The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-21
Liberal Ideas and liberal Institu-
tSoyls i'm Europe.

Liberal Ideas and Liberal Institu-
tao-,s i'm Europe.
So busy are we with the restoration
of our Union to its former strength
an2 equipoise, and so overburdened
with governmental theories of our
own, that most of us have neglected to
notice very remarkable evidence Of
progress in constitutional liberty
which has lately been consummated
in European kingdom-the adop-
tion of q new Constitution in Sweden.
This event has resounded already
through Europe, and has created no
Little excitement amongst thinking
people, especially in the neighboring
countries, and more particularly in
Germany, Prussia, and Austria, and
even in parts of France. What is the
strangest part of the story, the liberal
constitution was pushed through
by the energy of the King, who would
not be thwarted. The opposition
came principally from a portion of
the Chambers, and, at one time, it
was SO great as to create fears of q
serious outbreak at Stockholm. Ac-
cordingly. considerable body of
troops was sent to the capital, and
thus it is hardly extravagant to say
that liberal institutions were forced
into Sweden by a monarch, at the
point of his bayonets! In Prussia,
which is now one of the most de-
spotic of European kingdoms, this
coup d'etat for liberty, as it may well
be called, has provoked, very natu-
rally, the strongest hostility, and the
downfall and destruction of Sweden
are there prophesied, as the sure re-
suits Of this movement in favor of
civilization and free institutions. The
King of Sweden, however, (known
chiefly to US, perhaps, as the grand
son of Bernadotte,) is loved by his
subjects everywhere, and with an
affection equal to that of France for
her Henry ", and no less esteemed
and venerated for his admirable
qualities as ruler.
While Sweden is moving briskly on
in the march of nations, other por-
tions of Europe are feeling the effect
of liberal ideas and republican insti-
tutions. How much of this effect is
due directly to the example of our
own country, and how much to the
general progress of ideas in this
century, it is difficult to discriminate
But it is beyond all doubt that the
established fact that America has
weathered the storm, and stands erect
from the great shock, which the
advocates ofdespotic institutions were
confident would overwhelm her, is
already producing the greatest changes
in the political views and aspirations
of the common people of Europe.
Throughout Germany we note from
| time to time that assemblages of work
men are addressed by their favorite
orators, such as Delitzsech, who make
the staple of their argument the
foundation of the American Republic
in liberty to all men, its extraordi-
nary development, its hour of trial,
its still more glorious future. Abra-
ham Lincoln and Andrew johnson
are held up to popular admiration by
these orators through Central Europe,
to illustrate what man is capable OF
becoming in free country.
In England, John Bright prose
cutes the work of reform with fresh
vigor, and his advocates memorabilia
Parliament for the vote by ballot.
In France, Napoleon, abandoning
his project of extending imperial in
stitutions to our Western hemisphere,
declares it was not monarchical but
mercantile venture that he made in
Mexico. "Latin race" is not now
the word of ambition, but sorry
financial speculation the motive as
signed; and Mexico is no longer SO
sick man." but an insolvent debtor
going through chancery. 1t is quee,
that the Moniteur defends the rule OF
Macmillan, on the ground that ii
''arose from universal suffrage" and
that it was n form of Government
(Which the Mexicans have, in fine,
freely chosen" Are these not now
recommendations for Caesarism?
The Washington correspondent o1
the Mobile Register and Adoer1iser,
% @I,o oot;oo onI I,