Southern telegraph., 1838-09-05

masses Ihe very contagIOn OF opinion Is
to affect US amazingly. Again, European
society, European rank, European fashions,
European intellect, refinement, taste and
beauty, are not to leave us Republicans un-
scathed. About half of the young Amer
cans that now visit Europe come home Eu-
roPean,-mustGchoied, frizzled, bedizened
and bedecked, with an utter contempt Of
Republicanism, as very vulgar idea ofthe
ednGiLe. Again, our politics lead TO mon
archy. A naturalization Of aiIihe patron
age and the honor of the country has been
effected in one man by that vicious construc-
ton Of the Constitution, which vested in the
President the power to create vacancies. TO
all them at his will and pleasure. This one
act made hundred thousand monarchisis
OF the principal men in this country at once
by making the tenure Of hundred thous-
and Offices at once dependent npon the will
OF one man, the Chief Of the Nation. We
have just barely escaped in this early age
OF our Republic, and only by majority Of
fourteen, from an act Of Congress legalIzing
in this one man, the commander o: the Ar
my and Navy, the right and title to his pos
session Of the Public Purse. We are not
quite sure then, that Europe is to come
10 Us.
This clashing ofOpiniOn, showever, is not
going to make wars. Steam power is giving
nations an amazing aptitude Ofdefence they
never dreamed OF possessing. The coHcen-
tratlon Of forces 10 be effected by it, in the
shortest time, is one of The great signs Of the
age. Thus, if ever Great Britain brings up
on us her powerful Navy, the Erie rail road
being in motion, and the Baltimore line
through to the Ohio River, we can concen-
trate here half Of the military population of
the United States in six or eight days. We
can have flying force from Louisiana to
Maine on our rail roads. So, il the Allied
powers were again to attack France, France
having line Of rail roads all over her EN-
pire, the whole population could in the shor-
test time be concentrated on the Belgian
frontier. Defence thus has a prOdigious
force Of concentration. Attack gains moth
ing, for the locomotive and the rail road are
wholly in the power of the Defenders, aud
they can annihilate them almost at pleas
ure. Thus, the very necessity Of great
standing Armies at all points, is done away.
The Sword can only be exchanged for the
Pickaxe and Shovel. Ifone hundred thou
sand men about Marseilles or Lyons are
needed in Normandy, they can be brought
there at the rate Of 800 miles day. The
locomotive is going to make one man act at
many points, that is one man 10 be many
men, and thus society is TO be saved from
that immensity Of taxes exacted to support
the soldier. 1t is going also 10 cost every
thing for attack and but little for Defence
Conquest and conquerors will thus 60 out Of
fashion. Society can govern itself At home
The clashing of opinion we infer then, IS
to be in peace. It is to be the silent and
yet powerful contest of Truth and Reason,
operating upon the judgment Of mankind
Mems lntellects are first to be illuminated.
Society will thus be prepared for change,
before change can precipitate Society into
Revolution. The World will become more
Conservative from the very precipitancy OF
Society to change, as Society in London is
more arstOcatic than in Paris, from the We
ry fact that England is freer than France;
the aristOcracy thus making up in the social
circle what they lose in the political. What
reform then the World works, is TO be
wrought by appeals TO mems heads and not
their hearts. We shall move slow but sure.
Force being disarmed, Reason will nave
more Empire. Logic is to be the CGtGputtG
of the age. Argument, Time, Experience,
Comparison, are to do mems cannonading.
Such are but part ofwhat we look upon to
be the achievements of Steam.
NetO York Express.