Thismadstateofmatterswillofcoursebeforelongallayitself，asithaseverywherebeguntodo；theordinarynecessitiesofmen’sdailyexistencecannotcomportwithit，andthese，whateverelseiscastaside，willhavetheirway。Someremounting——verytemporaryremounting——oftheoldmachine，undernewcolorsandalteredforms，willprobablyensuesooninmostcountries：theoldhistrionicKingswillbeadmittedbackunderconditions，under“Constitutions，“withnationalParliaments，orthelikefashionableadjuncts；andeverywheretheolddailylifewilltrytobeginagain。Butthereisnownohopethatsucharrangementscanbepermanent；thattheycanbeotherthanpoortemporarymakeshifts，which，iftheytrytofancyandmakethemselvespermanent，willbedisplacedbynewexplosionsrecurringmorespeedilythanlasttime。Insuchbalefuloscillation，afloatasamidragingbottomlesseddiesandconflictingsea-currents，notsteadfastasonfixedfoundations，mustEuropeanSocietycontinueswaying，nowdisastrouslytumbling，thenpainfullyreadjustingitself，atevershorterintervals，——tilloncethe_new_rock-basisdoescometolight，andthewelteringdelugesofmutiny，andofneedtomutiny，abateagain！
Foruniversal_Democracy_，whateverwemaythinkofit，hasdeclareditselfasaninevitablefactofthedaysinwhichwelive；andhewhohasanychancetoinstruct，orlead，inhisdays，mustbeginbyadmittingthat：newstreet-barricades，andnewanarchies，stillmorescandalousifstilllesssanguinary，mustreturnandagainreturn，tillgoverningpersonseverywhereknowandadmitthat。Democracy，itmaybesaideverywhere，ishere：——forsixtyyearsnow，eversincethegrandor_First_
FrenchRevolution，thatfacthasbeenterriblyannouncedtoalltheworld；inmessageaftermessage，someofthemveryterribleindeed；andnowatlastalltheworldoughtreallytobelieveit。
Thattheworlddoesbelieveit；thatevenKingsnowasgoodasbelieveit，andknow，orwithjustterrorsurmise，thattheyarebuttemporaryphantasmPlay-actors，andthatDemocracyisthegrand，alarming，imminentandindisputableReality：this，amongthescandalousphaseswewitnessedinthelasttwoyears，isaphasisfullofhope：asignthatweareadvancingcloserandclosertotheveryProblemitself，whichitwillbehooveustosolveordie；thatallfightingandcampaigningandcoalitioninginregardtothe_existence_oftheProblem，ishopelessandsuperfluoushenceforth。Thegodshaveappointeditso；noPitt，norbodyofPittsormortalcreaturescanappointitotherwise。
Democracy，sureenough，ishere；oneknowsnothowlongitwillkeephiddenundergroundeveninRussia；——andhereinEngland，thoughweobjecttoitresolutelyintheformofstreet-barricadesandinsurrectionarypikes，anddecidedlywillnotopendoorstoitonthoseterms，thetrampofitsmillionfeetisonallstreetsandthoroughfares，thesoundofitsbewilderedthousand-foldvoiceisinallwritingsandspeakings，inallthinkingsandmodesandactivitiesofmen：thesoulthatdoesnotnow，withhopeorterror，discernit，isnottheoneweaddressonthisoccasion。
WhatisDemocracy；thishugeinevitableProductoftheDestinies，whichiseverywheretheportionofourEuropeintheselatterdays？Thereliesthequestionforus。Whencecomesit，thisuniversalbigblackDemocracy；whithertendsit；whatisthemeaningofit？Ameaningitmusthave，oritwouldnotbehere。
Ifwecanfindtherightmeaningofit，wemay，wiselysubmittingorwiselyresistingandcontrolling，stillhopetoliveinthemidstofit；ifwecannotfindtherightmeaning，ifwefindonlythewrongornomeaninginit，tolivewillnotbepossible！——ThewholesocialwisdomofthePresentTimeissummoned，inthenameoftheGiverofWisdom，tomakecleartoitself，andlaydeeplytoheartwithaneyetostrenuousvaliantpracticeandeffort，whatthemeaningofthisuniversalrevoltoftheEuropeanPopulations，whichcallsitselfDemocracy，anddecidestocontinuepermanent，maybe。
Certainlyitisadramafullofaction，eventfastfollowingevent；inwhichcuriosityfindsendlessscope，andthereareinterestsatstake，enoughtorivettheattentionofallmen，simpleandwise。Whereattheidlemultitudeliftuptheirvoices，gratulating，celebratingsky-high；inrhymeandproseannouncement，morethanplentiful，that_now_theNewEra，andlong-expectedYearOneofPerfectHumanFelicityhascome。
