The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-06-13
.WHAT is orr pEsTINYa


WHAT is OUR DESTINY?
A few years since and the statesmen of Europe
scarce thought of the United States of America
otherwise than as destined to short and dwnd-
ling existence, amidst anarchy and confusion
to sink into despotism; another example of the
folly of men attempting self-government, or seek
ing moro freedom than kings by divine right think
fit to accord. 1t is true we had humbled the Bri-
tish lion in our birth struggle, but this was over
looked, even by the conquered nation themselves,
if our victory and freedom had been mattcr
of grace rather than of necessity. But time
passed on-our rights were again trampled and
the navy of England, invncible hitherto, was
defeated, too often and too eectualy for il to be
excused by any subterfuge of national vanity.
Cn land, the closing scene of strife, if there had
been no othor-when the flower of England's army
left the beauty and booty'' of New Orleans safe,
after having met such defeat as the victofs of the
peninsuar war could i'll brook--was suficientte
that the young freemen of the west, untut ored il
the art of war, were more than match for the
trained bands of Europe. The old world but
lately absorbed in combating the greatest captain
of modern times, now, on the return of peace,
had time to look westward and found, if created
by magic, mighty nation, free, enduring, and
prosperous. They found in our people capacity
equal to any emergency-an energy, sleeplesS and
untiring-they discovered the stars and stripes of
our banner floating at the mast head of merchant
ships in every port and sea on the globe; and ty-
rants trembed on their thrones, for they discerned
in the excellence of our institutions, attaining for
the people happiness and for the nation greatness
the existence of more potent enemy to their deg
potc power than they had ever feared in the rest
less ambition of Napoleon. Prophecy was now
silent as to our future, except when some free
souled poet opened his mental vision to our rising
glories. America became at once and still re-
mains the object of the fear, hope, hate and desire
of the monarchs and the millions of the earth
We are led to make these remarks by an article
which we this day publish frem the London Times,
by which it will be seen that the acquisition Of
Texas is only looked upon the first step to un-
disturbed possession of the whole southern and
western territory of North America The north
ern portion would have been added-for the law
anarchy or despotism to the in1uencesof of freedom,
is as certain to be exempfed in Canada and No.
va Scotia as in Mexican Caifofnia-.but British
pride forbade the necessary conclusion. The
complaint that our acquisitions are not stained
with blood or cruelty is in place from England,
whose butcheries in India and China Of defence
lest thousands contrasts, we acknowledge, with
our peaceful offer to nation freely to unite with
us and become one people.
But while we rejoice at the ultimate spread of
the Anglo-American race, bringing peace and or
der in its train--its territories washed by two
oceans, possessed ofmighty rivers, untold miner
al resources, with soil. and climate of every va
rey, all combining to furnish whatever luxury,
taste or necessity demand-while we cannot but
feel that our physical road to greatneas is daily
becoming more broad and easy, the question for
ces itself, Are the moral and political influences
at work those most likely to perpetuate our pros
perity and freedom ? The influences acting now
are to be felt by hundreds of millions at no dis
tant day. Do we rightly appreciate our position
and the consequences of false principles being
extended over this vast continent? We doubt we
do not.
Already we have achieved independence from
European administration, and from the corroding
hiera chies of the old world which have long ago
destroyed all vital religion, wherever their power
extended; but we have imported the system of
indirect taxation, the principles of monopoly, the
protection of one class called manufacturers NJ
The expense of all the others, and eagerly pursue
It, notwithstanding the prominent consequences
'f its wickedness and folly. England has retain.
ed 1t till her manufacturing districts presents po-
'ulatlon whose ignorance, moral degradation and
squalid wretchedness arc without parallel on the
globe. France has taxed her people enormously
% raise home productions, inferior to what com
nerce, if free, would exchange on more equal
erms; in proof Of this her culture of the beet
DOT for the manufacture of sugar, which Yields
IN inferior article at an increased price, while the
oil and labor used in its cultivation if directed 70