The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-10
Popular Upheavlngs in Europe-The Pro
nreS0 Of Reform.

Popular Upheavinss in Europe-The Pro-
sress Of Reform.
Since 1S48-49 we have had no situation in
Europe at all resembling that which now
exists Then, perhaps, the popular upris-
ing was more violent and more nearly stimuli
taneous. If at this time there has been less of
what we should call unity of effort, and less of
immediate and irresistible force, it must be
admitted that now the popular discomfort is
quite as general, and that the expression of
this discomfort, if less violent, is quite as de-
cided as well as more continuous and more
successful. The lS48 outburst was failure
The popular uprisings Of these last two OF
three years have all been more or less success
full The British people have demanded two
great reforms. One has been obtained. The
other is on the point of being achieved. The
Reform bill carried under Mr.. Dsraeli and the
extinction of the Irish Church Establishment
under Mr.. Gladstone have given ample proof
to the world that in England the people
are now masters of the situation. The resur-
rection and reconstruction Of Italy, the resur-
TtCliOu uuu tcCOustIuCtiOu vi tuc
revolutions which have been accomplished in
Austria and 10 Spain, the reforms now being
inaugurated in France, not to speak of the
changes in favor of the people which have
taken place in Russia and in Turkey, show
that the European Continent from some cause
or causes, has entered upon a new era less in
the interest of absolutism and more in favor of
popular rights.
1t would not be uninteresting to enter into
full explanation of these changes, to show how
tyrannies and privileges are everywhere yield
ing to justice and in favor of popular rights
but full explanation is not compatible with
our present purpose. This is the less to be
regretted that satisfactory explanation is
visible and lies on the surface of things. The
secret of the success of all recent popular de-
mands is to be found in the telegraph, the
railroad, the printing press, and particularly in
the newspaper.
Formerly it was difficult to get up on any
question common and vigorous public sent-
ment In the olden times nations might
struggle for months and even years and the
world would be ignorant of the fact This
was not more true of nations in regard to each
other than it was true of one section of
country towards every other section. A com
mon sentiment could not be created except bv
years of effort, and hence powerful public
sentiment was next to impossible. Now all
is changed. Not hing is more easy now than
to thrill the world with a thought. Steam,
electricity, the printing press have destroyed
all the ancient barriers, have spanned the
deep valleys pierced the everlasti ng hills,
bridged the mighty wastes ofwaters-h have, in
fact in the language Of ancient prophecy,
made the crooked places straight and the
rough places plain" thus made the world
unit and brought every man close to the ear
OF every other. If great thought now finds
expression the world hears il. If great
action is contemplated sections and nations
can move as one man.
The success of recent popular out
bursts finds secondary explanation in
the extraordinary success of popular gov
eminent in the United States. 1t is some
thing to be taught what to do. Ii is some
thing to have the mechanical appliances put
into ones hand to give the lessons received
practical shape. II is another and more
important thing TO have set before one living,
powerful, compelling example. Such example
the United States now exhibits to the world.
Time was when the republic was despised
Later, and before the civil war broke out. it
was regarded as an experiment. During the
war il was pronounced failure. Since the
war il has universally been pronounced an
unquestioned, complete success. As a
people we have passed through an ordeal of
fire such as no people have passed through in
the worlds history. The nations Of Europe
have seen us emerge from the flames with hair
comparatively unsiugod and with scarcely
the smell of fire upon our gar
ments. Our deliverance has been almost