The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-02

painting, sculpture, and romance;
land OF starry climes aud sunny
skies" whose delicious climate, lofty
mountains, and beautiful valleys and
plains have ever excited the admira-
ton of the traveller and poet, has made
great progress in unity and freedom.
Suffrage nearly universal, the hG--
beas CORPUS, freedom. of religion, and
free schools. are some of the principal
features of Italian liberty. rH,
The spirit of liberty is abrS3ad Ia
Russia-mighty empire of the North;
whose government has repfeSeueeu
the perfect idea OF Absolute Despo-
tism-an autOcratic. PoWero7 uare-
strained By CONSTITUTION or law An
enlighteued Gar, animated by love
for his people. and percelvIng the IN
dividual happiness and material Pres
perity produced by free institutions,
abolished slavery throughout his do
minions, made the serfs freemens and
gave to them local free institutions,
based upon the right Of Suffrage 1t
is true the imperial power still ex-
tends over ala dark, impenetrabie
canopy-but beneath its shadow there
is individual liberty, and local self
government Thus far the prosper
Gus result has established the Wis
dom of the Gar, and may we not
believe that he has laid the ltounda-
tions of a free government, to be de-
veloped into grand Republic IN the
tar future? aud nearer, into a constl-
sutlonal monarchy, with representa-
tive Institutions? Liberty. is like
living seed; wherever planted it vlvl-
fie-. expands. develops. Thus plant
ed in Russia among the lowest people,
and for local purposes, 1t will grow,
develop, and finally conquer. Russia
Is among the progressive nations, and
is our friend aud it was the Ameri-
can example which touched the heart
and intellect OF the Emperor.
The spirit OF liberty, In its onward
march. has invaded Spain, and Is stir
ring the great national heart. We
have. lately seen the Spanish people
firmly, and almost peacefully and
unanimously, depOse a llcentlOus
Queen. aud declare against her dyn-
asty. We have seen this people meet
in primary assemblies, and by suffrage
universal elect a National COrtes
which has Tor many mouths, in calm
debate. considered and framed a new
constitution, which, although not re
publican in its form, contains so much
liberty, so much that is good and pro
gTessive in government, as to give the
world high hope in thefuture Of Spain
We have heard this National Assem-
bly, declare that all sovereignty ano
power reside IN the people,; thus de-
nying tie divine right of kings, and
asserting the fundamental idea of free
institutions. We have heard it pro.
nOunce the abolition of slavery. VIZ
have heard it pronounce the right oil
all men to worship God according to
the-dictates of their own cnnsciences
| Verify, these are great things and new
times in old Spain.
While the grand revolution IL
Spain is proceeding so peacefully ano
successfully; while the Spanish people
are asserting their liberties and forti-
| flying them by Constitutional bull
warks, it is to be deeply regretted
that they are denying to Cuba Yhat
| they claim for themselves.
| The American Revolution was also
an English revolution. The struggle
| for liberty here reacted upon Eng
land, has gone forward there contin.
uaIy, and is stronger to-day thar
ever. One reform has succeeded an
other. The basis of suffrage ha:
! been widened from time to time, ans
has always been followed by an ex
tension of the rights, privileges anc
prosperity Of the people. The instl
tutions of England have become
more liberal, Just and beniticent al
| the right Of suffrage has been extend
ed, aud larger number of men ad
mitted to n voice In the Government
! Recently we have seen a new exten
sion of the franchise, followed
almost Immediately by a movemen
for the disestablishment of tn,
Irish Church. The Irish Church
establishment, though professedl!
in the interests of Protestantism
is not sustained or justified by the Pro
testant world, and the Plotestan
masses of England are demanding it!
| repeal. The blishment bill
has passed the House of Commons
but the Lords threaten to reject it o.
destroy it by notifications. 1t ma.
sacrifice itself, but it can not thereb,
preserve the Irish Establishment
The House Of Lords is tolerated nov
only upon the condition that it will
ratify the action of the Commons, ant
will give its formal assent to all popu
lar movements. 1t possesses no rea
political power, aud will not be per
mitted to obstruet the wishes of tn
people. Should it be rash enough t
reject the Dis establishment ball,
will at once inaugurate a movemen
for its own reorganization, and tn
destruction of the hereditary priv
! lege.
Such movement cannot, perhaps
be long deferred anyhow. Anothe
reform bill will soon be demanded
making suffrage universal, or nearl
so, to be followed by the dis estab lish
meut of the English Church, the abo
litiOn of the laws of primogeniture
and the final destruction of the king
~ office. The mass of the Englisl
people are substantially, though no
protessedly, republican in sentiment
They accept the great doctrine of hu
man rights upon which our govern
ment is founded; and, while they We
retain the throne and the House 0
Lords, any attempt on the part c
either to exercise positive power, o
resist the popular will, would be in
stantly met by threats of resistance
and. if not abandoned, by revolution
The throne and the upper House re
main much like the feudal castle
that yet distinguish the English land
scape, emblems of departed pow
err, curious to the view, ful
of historic interest, but no long
er dangerous to the peace of tn
surrounding country. English re
forms, heretofore slow, are becomin
more rapid, and the English people al
marching with accelerated speed to
] Republican Government. Universe
suffrage and hereditary privilege can