meaning of it? A meaning it must have, or it would not be here.
If we can find the right meaning of it, we may, wisely
submitting or wisely resisting and controlling, still hope to
live in the midst of it; if we cannot find the right meaning, if
we find only the wrong or no meaning in it, to live will not be
possible!--The whole social wisdom of the Present Time is
summoned, in the name of the Giver of Wisdom, to make clear to
itself, and lay deeply to heart with an eye to strenuous valiant
practice and effort, what the meaning of this universal revolt of
the European Populations, which calls itself Democracy, and
decides to continue permanent, may be.

Certainly it is a drama full of action, event fast following
event; in which curiosity finds endless scope, and there are
interests at stake, enough to rivet the attention of all men,
simple and wise. Whereat the idle multitude lift up their
voices, gratulating, celebrating sky-high; in rhyme and prose
announcement, more than plentiful, that _now_ the New Era, and
long-expected Year One of Perfect Human Felicity has come.
Glorious and immortal people, sublime French citizens, heroic
barricades; triumph of civil and religious liberty--O Heaven! one
of the inevitablest private miseries, to an earnest man in such
circumstances, is this multitudinous efflux of oratory and
psalmody, from the universal foolish human throat; drowning for
the moment all reflection whatsoever, except the sorrowful one
that you are fallen in an evil, heavy-laden, long-eared age, and
must resignedly bear your part in the same. The front wall of
your wretched old crazy dwelling, long denounced by you to no
purpose, having at last fairly folded itself over, and fallen
prostrate into the street, the floors, as may happen, will still