The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-30
W AS HI G 7 @ N.
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 80, 1874
A NEWLY DISCOVERED ROUTE TO
TEXAS

The sagacious editor of the Madisonian has dis
covered that the most direct route TO Texas lies
through Afghanistan, country in the central
part of Asia Hear him:
"TExAs-ENGLAND'S DESIGNS-OUR POLICY.
"Read the last number OF Backwood's Maya
zine, article Affghanistan. You will by observing
its spirit (for it is organ Of the present party
in power) perceive whether England JIG DESTROYS
to add Afghanistan to her vast possessions in In
dia. Lord Auckland, says the writer, was not
wrong in interfering in the affairs of Affghanis-
tan-but he was wrong in his modus operandi -
In actually interfering. he misjudged as to the
side he espoused, &c. &c.
I'VE believe Affshanistan is rather larger than
Texas 1t has, as Jonathan says, considerable
more people in it. Texas has l5OOOO-Afghan-
istan, according to the best accounts We have
seen, 1--WE have read several chapters upon her
resources, population, &C., nearly ten millions.
"Now, calculating the degree of appetite for
possession in proportion to the present means and
resources of the objects OF desire, which is strong
est, the English appetite for Afghanistan, or the
American for Texas? Indeed the former is vo-
racious enough to chew and digest Texas in addi-
ton, and then take, by way Of desert, large slice
off of Ethiopia, seasoning the latter with what
ever epicurean rartes may be picked up within
the crater Of an extinct volcano.
tries fairly in addition to her present possessions,
we have no objection. We shall not harass our
selves about The balance of power in Asia, Africa,
or Europe. But when she comes upon our Dor
ders, we shall take the liberty of thinking of the
consequences and we shall not be deemed by
sober men to exaggerate in affirming that she
wishes paramount influence in Texas"
Now, was ever any thing clearer? Don't it
follow, of course that because Blackwood's Mag
azine thinks Lord Auckland was justifiabe in
waging war against the Afghans, therefore, the
British Government wants paramount infu-
ence in Texas 2" Certainly-the thing is clear
although it would not SO strike an ordinary mind
at once. The editor Of the Madisonian should
publish a new treatise upon logic, developing the
latent dependence and connexion of all truths,
whether general or particular, in cases where
Locke and Bacon had imagined them to be totally
independent. We would most urgently ehjoln
upon the philosophic editor the importance to the
rising generation of thoroughly demonstrating
that famous problem with which the saplent
knights Of the birch and ierue are wont, in their
relaxing moods, to puzzle their pupils, and which,
if we remember rightly, runs some how thus: /" II
a barrel of corn be worth three dollars, what will
cord of wood come to -
But notwithstanding the very ingenious pro-
cess of reasoning by which the Madsonian has
convicted England of looking ws'fuly towards
Texas the editor goes on to show that John Bull
has, after all, too much good sense, and UNDER
stands too well which side his bread is buttered,
to 90 to war with the United States for Texas.
The editor goes on to give very sensible reasons
why England uoiH not interfere with Texas, for
the purpose of acquiring paramount influence
over the young Republic. In continuation of the
article from which we take the above extract the
editor of the Madisonian remarks as follows:
We find General Waddy Thompson, an anti
Texas politician, asserting tina he has the
strongest reasons for believing that the United
States would have been involved in war with
England had Texas been annexed. We do moi,
indeed, concur in his opinion but we deem this
one OF The cogent proofs Of her wish to exert
controlling influence there. Strong, indeed, must
be that purpose, if with all the tremend, US perils
In which war with the United States would in
volve her, she wonld be willing TO run the hazard
for the hope of success-whe France is advanc- |
ing with the utmost practical speed in Africa and
leerng upon the good things and Commercial
beauties OF Egypt, and Russia watching her mo-
meht 10 maich upon lurkey-her appetite for |
Texas must be of the genuine gourmand charac- |
teri she were willing to descend at once into
the abyss OF perlls that yawns before her in the
nrst war that she may wage with the United
States. Like the dog in the fable, she would by
such course for such object, be losing the
substance N grasping at the shadow. She would
be surrenderng Barbsry and Egypt to France
European Turkey and part OF Aslatic Turkey
TO continental spollery-for the sake of establish
ing ,ohat she neuer can e.tobhsh superior,v ri
influence in Texas, because it is morally certain
that she never will be permitted to consolidate
such control there. She would be giving pre.
potency and preponderance to two great and am.
bilious powers near her o,on door, looking out, as