I。THEPRESENTTIMEII。MODELPRISONSIII。DOWNINGSTREETIV。
　　THENEWDOWNINGSTREETV。STUMP-ORATOR
　　[February1，1850。]NO。I。THEPRESENTTIME。
　　ThePresentTime，youngest-bornofEternity，childandheirofallthePastTimeswiththeirgoodandevil，andparentofalltheFuture，isevera“NewEra“tothethinkingman；andcomeswithnewquestionsandsignificance，howevercommonplaceitlook：
　　toknow_it_，andwhatitbidsusdo，iseverthesumofknowledgeforallofus。ThisnewDay，sentusoutofHeaven，thisalsohasitsheavenlyomens；——amidthebustlingtrivialitiesandloudemptynoises，itssilentmonitions，whichifwecannotreadandobey，itwillnotbewellwithus！No；——noristhereanysinmorefearfullyavengedonmenandNationsthanthatsame，whichindeedincludesandpresupposesallmannerofsins：thesinwhichouroldpiousfatherscalled“judicialblindness；“——whichwe，withourlighthabits，maystillcallmisinterpretationoftheTimethatnowis；disloyaltytoitsrealmeaningsandmonitions，stupiddisregardofthese，stupidadherenceactiveorpassivetothecounterfeitsandmerecurrentsemblancesofthese。Thisistrueofalltimesanddays。
　　Butinthedaysthatarenowpassingoverus，evenfoolsarearrestedtoaskthemeaningofthem；fewofthegenerationsofmenhaveseenmoreimpressivedays。Daysofendlesscalamity，disruption，dislocation，confusionworseconfounded：iftheyarenotdaysofendlesshopetoo，thentheyaredaysofutterdespair。Foritisnotasmallhopethatwillsuffice，theruinbeingclearly，eitherinactionorinprospect，universal。Theremustbeanewworld，ifthereistobeanyworldatall！ThathumanthingsinourEuropecaneverreturntotheoldsorryroutine，andproceedwithanysteadinessorcontinuancethere；
　　thissmallhopeisnotnowatenableone。Thesedaysofuniversaldeathmustbedaysofuniversalnew-birth，iftheruinisnottobetotalandfinal！ItisaTimetomakethedullestmanconsider；andaskhimself，Whence_he_came？Whitherheisbound？——Averitable“NewEra，“tothefoolishaswellastothewise。
　　Notlongago，theworldsaw，withthoughtlessjoywhichmighthavebeenverythoughtfuljoy，arealmiraclenotheretoforeconsideredpossibleorconceivableintheworld，——aReformingPope。Asimplepiouscreature，agoodcountry-priest，investedunexpectedlywiththetiara，takesuptheNewTestament，declaresthatthishenceforthshallbehisruleofgoverning。Nomorefinesse，chicanery，hypocrisy，orfalseorfouldealingofanykind：God’struthshallbespoken，God’sjusticeshallbedone，onthethronecalledofSt。Peter：anhonestPope，Papa，orFatherofChristendom，shallpresidethere。AndsuchathroneofSt。Peter；andsuchaChristendom，foranhonestPapatopresidein！TheEuropeanpopulationseverywherehailedtheomen；withshoutingandrejoicingleadingarticlesandtar-barrels；thinkingpeoplelistenedwithastonishment，——notwithsorrowiftheywerefaithfulorwise；withaweratherasattheheraldingofdeath，andwithajoyasofvictorybeyonddeath！Somethingpious，grandandasifawfulinthatjoy，revealingoncemorethePresenceofaDivineJusticeinthisworld。For，tosuchmenitwasveryclearhowthispoordevotedPopewouldprosper，withhisNewTestamentinhisband。Analarmingbusiness，thatofgoverninginthethroneofSt。Peterbytheruleofveracity！Bytheruleofveracity，theso-calledthroneofSt。Peterwasopenlydeclared，abovethreehundredyears，ago，tobeafalsity，ahugemistake，apestilentdeadcarcass，whichthisSunwaswearyof。Morethanthreehundredyearsago，thethroneofSt。
