The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-18

! rsthes than lmbbe It's principles, and be in thai
case, controlled by lis influence. Ii becomes a
great eonupter, as in the hands of the French
philosophers before the Gallo revolution, mar.
shalling nation 10 immortality and crime, lo
bloodshed and disaster, and general misery.
II We reflect on this concentrated power OF
the English press, We must perceive at once the
interes, We have in that part of lis discussions
on foreign politics which bear upon Us.
The relative national power of England is
DOT to be estimated simply by the proportion
which her military and naval forces combined
bear TO those Of other countries. The SUPERB
orify of her naval forces, in connection with
the fact that balIles on sea are usually more
important than battles land, must be
taken into the account, in making a eompan-
son. On this subject late British PERIOD
cal has the following judicious remarks, when
speaking Of Mr.. Hume's historical qualifea-
tioas
He was too indolen, to acquire the ST store Of
facts indspe nssble for correct generalization the
varied thrsfe OF human Affairs and often drew basty
and incorrect conclusions from the events which par
p~sied indecsiyc battles between the fleets OF Charles
% and the Dutch. drew from him the observation,
apparently Justified BY their results, that highs
seldom important or decisive As those at land
The fact Is just the revere. Witness the battle OF
Salams ~hich repealed from Europe the tide OF Per
sian invasion that Of Aelium which gave a master
10 the Roman world that OF Sluys which exposed
France 10 the dreadful English invssions begun un-
der Edward 30 that Of Lepanto which rolled back
from ChristendOm the wave Of Mahometan conquest
the defeat OF the Armada which permanently esab-
lrshed the reformation In Northern Europe that of
La Hogue which broke the maritime strength OF
LOUIS IA that OF Trafalgar, which forever took
ships, colonies, aud commerce." from Napoleon,
and spread them with the British colonial empire
over half the globe"
He might have added, as battles Of immense
effect on the relative power of na,ons-that of
Admiral Rodney of the 18th April, 1882, which
saved the British colonial empire in the West
Indies; that Of the Nile which prevented France
from etfecIing a permanent establishment in
Egypt that of Lake Erie in our late war which
eifeclualy parayzed the English land opera
tions in that quarter; and thai of Lake Cham
plain which caused the hasty retreat of the
large and well appointed army of Provost.
The financial resources of Great Britain ex-
coed those of any other country but there is
also a burden upon them far greater than upon
any other people, her national debt. This will
be found most serious incumbrance, if
not reduced, in any future war of con-
sidera BILE duration, unless il be one in which
great success is Immediately Obtained, and con.
sequently great accession of revenue to meet
nearly the corresponding increase of expense.
But in wars with sem-barbarous nations this
danger does not present itself 1t would devel-
ope itself with rapidly, were she now to wage
war with any nation having the resources, pop
uation, and spirit to hold out, and aware of her
financial condition in this respect
IL has been estimated that the clear income Of
her wealthy individuals affords $3.50, OOO, 900 for
annual re-invest,nent. Hence the immense inn
pulse with which she is propelled to annexation
Of half-civilized nations, that this wealth may
not lie unpro6,aby employed. For capital is so
vast at home, that it can by no means find remu.
nerating investment in the comparatively mar
row boundaries of Great Britain.