The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-11
For the Union.
AMERICAN BALANCE OF POWER"

For the Union
AMERICAN BALANCE OF POWER"
ERRORS OF EUROPEAN CALCULATION WITH RESPECT
TO THE AFFAIRS AMERICA.
The readers of the "Union' must have been
struck with the singular analogy which prevails be-
tween the late revelations of M. Guizot, in the
French chambers, and the spirit of the two very
striking artcles-one of which was translated into
Mondays "Unon," from the ".fmigo del Pueblo"
of the Goth June, of Mexico, and the other in
Tuesday evenings "Union," from the "Cotrr1er
des Flats Unis" The whole turns more or less up
on the growing power Of the United States, and the
policy Of nerposng the influence of Europe to pre-
serve the balance Of power in America. The Uni
ted States are, indeed the principal burden Of their
song It is the extension Of her territory upon the
Pacific which has called up this newfangled doc
trine of the American "Baance of Power" and the
measures necessary to prevent her preponderancy
Of power. M. Guizot forgets how frequently the
balance of power has been disturbed on his own
continent, without producing all the mischiefs that
were unprecedented. He forgets that the caamitous
wars which have been produced by attempts to ar
rest the upsetting of the balance, have oftentmes
proved more fatal than the shifting of the balance
ITSELF France, Russia, and England have been ma
king additions to their terrtory--he first in Africa
and in the Pacific ises the second in Asia; and Great
Britain in Asia, Africa, and America. 1t is an
idle effort TO extend the system of the balance of
power into this continent, with view of checking
us. We must advance in numbers and In strength,
without adding another inch of territory to our
present empire This is the requlson OF some OF the
European statesmen Is Europe prepared to say that
she viii keep back, and therefore that she will also
deprive of free institutions, and our cheap and
vacant lands, which constitute, more than anything
else, the elements ofour prosperity Is the doctrine to
be carried to this extent And would it not be bet
for this arrogant brother" TO let US alone-with-
out assuming any authority over us, which can but
increase our jealousies, and provoke new wars'
We know that the statesmen of Europe not ex-
empt from in regard to our own affaifs. She
abounds in ingenious men, and in acute statesmen
She is eminent for her skill in the arts and Sciences
and has long since exercised great an influence in
the affairs of Asia and Africa, that it may be termed
controlling, although not complete. She has there
exerted political influence, which may be compared
to the governmental power OF constitutional mon
archy. or course, its taxation has been onerous
those and fertile regions; but not like the subver
sive energies Of assessment characteristic, for the
part, of despotisms. The two latest Of the four
great monarcbies originated within her limits, and
grew by her resources and political capacities The
Macedonian empire had vast extension, and COM
pretended those territories and people, which, in
the time of its existence, were the richest and the
most popuous. OF course, we include under the
Macedonian empire those states into which the
generals of Alexander divided it after his DEATH
Macedonian leaders and soldiers with Greece proper
their auxiliary force, formed the basis of power
to them all. In those times, the military ruled !;
and the people, uniting military skill with sufficient
quantity of their own military force, governed inn
mense territories and popusus nations. As the
Macedonian decayed from the effects Of luxury, the
Romans, harder race--at least ut the era when
they came into confict--became lords of the as
cendant. As the materials of Roman power were
slower in their accumulation, and, for the ages to
which they were adapted, were admirably fitted
for extension 1t more lasting, and of greater
extent, than the Macedonian. Accordingly, Mr.
Gbbon informs us, that, the zenith of its power,
it comprehended the arest portion of the earth, and
population Of one hundred and sixty millions. 1t
ruled over of the choicest parts both of Asia
and Africa, held the dominion of all southern, the
largest part of CENTRAL and some portion Of northern
Europe. Britain herself, to the Caledonian wall,
was subjected TO its sway.
The northern nations, who subdued theRoman
empire, were at first rude and ignorant; and their
protraced wars preserved them for ages in that con-
dition. The science of Europe fourished princ-
paly among the Saracens of Spain. Their princes
were the most liberal patrons then existing, of what
ever knowledge had survived the loss of letters con-
sequent on the Eruption of the Cloths, Van
dals, Huns, and other nations who overran the Ro-
man empire. But literature at length began to
emerge from its night Of ages. It's illumination
was slow, after its sun began to emerge from
behind the clouds. The diffusion of knowledge
must have necessarily remained greatly restricted
had not been for the new esment Of power which
was found in the art of printing. That invention,
simple in its machinery, yet so slow in its intro
duction, and commanding IN its effects, originated
in Europe in the midst of Chrisiendom, where nearly
all the great discoveries have seen the light Ii vast
ly augmented the relative superiority which, from
the causes at which we have already glanced, Eu.
rope had before, in degree, possessed the
other parts ofthe Ancient World. A great part Of
Asia militant, long warred against the Greek empire,
l l. n
who destroyed il, brought in no accessions Of
science to compensate for the caamites which they
inflicted. Yet at thisvery era, in the centre Of Chris
tendon, an art had been invented, which, by COM
paratively slow but certain operation, was TO hum
BILE the Ottoman in the dust, and assert the rights,
the dignity, and excellence of christianity. Great
geniises now could converse with each other, al
though far apart. Inventions and discoveries were
rapidly diffused, and became so generally known by
means of this bene6cent art, that it was morally inn
possible the knowledge Of them should perish. Men
Of science emulated each other in efforts TO impart
all practicable improvement to mechanics, and every
| art and science became more extensively known.
Even the science of government made some, but the
| slowest advances;--I mean that men knew more
about il, although they practsed, as yet, compare
lively but little better; for GRAND DISCOVERY WAS
| MALE JUST AFTER THE INVENTION OF THE OF
pRINrNe--TuE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. Europe
| now precipiiated herself on America with two
fold zeal which stirred her TO exertions great
those with which she had preciptated herself on
| Asia during the crusades. A blind zeal for religion
reused her to the latter eoris-a ZEAL so far the
great and triumphant Gothic monarchy ofSpain was
concerned, equally blind in religion, impeed the
| Spanish monarchy TO conquest in the New World.
zeal for riches equally potent, and too often cloak
ing itself under the garb Of religion combined in
these ardent efforts. For
i More than Golcondas boosted gold,
4 Or all the gems of samarcand,"
| gitered in the kingdoms OF Mexico and Peru. The
mines Of the New World we're rich in gorgeous
wealth, and imagination made them richer. Aaven-
ture, therefore, plumed its wing for long and bold
fight in those regions. The mighty monarchy Of
Spain gathered untold wealth into her Golfers, by