The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-10-14
The Progress of Freedom.


Sogreat Is the uncertainty which
attends the development of events
IN the present European war, that
we do hot dare, some days before
publication, to speculate as to the
result, or even as to the influence
which the past Developments may
be found to have exerted. 1t Is
just possible that, by the time this
reaches the readers eyes, some ba'
sis OF peace may have been settled,
and the armies returning, while the
poor people of both countries so to
the solemn and tedious task Of re-
building what war has destroyed,
and regaining the years of strength
ard prosperity which battle has re-
tSrdeG. II may be, on the other
hand, that the war will be found
really to have just begun, and that
tho drawing in of other great pow
ers may extend its disasters into
new countries and other years. /;
is utterly unsafe TO hazard a proph-
ecy, and even TO make a comment,
that is destined to outlive the days
and events which brought it forth.
But there is ono development
which. we hope, may be ioretold
with. certainty. This is, that war
though perhaps contrary to the
lessons Of history-has IN this IN
stance contributed to the popular
march towards civil and personal
liberty, and that at leas: one, and
perhaps more than ore, people may
find freedom as a compensation and
consolation for the disasters and
terrors which they have endurcd.
The quick urn of sentiment among
the people themselves everywhere
--even under despotic governments
when France was declared to be
a Republic, may give us some idea
of the great the lnesti>
Unable reverence, with which lIber-
~ is req ar led by the mssse
Take the demonstrations IN favor
of the French republic IN England.
although the sympathies ofthe peo-
pie had been with Prussia all along.
Witness the immense throng of
$50, 900 men that was gathered TO-
gether to celebrate the march of
democracy. Each body of men, as
it advanced along the crowded
thoroughfares, preceded by bands
of music, and illuminated by torch.
es and transparencies, was followed
by repeated cheers from the people
who thronged the sidewalks. Many
houses and shops on the line of
procession were illuminated, and
from the windows of many others
depended in the gasllght the flags
of France, England, and America.
Nc fewer than thirty American
flags displayed along the Strand,
between Somerset House and Ira
.aigar Square, were counted. By
eight o'clock Trafalgar Square was
one dense mass OF people from the
front of The National Academy to
and around the great statue King
Charles. Perfect order prevailed
..lcng the route of the professions
and throughout the proceedings of
the evening. The banners borne
by the societies were inscribed with
mottoes ~pro"laimIng the great doc
trInos of liberty. equality, and fra
iernIty. One in particular, carried
by a society from Hackney, on
which was inscribed, "The United
States of Europe greet the United
States OF America with peace on
earth, TO men good WILL" was hailed
with rapiurous and repeated cheers.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. Msrriman, who made an effec.
tive speech, In the course of which
lie alluded to the fact that while the
London press ridiculed and slight>
ed the republican movement in
England, to which their own dairy
denunciations of the worthlessness
of the royal family give constant
encouragement and strength, the
American press, thousands of miles
away, recognize its importance and
lends its moral support and gener>
uus sympathy, and the American
republic lends its priceless support
anc q glorious and successful ex-
ample. These remarks were receiv-
ed with q perfect tempest of cheers
for the United States, and a spirit
ed address to the republic ofFrance
was adopted, in which it is declared
that the monarchs Of Germany pro
secute the war now against the re-
pablicaDism, and not agains. the
former government Of France, AID
that in so doing they arc guilty OF
a great crime against liberty atd
humautty-agaInst the people of
Germany as well as against the PEG
pie OF Franco. The address tells
the people of France that the Eng
lish people have demanded, and