Year: 1870

The extraordinary fermentation OF IDEAS and


the conflict OF moral forces at tie present time


show that we are entering upon new era in


the history of the world. Tho opinions Of


mankind-politicai, religious, moral and phi


losophical-that had their birth thousands of
years ago. or which have been developing


through all the phases of civilization In every


quarter of the globe up to the present period,


are now asitating the nations. Modern intel


ligence is investigating the past, analyzing the


present and peering into the future to ascer-


tain what is the true basis of society and on


what principle people are to be governed, or


rather on what principle they are to govern


themselves. The conflict of these moral forces


and ideas OF the past and present is like the


marshalling of clouds from every part of the
heavens when terrific thunder storm gathers
| overhead and shakes the earth. The moral


and political world is like the physical in this


respect The elements Of both 60 through


violent perturbations till an equilibrium is es-


tablished. With regard to the moral and po-


litical world, it seems that the storm is rapidly
eliminating, and that there is reason to hope
for more serene and happier state Of things
at no distant day. To the religious mind the
new era upon which we have entered may be
the millennium; to the purely philosophical 1t
is the natural result Of progress aad the ac-
cumulated intelligence Of ages.


The astonishing events Of the last few weeks
and that are transpiring in rapid succession
from day to day, would bewilder US if we did
not know the links with which one Is neces-
sarily connected with the other and
their connection with others of the period i'm
mediately preceding this. The uprising of the
republicans throughout Europe Is the natural
result Of the war between Prussia and France
and the fall of Napoleon. France slid into q
republic by the force of circumstances The
very monarchs who entered into the war to


strengthen their own rule, and to give them


through that frmer grip over the people,


are the instruments in the hands of Provi-


dence to liberate the people and to spread the
principles of republicanism and self-gov ern-


ment. 1t may be said truly in this case that the


evil deeds Of men are turned against themselves


and are made to work out the designs of God.


France has become republic without resort
ing to the barricades and civil war among the
French themselves, thanks to Napoleon and


King William of Prussia. And, If we mistake
not, this very war, through the painful lessons
it teaches, the suferings it brings, and the
patriotism which it arouses, will do more to
establish republican institutions in France
than any barricade revolutions could. But more
than that, the establishment of the republic in
France is acting powerfully upon every other
country of Europe. The people everywhere
more free or liberal government. In this re-
spect France is still the heart of Europe,
though she lies PROSTATE for the time at the |
conquerors feet.


Who would have imagined three months |
ago that such wonderful changes could have |
taken place in Europe within so short a time?
Italy responded promptly to the republican
movement in France. Just as the Pope had
established his infallibility through the Ecu
menical Council the revolutionary storm swept
over Italy, destroyed the temporal power of
the Papacy-the oldest monarchy in Europe
and has united the Italians under one. gov
ernment. Victor Emanuel has been forced to
take Rome, and Rome will be the capital Of
Italy. But at the bottom of this movement
are the ardent republicans. Their ambition
is to restore the Roman republic and
its ancient glories. The King Of Italy is but
the passive instrument to work out their
object. However much they may respect the
King, or however liberal he may be, the
Roman or Italian republic looms up in the
future. Germany, too, begins to move and


act towards King William In the same way.


The democrats have unfurled their banner
even in Prussia and the government has re-
sorted to repressive measures. The Germans
will accept unity from the hands Of the King
and will thank both him and Bismarck for that


and for victory over the imperial regime Of
France; but they will demand larger amount
of liberty nearer approach to republican
freedom. Indeed, Germany may be ripe, or
nearly so for republic. Spain has
taken forward steps towards republican
government since France threw off
the nightmare Of Imperialism, in spite of Prim,
Serrano and the other reactionists. The


masses of England are stirred up, too, against
their monarchical and aristocratical govern


ment. Everywhere the revolutionary fire is


burning and threatening to consume the mon
arches and aristocracies. The universal re-
public is no longer mere possibility, but has
become probable. We may see yet the United


States of Europe or several confederated
republics based upon race and certain geo.
graphical boundaries.


In looking back to the proximate causes Of
| this state of things we start from the war of


American independence. OF course, as we


said before, the ideas which led to this and
later events had begun to develop previously.
/ nhe onfabliahr ont of the uraak Amarica n