Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-29
FROM rnE PUBLIC ADvKRT1.hR.
ON WHAT IS The BEST POLICY
or TEE UNITED STATES.

l
| okcy" But some cas,ust viii rise up and
| ,sk for All explanation OF what honesty
consists and wherein it is to be defined
! md after we shall have given exactly such
definition of honesty as is given in the
| New Testament, ado unto others as we
| would be done unto" we shall perhaps be
to!d, that as the nations of Europe lay aside
ali religious considerations when policy is
| he order OF the day, that we must do I'm
! 20 them as they do un'o us. There would
ne no end of reasoning with such people,
snd, all we Can do is to take them as they
are, and let our remarks on public affairs
| 30 to those who are besides being dispassj-
| mate moral men, rs ready to DEFEND then.
'ountTy when called upon so to do, IS they
tre both from political principle and lave
cf human happiness adverse to war. We
| p'ainY and deCisvely declare, that we be-
Ilisye It TO be the most earnest wish OF the
government Of the United States 10 avoid
a war, net nTlv with any nation but cspe-
Iciaiiy with the British nasion the govern
ment wish, and we presume we are much
better informed on the " !si es of the admi-
[ nistratiOn, than many WHO are from the
teeth ou ward strenuous ~ defending the
government; we can confidently say that
III the United States are forced into war
lit viii De contrary no only 20 the wishes
Of the administration hut to its wishes at
this particular time and under the ,parti-
GUAR situation OF the world.
! The policy OF the administration is in
fact honesty IL looks for nothing hut a Ii
1 beral and Just treatment IT seeks not TO
| provoke even envy, tho IFS pacific policy
may be exactly such as IS calculated to ex-
q & IN toe breasts Of week human nature
hc.sparks Of envy our government was
lnOeed willing 10 MAKE vety large allow an
tes for the passions excited Ivy war and by
the. apprehension of danger, and by the
| pressure Of injury IN the bcliigerent ma
| tionS. Ia, long aDd patient as has been the
,u''ernG; excessive AMI aggravated rs
iimrc.be the in;uries, and conspicuous rs
lEAC tor5e2rance has beer, this forbearing
ipolicy has rot produced s}e desired effect,
of a errespondent liberaSity or even kind
ness.
lie 2 elton or policy s.ls becoHe- with
Great hr'tam now, question of safety.
No DOUBT, that is the question with that
alton. So it VS. in 1888 with France ;
so 1T was IN 1875 so II WAS III 1877; 50
1t was in 1900; it was in 1908 after the
/ rupture of the pc ce &c Anens 50 it was
again on the hust'o- Rnssial,, and finally on
he hustro Prusyiap coalition. il was a
4ht stloa,3t al these periods, shan FRANCE
be Gnnibiiatcd or farfifonei or no. 7 The
coaiesced powers said IL sboUid a Il the
world knows what has been the Issue.
The question is now reversed and a:
ne Of orr eontem orary papt rs observes
Erance is now at the head of coalition OF
all Europe against England We W sin not
% 90 into the conference.-the principle:
u The war are nov noj the same that wal
la at GrCf 81 -. =. l..
war 1T first for correcting the abuses q
ages-then FOR the throne and the aitar-
next for the salvation OF Europe--then in.
demnity for the past and secnritv for e
future; but behind all commeyciai n1n1.
hofY and rivaiship was the main spring o.
action; and now it is as we SAID on Tor.
mcr day. a Commercial U,qr Commerce
has enabled the powers of Europe 70 ac.
compiish more than was ever before &C.
lcoiBplished The contest is now To- main.
tain the resources to the powers which
have used them az they have been used loi
the last fifteen or sixteen years, on TO Dies.
troy and assume hem By the power thai
was frat attempted TO be DESTROYED. VAIN
Great Britain therefore, II is question Of
salvation or destruction. she must a So
iutely conquer France or sink as a grca'
commercial and political power. St
II far as It concerns tile immediate safety Of
England. no doubt it IS reduced TO hi,
pnnt, and1as it relates TO herself, 1t is sex-
actiy as IN the case Of a man who hayine
been for q series of moDths or wears sat.
p tracking another without, cause or provoca-
j.. ton, and only from all apprehension that
the man attacked misht become richer,
Tor had better resources of BODY and mind
lor was more estee ned Nv estimabie men ;
Il man thus attacked, after repelliDE or
bearing injury, might at le8gth be provo
tkCd 90 come out and attack, aud though Inc
might not have wished 20 have any thirg
. even to say 20 such quarreisOme, or en-
4 vious wretch, set he might come out and
say TO him, you have said and attempted
as much as YOU coDlA7say or DO; 7 have
made q voluntary truce when need not
bUt now you have inade it aetr only naces-
sary, bat indispensible--and have at You
Thus twas with france on he Austro-
Prussian coalition, and the world must nov
look upon these two Rbifms as upon, two
individuals. England nust FIGHT 10 out ,or
jfall--She stands upouthat principle. Tie
United States Would nOt wish 20 contribute
20 her fall, bus it would seem as rs SID,
was determined that we should fall viii
her.
Here then a consideration prcsentsitscl
-kDglaud is justihdbie 1t viii be said II
defending herself from destruction. sine,
lt is a contest for her existence. Nodoub
OF b s no just or Ii raj man can 4 isImt,
a