Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-17
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
r l c II NJ O n ID ::
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1907.

HE intelligence that Bonaparte has pc
netrated as far as Warsaw, the capital of
roland, which appears to be authentic,
! ought not to surprise any person who has
considered the previous events on the CONT
nent OF Europe. His conquest of Prussia ma
turally led to his obtaining, without any on
position, possession OF Poland, whcreh he must
nave been receivedas a saviour and deliver
er. ms event, indeed, is one of the most
instructive since the commencement of the
1 eVer-memorable French revolution, the
grand moral deducible from which, is, that
among nations as well as individuals, homes
tty is the best policy. How dreadful has
been the punishment ofthose ambitious mo-
narchs, who so often violated that sacred
principle in their combination to divide and
suoJugate France, and in their infamous and
! cruel partitions of Poland Even-hand-
led justice has truly returned the ingredi-
ehts o, thelrpoisoned chalice to their own
lips. In 1899. the emperor of Germany,
ana nearly all the princes of his empire, es-
ipeclaiiy, the Duke of Brunswick, the King
or Great Britain and Elector of Hanover,
and the King of Prussia, together with the
hlng of Spain, and several other potentates,
united their forces for the purpose of arbi-
trarily debating form of government to
france, or OF dividing that kingdom among
tnem. In 1894, the emperors of Russia and
Germany, and the king of Prussia, violently
seized on the small remainder of the Polish
| territory, which their former usprpation
mad iettuntouched, and extinguished the in
dependence of that unfortunate country....
And, now, behold a striking example of
i1eaven's rctributive Justice Before the be-
ginning OF the year 1907, the empire of Ger
many is substantially abolished, cnnfcdc-
ration is formed, under the superintend-
ahce and control of France, which over
aWes, ana over-powers, and probably soon
VIII deprive the emperor himself of all his
commons the Duke of Brunswick is slain,
and ms dukedom abolished; the King of
russia is dethroned, and those of Spain and
sweden probably soon will be. The dcspis-
ed and prosecuted Poles are now assisting
the terrible master OF victory, whom the
| we Vaccinations and corrupt politics of
the courts of Europe afforded the opportu-
| hlty or becoming so conspicus, in waging war
| agalnstthelr former tyrants; and we expect
| very soon to be Informed that he has entered
ot. Petersburg in triumph, and deprived of
ms crown the despot of Russia, whom, when
| heretofore defeated and disgraCed, he per-
united to escape from his sword. Such are
lie consequences to which the fatal system
| of disregarding the rules of honesty in con-
Quoting public affairs has naturally led on
the continent of Europe. Nor has the king
OF Great Britain, although yet unsubdued,
avoided part of that well-merited punish
ment OF his crimes. He has lost his cleo
torate OF Hanover, which he foolishly valued
more than all his other possessions, and now
mas the comfort of seeing his people almost
entirely excluded from any trade in that
! quarter OF the globe their manufactures e.
very where seized and ConhScated by the
myrmdons of Bonaparte, and lately, by one
stroke of his pen, their whole island declar-
ed in state of blockade. The last act,
though apparently very stupid and imper-
tInent bravado, will operate greatly to the
injury OF neutral powers, and diminution of
their commerce with the British; and can
not justly he complained of by them, not
outstanding its manifest violation OF the
law of nations; since they have the honor
OF being the first inventors ofimaginary and
piratical blockades, of which they set no.
bic example in their famous ATTEMPT to
starve the French nation in 1794, and have
often repeated similar conduct since.
Ii appears therefore, that an awful lesson
isnow given to the world, and scourge is
evidently inflicted. Cor their iniquities, on
those who have hitherto domineered and
| tvranised over it. Yet we do not mean to
he understood as applauding, or even excus-
ing Bonaparte, by the observations we have
made. Although the murderer or the thief
deserve punishment, yet the executioner is
never very respectable character but
| the great Napoleon, who is certainly a mi
mister of the vengeance of Heaven, is much
worse than common eXecutioner, since his
| dIreful devastatons have involved i'm de-
struction, the innocent as well as the guilty.
| Conquest, it may be said, is iustifab1e in
| self defence but it never can be on the
ground of ambition or revenge, particularly,
when the safety of the conquering nation
does not require it. The strong and invln-
chile empire of France, can no longer COM
| ba., even for its own advantage, but now
contends for no other object but that of gra-
titying the pride and ambition OF its chief.
Yet it is to be hoped that the terrible
/ tragedy now acting on the theatre of Europe,
may have a good effect at some future day
that the time may hereafter arrive, when
/ the ru eTs OF mankind may apply to the ma
nagcment Of their affairs, the useful instruc-
/ ton which it presents, and may thereby he
! induced To tread in the paths of peace and
Justice. The remarkable contrast between
the fate Of the principal persons engaged in
/ thatdeplorabe drama, and that of America,
whose wise and honest policy has kept her
prosperous and free, adds greatly TO th,.
| force of the maxim so clearly illustrated by
/ the events of this important period of histo-
nv, and which ought surely now to be indie
\ liblv imDresseJ on fine minds oc Liugs a,d