Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-08-28
Britain and Russia.

Britain and Russia are the two antagonists OF the
age. They are, I'M politics, the two brimeval
tagonisms of Zoroaster, the Ormuld and Ahrimanes,
the spirit of evil and the spirit of good. They are
the two great principles of barbarism and civilian
ton, the filling the world with gorgeous crime
aud splendid misery, other preparing It for the peace,
goodwill and equality inculcated by Christianity.
Perhaps most of readers will recognize an this de-
scrption. Britain as the spirit Of good and Russia
as the spirit of evil. But precisely the
verse. The despotism of Russia, uncompromising,
unreenting which tolerates no obstruction between
itself and its object, however distant that object be,
which silences all remOnstrance by the heavy hand Of
mmutable will, is the great civizer Of the age
and such, it marches with gigantic strides and al
most railroad speed to the recovery of human rights
and their establishment upon impregnable founda-
tion But the arstocEacy of Britain, equally uncom-
promising, equally unreleDting equally nolerant OF
any nterpostion between itself and its object march
es, and with equal speed, TO the corruption and deg
radiation of portion of mankind, for their
sion into instruments of aggrandzement the other
Russia conquers TO civilze Britain to plupder, and
to corrupt for the purpose of perpetuatng the plum
der. The one is a nation of soldiers commanded by
philosopher aid philanthropist leading them to the
conquest of wrong and the determination of oppres-
sion. The other is nation of shop-keepers, led by
pratesseeking present plumber and leaving the shop
keepers to extract future profit from degradation.
Russia marches against savages, with the sword In
ohc manu- enC PiouSh anu iooin III ec ouci-
Britain marches against civilization, armed with tie
sword, and freghted with poison to body and soul.
The civlizes the savage, and elevaes the slave
to the freeman. The other reduces the civilized to
barbarism, and sarves the freeman into a slave. The
Russian empire, few barbarous provinces in the
days of Peter the Great the abode of improved,
improving and prosperous millions, attests the policy
of one India and Ireland, plundered, degraded, the
land of anarchy and famine, that IF the other.
But is this correct description of Britain, with its
common law and popular insti,utionsl 1t is; and
whoever carefully studies Anglo-Saxon history and
character, will End in them that very antagonism,
that conflict of elements which renders freemen
and tyrants simultaneously. The predominant ele-
Hence AngloSaxons have the will to be Free and the
power to investigate, ascertain and define right,
the principle of freedom. In this combination has
originated the law and the popular institu-
tons which prevail wherever the English planr col
ony. But the very sef-esteem, the very pride, the
very impatience of control which assert freedom for
SELF impel to aggression upon others, to the
sion of others to instruments of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Hence the British have oppressed Ireland, plundered
India, and corrupted and devastated China, and hence
we another and rival branch of the breed, have
enslaved and shall continue TO eDslave, the Africans,
and have plundered and exterminated, and shall
tinue to plumber and exterminate the A5orgines Of
this continent The reverse the antagonist of all
this is the policy Of Russia. and that antagonism
prevents Russia from joining Britain against us, but
impels it to JOIN US against Britain.-Phladefh ia
Ledger.