　　Peterreceivedperemptoryjudicialnoticetoquit；authenticorder，registeredinHeaven’schanceryandsincelegibleintheheartsofallbravemen，totakeitselfaway，——tobegone，andletushavenomoretodowith_it_anditsdelusionsandimpiousdeliriums；——andithasbeensittingeverydaysince，itmaydependuponit，atitsownperilwithal，andwillhavetopayexactdamagesyetforeverydayithassosat。Lawofveracity？
　　WhatthisPopedomhadtodobythelawofveracity，wastogiveupitsownfoulgalvaniclife，anoffencetogodsandmen；
　　honestlytodie，andgetitselfburied。
　　FarfromthiswasthethingthepoorPopeundertookinregardtoit；——andyet，onthewhole，itwasessentiallythistoo。
　　“ReformingPope？“saidoneofouracquaintance，ofteninthoseweeks，“Wasthereeversuchamiracle？Abouttobreakupthathugeimposthumetoo，by’curing’it？TurgotandNeckerwerenothingtothis。Godisgreat；andwhenascandalistoend，bringssomedevotedmantotakechargeofitinhope，notindespair！“——Butcannothereform？askedmanysimplepersons；——towhomourfriendingrimbanterwouldreply：“ReformaPopedom，——hardly。Awretchedoldkettle，ruinedfromtoptobottom，andconsistingmainlynowoffoul_grime_and_rust_：
　　stoptheholesofit，asyourantecessorshavebeendoing，withtemporaryputty，itmayhangtogetheryetawhile；begintohammeratit，solderatit，towhatyoucallmendandrectifyit，——itwillfalltosherds，assureasrustisrust；goallintonamelessdissolution，——andthefatinthefirewillbeathingworthlookingat，poorPope！“——Soaccordinglyithasproved。ThepoorPope，amidfelicitationsandtar-barrelsofvariouskinds，wentonjoyfullyforaseason：buthehadawakened，heasnoothermancoulddo，thesleepingelements；mothersofthewhirlwinds，conflagrations，earthquakes。Questionsnotverysolubleatpresent，wereevensagesandheroessettosolvethem，beganeverywherewithnewemphasistobeasked。Questionswhichallofficialmenwished，andalmosthoped，topostponetillDoomsday。Doomsdayitself_had_come；thatwastheterribletruth！
　　For，sureenough，ifoncethelawofveracitybeacknowledgedastheruleforhumanthings，therewillnotanywherebewantofworkforthereformer；inveryfewplacesdohumanthingsadherequitecloselytothatlaw！HerewasthePapaofChristendomproclaimingthatsuchwasactuallythecase；——whereuponalloverChristendomsuchresultsaswehaveseen。TheSicilians，I
　　think，werethefirstnotablebodythatsetaboutapplyingthisnewstrangerulesanctionedbythegeneralFather；theysaidtothemselves，WedonotbythelawofveracitybelongtoNaplesandtheseNeapolitanOfficials；wewill，byfavorofHeavenandthePope，befreeofthese。Fightingensued；insurrection，fiercelymaintainedintheSicilianCities；withmuchbloodshed，muchtumultandloudnoise，vociferationextendingthroughallnewspapersandcountries。Theeffectofthis，carriedabroadbynewspapersandrumor，wasgreatinallplaces；greatestperhapsinParis，whichforsixtyyearspasthasbeentheCityofInsurrections。TheFrenchPeoplehadplumedthemselvesonbeing，whateverelsetheywerenot，atleastthechosen“soldiersofliberty，“whotooktheleadofallcreaturesinthatpursuit，atleast；andhadbecome，astheirorators，editorsandlitterateursdiligentlytaughtthem，aPeoplewhosebayonetsweresacred，akindofMessiahPeople，savingablindworldinitsowndespite，andearningforthemselvesaterrestrialandevencelestialgloryveryconsiderableindeed。Andherewerethewretcheddown-troddenpopulationsofSicilyrisentorivalthem，andthreateningtotakethetradeoutoftheirhand。