Gloriousandimmortalpeople，sublimeFrenchcitizens，heroicbarricades；triumphofcivilandreligiousliberty——OHeaven！oneoftheinevitablestprivatemiseries，toanearnestmaninsuchcircumstances，isthismultitudinouseffluxoforatoryandpsalmody，fromtheuniversalfoolishhumanthroat；drowningforthemomentallreflectionwhatsoever，exceptthesorrowfulonethatyouarefalleninanevil，heavy-laden，long-earedage，andmustresignedlybearyourpartinthesame。Thefrontwallofyourwretchedoldcrazydwelling，longdenouncedbyyoutonopurpose，havingatlastfairlyfoldeditselfover，andfallenprostrateintothestreet，thefloors，asmayhappen，willstillhangonbythemerebeam-ends，andcoherencyofoldcarpentry，thoughinaslopingdirection，anddependtheretillcertainpoorrustynailsandworm-eatendovetailingsgiveway：——butisitcheering，insuchcircumstances，thatthewholehouseholdburstforthintocelebratingthenewjoysoflightandventilation，libertyandpicturesquenessofposition，andthankGodthatnowtheyhavegotahousetotheirmind？Mydearhousehold，ceasesingingandpsalmodying；layasideyourfiddles，takeoutyourwork-implements，ifyouhaveany；forIcansaywithconfidencethelawsofgravitationarestillactive，andrustynails，worm-eatendovetailings，andsecretcoherencyofoldcarpentry，arenotthebestbasisforahousehold！——InthelanesofIrishcities，Ihaveheardsay，thewretchedpeoplearesometimesfoundliving，andperilouslyboilingtheirpotatoes，onsuchswing-floorsandinclinedplaneshangingonbythejoist-ends；
butIdidnothearthattheysangverymuchincelebrationofsuchlodging。No，theyslidgentlyabout，satnearthebackwall，andperilouslyboiledtheirpotatoes，insilenceformostpart！——
Highshoutsofexultation，ineverydialect，byeveryvehicleofspeechandwriting，risefromfarandnearoverthislastavatarofDemocracyin1848：andyet，towiseminds，thefirstaspectitpresentsseemsrathertobeoneofboundlessmiseryandsorrow。
Whatcanbemoremiserablethanthisuniversalhuntingoutofthehighdignitaries，solemnfunctionaries，andpotent，graveandreverendsigniorsoftheworld；thisstormfulrising-upoftheinarticulatedumbmasseseverywhere，againstthosewhopretendedtobespeakingforthemandguidingthem？Theseguides，then，weremereblindmenonlypretendingtosee？Theserulerswerenotrulingatall；theyhadmerelygotontheattributesandclothesofrulers，andweresurreptitiouslydrawingthewages，whiletheworkremainedundone？TheKingswereSham-Kings，play-actingasatDruryLane；——andwhatwerethepeoplewithalthattookthemforreal？
Itisprobablythehugestdisclosureof_falsity_inhumanthingsthatwaseveratonetimemade。ThesereverendDignitariesthatsatamidtheirfar-shiningsymbolsandlong-soundinglong-admittedprofessions，weremereImpostors，then？Notatruethingtheyweredoing，butafalsething。Thestorytheytoldmenwasacunninglydevisedfable；thegospelstheypreachedtothemwerenotanaccountofman’srealpositioninthisworld，butanincoherentfabrication，ofdeadghostsandunbornshadows，oftraditions，cants，indolences，cowardices，——afalsityoffalsities，whichatlast_ceases_tosticktogether。
Wilfullyandagainsttheirwill，thesehighunitsofmankindwerecheats，then；andthelowmillionswhobelievedinthemweredupes，——akindof_inverse_cheats，too，ortheywouldnothavebelievedinthemsolong。Auniversal_BankruptcyofImposture_；thatmaybethebriefdefinitionofit。ImpostureeverywheredeclaredoncemoretobecontrarytoNature；nobodywillchangeitswordintoanactanyfarther：——falleninsolvent；
unabletokeepitsheadupbythesefalsepretences，ormakeitspotboilanymoreforthepresent！Amorescandalousphenomenon，wideasEurope，neverafflictedthefaceofthesun。Bankruptcyeverywhere；foulignominy，andtheabominationofdesolation，inallhighplaces：odioustolookupon，asthecarnageofabattle-fieldonthemorrowmorning；——amassacrenotoftheinnocents；wecannotcallitamassacreoftheinnocents；butauniversaltumblingofImpostorsandofImposturesintothestreet！——
Suchaspectacle，canwecallitjoyful？Thereisajoyinit，tothewisemantoo；yes，butajoyfullofawe，andasitweresadderthananysorrow，——likethevisionofimmortality，unattainableexceptthroughdeathandthegrave！Andyetwhowouldnot，inhisheartofhearts，feelpiouslythankfulthatImposturehasfallenbankrupt？Byallmeansletitfallbankrupt；inthenameofGodletitdoso，withwhatevermiserytoitselfandtoallofus。Imposture，beitknownthen，——knownitmustandshallbe，——ishateful，unendurabletoGodandman。
