious wars IN EuTope
but the latter, il will be seen at once on exam
ination, were very dmnulive prototypes of ih
present struggle. In oil the igious wars il
. England and France, there was no mere blood
=, contest than the battle Of Winchester, whicI
the historian will class among the minor fight
= OF the present war. History contains no exam
g pie OF 100000 people rebsllIng against 20.
. 100000 of their eountrymen, and bOwing 9
y completely TO the lead Of fanatic leaders ss I
submit to be tOrced BY couserp ptiOn into militsr
service. An instance never was before Of
} country raising a million of men to fight eac
Q other. Nor was there ever q war, before th
" present one, which inflicted such wholesal
's misery upon the coun,ry which first took u
:, arms; whiGh involved so fearful an injury |
u peaceful commerce; which developed so muc
il treachery on the part Of persons 10 public en-
VI ploy; which brought to light such disbolcI
treason end such hesrtless per6dy. The hol