　　Nodoubtofit，thishearingcontinuallyoftheveryPope’sgloryasaReformer，oftheverySiciliansfightingdivinelyforlibertybehindbarricades，——musthavebitterlyaggravatedthefeelingofeveryFrenchman，ashelookedaroundhim，athome，onaLouis-Philippismwhichhadbecomethescornofalltheworld。
　　“_Ichabod_；istheglorydepartingfromus？Underthesunisnothingbaser，byallaccountsandevidences，thanthesystemofrepressionandcorruption，ofshamelessdishonestyandunbeliefinanythingbuthumanbaseness，thatwenowliveunder。TheItalians，theveryPope，havebecomeapostlesofliberty，andFranceis——whatisFrance！“——WeknowwhatFrancesuddenlybecameintheendofFebruarynext；andbyaclearenoughgenealogy，wecantraceaconsiderableshareinthateventtothegoodsimplePopewiththeNewTestamentinhishand。Anoutbreak，oratleastaradicalchangeandeveninversionofaffairshardlytobeachievedwithoutanoutbreak，everybodyfeltwasinevitableinFrance：butithadbeenuniversallyexpectedthatFrancewouldasusualtaketheinitiativeinthatmatter；andhadtherebeennoreformingPope，noinsurrectionarySicily，Francehadcertainlynotbrokenoutthenandso，butonlyafterwardsandotherwise。TheFrenchexplosion，notanticipatedbythecunningestmenthereonthespotscrutinizingit，burstupunlimited，complete，defyingcomputationorcontrol。
　　Closefollowingwhich，asifbysympatheticsubterraneanelectricities，allEuropeexploded，boundless，uncontrollable；
　　andwehadtheyear1848，oneofthemostsingular，disastrous，amazing，and，onthewhole，humiliatingyearstheEuropeanworldeversaw。NotsincetheirruptionoftheNorthernBarbarianshastherebeenthelike。EverywhereimmeasurableDemocracyrosemonstrous，loud，blatant，inarticulateasthevoiceofChaos。
　　EverywheretheOfficialholy-of-holieswasscandalouslylaidbaretodogsandtheprofane：——Enter，alltheworld，seewhatkindofOfficialholyitis。Kingseverywhere，andreigningpersons，staredinsuddenhorror，thevoiceofthewholeworldbellowingintheirear，“Begone，yeimbecilehypocrites，histriosnotheroes！Offwithyou，off！“and，whatwaspeculiarandnotableinthisyearforthefirsttime，theKingsallmadehastetogo，asifexclaiming，“We_are_poorhistrios，wesureenough；——didyouwantheroes？Don’tkillus；wecouldn’thelpit！“Notoneofthemturnedround，andstooduponhisKingship，asuponarighthecouldaffordtodiefor，ortoriskhisskinupon；bynomannerofmeans。That，Isay，isthealarmingpeculiarityatpresent。Democracy，onthisnewoccasion，findsallKingsconsciousthattheyarebutPlay-actors。Themiserablemortals，enactingtheirHighLifeBelowStairs，withfaithonlythatthisUniversemayperhapsbeallaphantasmandhypocrisis，——thetruculentConstableoftheDestiniessuddenlyenters：
　　“ScandalousPhantasms，whatdo_you_here？Are’solemnlyconstitutedImpostors’theproperKingsofmen？DidyouthinktheLifeofManwasagrimacingdanceofapes？Tobeledalwaysbythesqueakofyourpaltryfiddle？Yemiserable，thisUniverseisnotanupholsteryPuppet-play，butaterribleGod’sFact；andyou，Ithink，——hadnotyoubetterbegone！“Theyfledprecipitately，someofthemwithwhatwemaycallanexquisiteignominy，——interrorofthetreadmillorworse。Andeverywherethepeople，orthepopulace，taketheirowngovernmentuponthemselves；andopen“kinglessness，“whatwecall_anarchy_，——howhappyifitbeanarchy_plus_astreet-constable！——iseverywheretheorderoftheday。Suchwasthehistory，fromBaltictoMediterranean，inItaly，France，Prussia，Austria，fromendtoendofEurope，inthoseMarchdaysof1848。SincethedestructionoftheoldRomanEmpirebyinroadoftheNorthernBarbarians，I
