The New York herald., 1868-03-07
Revolutionary symptoms in Europe.

Revolutionary Symptoms in Europe.
Our cable dispatches day by day bring TO
us fresh evidences Of the chronic disease which
now afaicts the European body polite. The
revolutionary element Is everywhere. We see
it from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and
from the Euxine to the Atlantic in Russia,
Prussia, Austria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, France, Great Britain. Everywhere
the struggle between the people and the privi-
legged orders is more or less visible, and every
where the people are marching onward to the
possession and enjoyment Of their rights. The
popular cause is not yet triumphant but the
people and the friends Of the people are full Of
hope.
The condition of Italy calls largely for COM
miseration. 1t Is so also with both kingdoms
in the Iberian peninsula. Matters are not well
when the populace Of capital, as has just
been the case in Portugal, burn in efigy the
youthful wife Of their King. The Pope, how
ever. has warm friends in Portugal, and Queen
Pia, fortunately or unfortunately, happens to
be the daughter Of Victor Emanuel. France,
too. 10 equally i'll at ease but France
is safe in the hands of Napoleon. OF
all living rulers he is the only one
who thoroughly understands the people
he governs, and the only one who can hold
with the firm hand Of master the reins Of
universal suffrage. Bismarck promises to be q
rival. but Bismarck has not yet been fully
tried Great Britain Is now in the hands of
the only British statesman who can be COM
pared to either Napoleon or Bismarck. Disraeli
there is the man Of the hour, and it remains to
be seen what he will make of his opportunities.
1t Is not our opinion that war in Europe lie
likely to resultin the immediate future from any
Of the existing complications. The disruption
and complete revolution Of European society
are to be brought about, not by Fenianism,
not by red republicanism, not by the troubles
Of the holy Father, not by Bourbonism, not
by Pan-Germanism, nor by Pan-Sclavism, but
by an unbearabfe taxation. Taxation, after all,
Is the greatest Of all the reformers. It was
Tetzel and his money box rather than Luther
and his theses that begot the great Reforma-
ton. 1t was the ship money that begot the
great English revolution under Charles the
First 1t was the tax on tea that gave birth to
American independence in the days Of George
the Third. The European nations, one and all
prussia alone excepted), are burdened
with heavy and ever increasing debt
The pressure is heavy and testing even now
but it Is still bearable. It is the last straw,
however, that breaks the camel's back.
Sooner than we imagine the spring will give
way and the crash will be tremendous. Rulers
will not be wise. Regardless of all expert.
ence and blind to their fate, they still pile on
the crushing weight Similar evils, in fact, are
overtaking ourselves It is no longer our
privilege to point the finger TO other nations.
Considering our brief history we cannot say
that in regard to taxation and debt we are so
far behind. In few years more we shall be
able to defy comparison Our glory will be
single and exclusive. In this country, how
ever, the cure will be simpler and more
effective than in the older nations Of Europe.
In Europe people will rise against their rulers.
and nation will war against nation. Here in
this great republic, and acting in the spirit of
noble independency, we shall simply repudiate.
American Commerce-What Our Iron steam.
n..el