Letitunderstandthiseverywhere；andswiftlymakereadyfordeparture，whereverityetlingers；andletitlearnnevertoreturn，ifpossible！Theeternalvoices，veryaudiblyagain，arespeakingtoproclaimthismessage，fromsidetosideoftheworld。Notaverycheeringmessage，butaveryindispensableone。
Alas，itissadenoughthatAnarchyishere；thatwearenotpermittedtoregretitsbeinghere，——forwhothathad，forthisdivineUniverse，aneyewhichwashumanatall，couldwishthatShamsofanykind，especiallythatSham-Kingsshouldcontinue？
No：atallcosts，itistobeprayedbyallmenthatShamsmay_cease_。GoodHeavens，towhatdepthshavewegot，whenthistomanyamanseemsstrange！Yetstrangetomanyamanitdoesseem；andtomanyasolidEnglishman，wholesomelydigestinghispuddingamongwhatarecalledthecultivatedclasses，itseemsstrangeexceedingly；amadignorantnotion，quiteheterodox，andbigwithmereruin。Hehasbeenusedtodecentformslongsincefallenemptyofmeaning，toplausiblemodes，solemnitiesgrownceremonial，——whatyouinyouriconoclasthumorcallshams，allhislifelong；neverheardthattherewasanyharminthem，thattherewasanygettingonwithoutthem。Didnotcottonspinitself，beefgrow，andgroceriesandspiceriescomeinfromtheEastandtheWest，quitecomfortablybythesideofshams？Kingsreigned，whattheywerepleasedtocallreigning；lawyerspleaded，bishopspreached，andhonorablemembersperorated；andtocrownthewhole，asifitwereallrealandnoshamthere，didnotscripcontinuesalable，andthebankerpayinbullion，orpaperwithametallicbasis？“Thegreatestsham，Ihavealwaysthought，ishethatwoulddestroyshams。“
Evenso。Tosuchdepthhave_I_，thepoorknowingpersonofthisepoch，got；——almostbelowtheleveloflowesthumanity，anddowntowardsthestateofapehoodandoxhood！FornevertillinquiterecentgenerationswassuchascandalousblasphemyquietlysetforthamongthesonsofAdam；neverbeforedidthecreaturecalledmanbelievegenerallyinhisheartthatliesweretheruleinthisEarth；thatindeliberatelong-establishedlyingcouldtherebehelporsalvationforhim，couldtherebeatlengthotherthanhindranceanddestructionforhim。OHeavyside，mysolidfriend，thisisthesorrowofsorrows：whatonearthcanbecomeofustillthisaccursedenchantment，thegeneralsummaryandconsecrationofdelusions，becastforthfromtheheartandlifeofoneandall！Castforthitwillbe；itmust，orwearetending，atallmoments，whitherwardIdonotliketoname。
Alas，andthecastingofitout，towhatheightsandwhatdepthswillitleadus，inthesaduniversemostlyofliesandshamsandhollowphantasmsgrownveryghastlynow，inwhich，asinasafehome，wehavelivedthiscenturyortwo！Toheightsanddepthsofsocialandindividual_divorce_fromdelusions，——of“reform“
inrightsacredearnest，ofindispensableamendment，andsternsorrowfulabrogationandordertodepart，——suchascannotwellbespokenatpresent；asdarescarcelybethoughtatpresent；whichneverthelessareveryinevitable，andperhapsratherimminentseveralofthem！Trulywehaveaheavytaskofworkbeforeus；
andthereisapressingcallthatweshouldseriouslybeginuponit，beforeittumbleintoaninextricablemass，inwhichtherewillbenoworking，butonlysufferingandhopelesslyperishing！
OrperhapsDemocracy，whichweannounceasnowcome，willitselfmanageit？Democracy，oncemodelledintosuffrages，furnishedwithballot-boxesandsuchlike，willitselfaccomplishthesalutaryuniversalchangefromDelusivetoReal，andmakeanewblessedworldofusbyandby？——Tothegreatmassofmen，Iamaware，thematterpresentsitselfquiteonthishopefulside。
Democracytheyconsiderto_be_akindof“Government。“Theoldmodel，formedlongsince，andbroughttoperfectioninEnglandnowtwohundredyearsago，hasproclaimeditselftoallNationsasthenewhealingforeverywoe：“SetupaParliament，“theNationseverywheresay，whentheoldKingisdetectedtobeaSham-King，andhuntedoutornot；“setupaParliament；letushavesuffrages，universalsuffrages；andalleitheratonceorbyduedegreeswillberight，andarealMillenniumcome！“Suchistheirwayofconstruingthematter。