The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-11-24

70 dread from any other nation 10 allow
slch distant considerations 10 shackle her
movements. Or, if she wishes to avoid n
contest with the maritime prowess Of that
country, she may purchase her peace by Il
division of the spoil, allowing 10 the British,
what she cannot prevent, the occupation Of
the numerous islands of the Mediterranean
now in the hands Of the Turks. Such is
the morality dictated by the sword, tic law
Of emperors and dominoering courts, tho
execution Of which may be postponed by
convenience or q sense Of dccency, while
the occurrence Of future pretexts and OPP
portunties is wished for and expected. 1t
IL well for mankind when this loosoncss Of
international principle is in some degree ex.
plated by the establishment Of juyt institu
tons, and the protection Of civil liberty in
the countries subjected 20 these mutually
tolerated and occasionally confoderatcd
powers. We have not yet reached the pc
rod when plurality Of them have shown
any Willingness to udjust their relative in
terestJ by conjoint relinquishment Of con
quests which they have long held. ia favor
Of hOme-bon governments, suited 10 the
original character and the cherished pride
Of ancient national communities. BIT, TAX
Inc men as they arc, and considering the
ready intercourse now maintained among
the most distant pnts Of our planet, It be-
comes matter Of cpubt whethor extensive
governments are not better suited totho re-
pose Of the world than frittcring down Of
the inhabited earth into small nntions.
where the prejudiccs and the inciinntions
of one ferocious tribe might disturb the
transactions of oil who como in con-
tact with them. The rayages attend
ing the wars Of great nations hrc, while
they last, evils Of proportional magnitude.
But they arc open; they attract Gtention
they give warning 10 the peaceful 10 pro
pare for avoiding the scene, or to choose
the part which their inclination or princi-
Piles may lead them to take in the contest:
and, when these are terminated, they leave
mankind in condition to prosecute the
business of life without the perpetual dread
Of lawless attacks. We have not yet ar
rived at an era in which the bubble Of mil
B.-y glcry has lost its dclusivc hucs, nor is
civilization so widely extended as to pro-
ducc one deliberate understanding, and one
code of mutual conduct among the whole
human species. Itiswhen local preiuliccs
ani confined habits are prohibited from
exercising an influence on more foreign re-
lations, that the great mass or rmankind Nl,
have il in their power to 10y hand ofgcn-
teness, but Of Irresistible weight, on every
unjust inclination, and to reprcss in the con
duct ofconspicuous individuals every move
ment Implying a tendency to a vain and un-
generous aggrandi2ement. Were this hap
PLY the case, the rare occurrence Of intcn-
tonal crimes would limit the field Of pre-
texts for acts Of unjust aggression under
the guise of q redress ofour own or others
grievances, or forcibe maintenance of
the peace of the world.
While We wait for the effects of political
circumstances, we perceive in every quar-
ter OF the Turkish frontier the cncroach-
mcnts of adverse fortune. An extremely
precarious authority is ali that il left to the
Porte in Africa. The uncertain bounda.
rleS of Syria are liable to the constant in
suits Of the Arabs. The line Of separation
from the Persian empire has continued m-
ALTERED for century, hut the pasha of Bag /
dat and the tribes Of koordistan Weld 10
the Grand Sultan a very dubious homage.
1t is not easy to say where the Turks have
n barrier on the side of Russia. The lat
Ter extend to the banks of the phasij in A. !
eil, and to those Of The Danube in Europc.
From Austria, the mountains of Transyl- |
vania anG part of the course of the Dan |
nbe and the Save; form sort Of natural |
frgniicr, rendered Intellectual by Dalmatia |
(Which spreads over the frontiers of Soryia !
and Bosnia) having passed through the |
hands of Bonapnrte into those of Austria |
and the lcaian islands having passed thro' !
tho same medium into the hands Of Britain. |
"A government ofa mild and enlightened |
character, possessed OF these extensive
countries, might form one of The finest en-
pres in the world. 1t would derive great