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XVIII.
The year 1870 witnessed a series of astounding convulsions in
Europe, the record of which, even while they were taking place, seemed to transcend in magnitude any preceding revolutions, partaking more of the dreams of romance, than the sober transactions of history.
The resistless march of the great German armies into the heart of
France; the capture, in rapid succession of her fortified cities and army
corps; the overthrow of the throne of
Napoleon III.
and the imprisonment of its
Emperor; the final occupation of
Rome by the national Government of
Italy, and the annihilation at last of the Temporal sovereignty of the
Pope,—all crowded together within the space of a few months, read, even at this.
short distance of time, like a fairy tale.
In the meantime, the
Federal Government of the
United States was becoming more and more consolidated.
All the States were restored to their old places in the
Union, under Constitutions made by themselves, and approved by Congress; and once more their civil powers were administered by citizens of their own choice.
The giant form of the
Rebellion was fast moving into the dim past, and a new vista of progress and splendor was opening to the advancing Republic.
Early in the year, the Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution had been ratified by the necessary number of States, twentynine having voted for it. The announcement of the result was made on the 30th of March, by a message from the
President, and a bill was at once introduced, and speedily passed, to secure freedom of suffrage to the whole Colored population of every State in the
Union.
It was vain any longer in Congress to oppose the enactment;