　　haveknownnothingsimilar。
　　Andso，then，thereremainednoKinginEurope；noKingexceptthePublicHaranguer，haranguingonbarrel-head，inleadingarticle；orgettinghimselfaggregatedintoaNationalParliamenttoharangue。AndforaboutfourmonthsallFrance，andtoagreatdegreeallEurope，rough-riddenbyeveryspeciesofdelirium，excepthappilythemurderousformostpart，wasawelteringmob，presidedoverbyM。deLamartine，attheHotel-de-Ville；amosteloquentfair-spokenliterarygentleman，whomthoughtlesspersonstookforaprophet，priestandheaven-sentevangelist，andwhomawiseYankeefriendofminediscernedtobeproperly“thefirststump-oratorintheworld，standingtooonthehigheststump，——forthetime。“Asorrowfulspectacletomenofreflection，duringthetimehelasted，thatpoorM。deLamartine；withnothinginhimbutmelodiouswindand_softsawder_，whichheandotherstookforsomethingdivineandnotdiabolic！Sadenough；theeloquentlatestimpersonationofChaos-come-again；abletotalkforitself，anddeclarepersuasivelythatitisCosmos！However，youhavebuttowaitalittle，insuchcases；allballoonsdoandmustgiveuptheirgasinthepressureofthings，andarecollapsedinasufficientlywretchedmannerbeforelong。
　　AndsoinCityafterCity，street-barricadesarepiled，andtruculent，moreorlessmurderousinsurrectionbegins；populaceafterpopulacerises，KingafterKingcapitulatesorabsconds；
　　andfromendtoendofEuropeDemocracyhasblazedupexplosive，muchhigher，moreirresistibleandlessresistedthaneverbefore；testifyingtoosadlyonwhatabottomlessvolcano，oruniversalpowder-mineofmostinflammablemutinouschaoticelements，separatedfromusbyathinearth-rind，Societywithallitsarrangementsandacquirementseverywhere，inthepresentepoch，rests！Thekindofpersonswhoexciteorgivesignaltosuchrevolutions——students，youngmenofletters，advocates，editors，hotinexperiencedenthusiasts，orfierceandjustlybankruptdesperadoes，actingeverywhereonthediscontentofthemillionsandblowingitintoflame，——mightgiverisetoreflectionsastothecharacterofourepoch。Nevertillnowdidyoungmen，andalmostchildren，takesuchacommandinhumanaffairs。Achangedtimesincetheword_Senior_Seigneur，or_Elder_wasfirstdevisedtosignify“lord，“orsuperior；——asinalllanguagesofmenwefindittohavebeen！Notanhonorabledocumentthiseither，astothespiritualconditionofourepoch。
　　Intimeswhenmenlovewisdom，theoldmanwilleverbevenerable，andbevenerated，andreckonednoble：intimesthatlovesomethingelsethanwisdom，andindeedhavelittleornowisdom，andseelittleornonetolove，theoldmanwillceasetobevenerated；andlookingmoreclosely，also，youwillfindthatinfacthehasceasedtobevenerable，andhasbeguntobecontemptible；afoolishboystill，aboywithoutthegraces，generositiesandopulentstrengthofyoungboys。Inthesedays，whatof_lordship_orleadershipisstilltobedone，theyouthmustdoit，notthematureoragedman；thematureman，hardenedintoscepticalegoism，knowsnomonitionbutthatofhisownfrigidcautious，avarices，meantimidities；andcanleadno-whithertowardsanobjectthatevenseemsnoble。Buttoreturn。