The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-14
ENGLAND, RUSSIA, FRANCE. TURKEY.

The objection may be urged, very earnestly,
we are aware, that the European powers know
TOO well the value Of peace, TO suffer II 10 be
disturbed about the questions that may arise re-
speeding Turkey. We have seen that, as far
back as 1870, Mr.. Burke declared that its Eu-
ropean possessions brought il, in considerable
degree within the system of the European
Republic. This was at a time when England
had not more than about one-lhird as many
subjects as she now has in Hindosian; when
her Indian interests consequently were OF great
w inferior force to that which she now possesses
in influencing her political system and
when, consequently, the Asiatic possessions
of Turkey had not for her a political interest
like that which now belongs to them. Subse-
quenty, we have seen her feet fastening with
eager search all through the Mediterranean 10
find French feet formidaby equipped, which
was believed 10 be destined for Egypt, and al
length destroying il in The sangunary battle OF
Aboukir. Still later, we find her sending
pow erfu land force 10 expel the French f. ON
Egypt-and all this was done chiefly in rete-
renee to her Indian dominions Those domin-
ions have grown much ever since that time !;
and she doubtless considers Egypt and Asiatic
Turkey as points of interest TO her al least
equal to what they were then We have seen
her, 100, interfering, within the present centu-
nv, in the affairs of Turkey with great zeal and
perseverance; and we have therefore proofs
upon proofs of the depth of the interest she
takes in its concerns. The objection, then, Of
want of interest in Great Britain in those af-
fairs, vanishes entirely before the undoubted
Jacfs of history.
We have seen, too, in our last number, that
the spirit of war is not extinct, although mode
rated and held in allegiance by one great Eu-
ropean power as against another. And the rs
ing discontents between Great Britain and
France have also been concsely considered, and
the brief of them taken from English writers.
Let us add the general considerations in rela-
ton TO this subject of the probabilities or impro-
liabilities of war; and the argument then will
appear in its full strength. We shall avail our
selves in this part of the argument of the obser-
vations of British writer, who seems to have
stated the truth with admirable perspicuity and
force. He remarks:
alt is acknowledged with universal conviction,
that the state of peace proper and Necessary for
and it is conferred at the same time, with scarcely
less conviction, however contradictory the two opn.
may appear that state Of is natural to him
that by The word natural that to ma n
of his ANNA passions habits, or as any one
Of the operations OF the God of nature nor that it is
natural 10 him, 10 move breathe, but that il
occurs 80 frequently as to give but slender hopes that
the world will soon, if ever, be entirely delivered
from its scourge. History is little else than the his
tory OF war;
"Hobbes, the celebrated philosopher, is one of
those who had dared TO assert that war; in the
most extensive sense, is natural to man. But
as more ingenious writer, Valtel, has observ-
ed, If agreeable TO reason, by the natural state
of man is understood that 10 which he is de.-
,i"vd .nd GATED ny MS nature, peace should
much rather be termed his natural state. For
a rational being is 10 terminate his differences
by rational methods; whereas, to decide them
by force is proper to beasts. Man alone, and
destitute OF succors, would necessarily be very
miserable without commerce and the assistance
OF his species, he could have no enjoyment of
his life, could not unfold his faculties, nor live
in manner suitable to his na,ure-all this is to
be found only in peace. Thus it is in peace
that men regard, succor, and love one another
this is 50 happy state that they would never
quit 1t, were they not blinded by the mpeluosi-
~ Of the passions, and the gross dec,pIlons Of
self love.
1--WE oughiInot to be less anxious in our wish
es for peace, because we have a security against
foreign invasion or internal disturbances, nor
ever forget, that although war does not approach
us IN It's most terrific forms it is attended with
consequences which greatly diminish the
strength OF nation, and take largely from the
stock Of public happiness. A state of peace
u that only IN which provocaton is removed
from the evil passions, in which virtue is
not weakened by danger, and opportunity is
given for those cooler reflections which promote
a correct judgment and an upright conduct. and
The exercise Of those social affections, which
constitute the happiness of man.
"Hasten, oh God, the time when never more
rae rty from her moonlight seat shall hear
(And dropping at the sound fruilles. tear
The far of battles melancholy roar;
when never more horrors Portentous cry,
Shall sound amid the troubled sky;
Or dark distractions grimy smiling mien,
Through the red flashes Of the fight be seen
Father IN Heaven our ardent hopes fulfil
Thou spcakest Peace" and the vex ID world !,
,tilll"
But as we have already said, permanent
peace there can be none, while the system OF
Mahometanism continues to exist on a large
scale. Liberty of conscience is now one Of the
great principles inscribed on human progress
But Mahometanism where ascendant does not
perm, IT. True, tribute may exempt from de-
capi'stion for dissent from Isamsm but, even
then, the head often remains on the shoulder.
by precarious tenure. One of its Fundamental
maxms, taught from infancy is, "Tbat night
spent IN arms, drop of blood shed in the cause
OF God Is worth two months of fasting and
prayer" Nor does this maxim refer principally
to passive suffering or bloodshed in the cause o,
Mahome'an'sm, but to bloodshed in offensive.
assailing war. The writer in Blackwood. whom
we have already quoted, fully recognises and
expressly states the nextlnguishable nature q,
war bet " cen Mahometa nism md m, GU.