The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-03-04
The Revolution of 1915.

mC hNfViutiOn va 1910
The year 1S4S was an era in the
modern history of Europe. 1t was the
year of Aunfulfilled revolutions. The
trouble began in France, where the OK
travagant and incompetent administra-
tion of Louis Philippe met its natural
result In q popular insurrection, and
the King and all the royal family were
forced to flee for their lives from
furious Partisan mob. His flight and
the immediate establishment Of a pro-
visional republican government in
France was the signal for the outbreak
of the long pent-up fires OF republican
ism all over Europe. Revolution was
soon adame or threatening In all the
great cities. In Austria the popular
party took things pretty much into their
own hands. In few months this en-
pire was apparently on the verge of
dissolution. Lombardy and venetia
were in revolt; Hungary had declared
herself independent; the Slavs of Bo-
hemia and Silesa had taken up arms;
and Vienna was in the hands of an
armed mob, and the Emperor had been
obliged to fec for his life. However,
the Imperialists had the aid of the
army, and the popular party had be-
| fore long to give way to the force of
arms. The provincial instructions
were soon Quelled, and the army now
marched upon Vienna. The rebels at
this city held out against the lombard
| ment until the terrible slaughter in
their ranks rendered further resistance
impossible. But they had forced the
Imperial party to admit the strength OF
their movement, and the first step
toward peaceful negotiations was the
abdication of the unpopular Emperor,
Francis Joseph, then youth of Is
years. The Hungarians, however, were
still in revolt, under the leadership of
Louis Kossuth, and, with well-equ p
| ped and numerous army, were making
noble resistance to the forces of
| tyranny. But when the Gear of Rus
STA sent large body of soldiers to the
| aid of the Austrians, the Hungarians
were forced by overwhelming numbers
into. surrender In Italy the news of
the abdication of the King of France
was received with the greatest enthu-
siasm, and the whole country rushed to
arms. The patriots who had been ex-
| lied, Mazzini, Garibaldi, and others,
who had never hoped to see their ma
tive land again, hurried back to take
part in the struggle. The war which
| followed was bv no means successful,
however, and Italian unity was again
postponed for many years. In the
smaller states of Germany the rulers,
terrified at the fate OF Louise Philippe,
granted all that the populace ked.
In Prussia, however, in spite of the
ready promises of the frightened King.
terrible and bloody conflicts ragged in
| the streets of Berlin, which were only
quelled, after many lives had been lost,
by the soldiery. The result of this,
however, was the establishment of a
new and more liberal constitution for
the kingdom. Perhaps no government
bore the test of this universal outbreak
better than that of Belgium. There
the King told the people frankly that if
they wanted TO be rid of him he was
quite ready to go. The Belgians appre-
ciated his honorable position, declared
themselves in favor of his continued
rule, and the revolution passed harm
lessly away. In England there was
much alarm reused by the activity dis
played by the Chartists. This was the
name adopted by political party which
for some years d been contending for
certain political reforms embodied in a
bill of rights called "The Peoples
Charter" These made arrangements
for presenting q monster petition to
Parliament, and planned to have it car
ried to the door of the House of Com
mons at the head of procession OF
nearly million people. The eb' ect oil
this undoubtedly was to make such
parade of physical force as should quite
overawe the Government. However,
the authorities were beforehand with
the agitators. An enormous force of
special constables aud soldiers, 200,-
900 in all, under the command of the
Duke of Wellington, were intrusted
with the task of keeping order in Lon
don on that day, April 10, 1S4S. This
manifestation of power so impressed
the populace that the great Chartist
demonstration was a wre he'd failure.
The gathering in Kensington Common
am ounted to not more than ZOO. and
the great procession was not formed at
all. After some speech-ma1Sing the
crowd quietly dispersed, and this was
the end of the revolution in England.
1t may be said, however, that though
the immediate results of ls4S were very
disappointing 10 the hopes of its lead
ers the ultimate effect of the agitation
was to greatly strengthen the cause of
popular liberty in Europe. = Inter