The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-09


Mahony, write and live.
O-
The REBELLION NECESSARILY A FAIL
URE.-There are two classes of revolutions:
one for change in the form or admlnistra-
ton of Government, the other for territorial
independence. 1t is remarkable what a
difference there has been between them in
respect to success.
Modern history abounds with instances
where the people have successfully risen
against ruling power, and either deposed
it or wrung from it such concessions as they
desired. In fact, nearly all the liberties of
modern Europe have been acquired by Just
such struggles. While the geographical
boundaries of the nation have remained the
same, itsinternal elements, as in the case of
the English revolutions against Charles I.
and James H., and the French revolutions
against Louis XVI, and Charles x, and all
the continental revolutions Of 1S4S-may
undergo a complete transformation, and
that, too, from their own inherent working.
A genuine revolutionary movement can
spring only from the popular will; and
strongest force in every nation. These re-
volutions, accordingly, are not only quite
sure to prevail, but they do so without for
eign help. The same internal impulse
which starts them carries them through.
But the other sort, which aims at ma
tional ACKNOWLEDGMENT, have very different
fortunes. Modern history may be searched
almost in vain for an instance oftheir sue
cess without external assistance. We cam
not now recall single case of any account,
save that of the Spanish Colonies in Anne r
lea; and their success was accomplished
only after struggle Of many years, and
was due mainly to the previous decline of
the mother country in power, and to her
immense distance from her seat of military
operations. Ireland, Hungary and Poland
have often tried revolution for territorial
independence, but never successfully. All
the revolutionary efforts of the italian
States against Austrian dominion were
abortive until France finally came to the
rescue.s 4flse 81. 10
The Netherlands acquired their indepen-
dence of Spain only through British help;
Belgium its independence of the Neither
lands only by the dictation Of the Five
Powers; Greece its independence of Turkey
only through the hostile interference of
England, France and Russia. Texas would
never have secured it's independence from
Mexico, but through the help rendered by
our own people. 1t is now, we believe,
generally conceded that the struggle of our
fathers for independence heroic as it was,
would have failed had it not been for the
active assistance Of France, extended in
money ships and troops. Even with that
SO unpromising that John Adams, who, for
his efforts in bringing on and sustaining the
Revolution, has been styled its very Colos-
sus afterwards wrote: "There was not a
moment during the Revolution when I
would not have given everything possess
ed for restoration Of the State of things
before tho contest began, provided we
could have had sufficient guaranty for
its continuance And Washington him.
self declared that he was indebted for his
success more to the inertness and general
inefficiency of the British Generals in
chief command, Howe and Clinton, than
to any other earthly cause. The rebel lead
ers never mislead more grossly than when
they hold up the issue of our fathers strug-
gle as an encouragement to the belief that
their struggle, too, will succeed. The real
bearing of that precedent is exactly the con-
trary. Ifthe three million colonists OF the
Revolution; engaged in as sacred q cause as
was ever fought for, could not successfully
cope with England, which was three thous-
and miles away, Withoa0 foreign aed, no"
can less than twice that number OF repels,
engaged in as wicked cause as ever men
fought for, successfully cope with the I'M
ted States, which has nearly tnree LILIES
the loyal population of England AZ !nat gay,
and which confronts their repeiiioh a' us
very doorsf : o~,,,,
IN tho almost universal rule, that external
ass;stanco 10 ;ndispensibleto every success
fni revolution involving national dismem-
hnr,,,ont The rebel leaders, in the Begin
~, norAd antly calculated upon such as
.;stsnce they believed that the European
= ecassitv for cotton would absolutely leave
No a1tarnative to foreign intervention in
their favor. In fact, it was long doubtful