Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-12
TaA< Editors of The Enquirer:

ToLx Editors of the Enquirer:
CARROLL COUNTY, Va, May 4, 1916.
GenrI.men: The present period OF time is
crisi. in the affairs Of mankind, worthy of The
mos, attentive observation on The part Of every
true.hearled American, and every sincere love
OF our Republican institutions. The European
lus, OF conquest, the menarchical hatred OF hu
man freedom, and the savage iondness 10
bloodsh-d, seem all, OF late years, 10 have re
yiyed With increased vigor and viruence. While
science is offering new proofs OF phllosophic Wis
dom, and adding largely TO The knowledge, th'
comforts and the power OF man; while many wls'
and good men, in all civilized regions are s,ri
wing 10 raise our race from its pristine ignorance
and TO diffuse the blessings OF light and learning
through the earth; while devoted servants Of the
Most High are taking 'their lives in their hands
and carving the "glad tdings" OF salvation &c
The benighted tribes Of heathensm-the crowned
robbers and banded despois OF Europe are send.
inc forth their hordes OF hired mnrderers aud com.
missioned pirates on The lana and on The sea, TO ill
the earth with slaughter and stain the ocean with
blood. The Esun, in his daily course, is ever
Witnessing some scene oil carnage and rapine :
his beams are always falling on some bloody
held-some blazing town-some streaming scat
fold-where freemen are dying for their rights
and despots contending for blood bought wealth
and oppressive power Verify, We have "wars
ard rumors Of wars" and in every instance We
see The case OF weak and defenceieSs people
struggling against the attacks OF one or more OF
the potentates of Europe. Let us number The
list. We need scarcely speak of China, for there
the contes, seems al an end. British power has
acquired wha, British cupldny demanded-he
ability 10 poison nation. The latest intelligence
from that country is to the effect that the gates Of
Canton were about 10 be thrown open-thai a
large British force vas preparing 10 enter The
Town in triumph, contrary 10 The wishes and feel
inss OF ;le people, as il for the very purpose OF
p-ovns 10 The injured Chinese that England had
successfully insulled their government, trampIed
on their rights, and violated their laws.
Look then TO lndia-to the borders OF that CO.
lossal empire which British crime mas erected up.
on the blood, the tears and the sufern2s OF twen-
" nations. I'VE behold the Sikhs brave but uu-
fortunate people, forced 10 yield TO the superior
discipline of Ensand's hired mercenaries, white
and black but only alter contest for their lber-
ties 10 the heroiSm and desperation OF which his.
tory records few parallels. We see them fight
four pitched battles in a single month; We see The
banks Of The Sutej numbered with piles of their
dead, lis waters stained with the blood OF their
slain. There is wailing in the homes oil Lahore,
lamentalion through the bEightvales of Cashmere.
The stranger is in the tent OF their fathers, the OPP
presSor stands on the tombs of their slaughtered
brethren A traitor is placed upon the throne OF
their ancient chiefs, upheld by British bayonels-
and the Sikhs remain only another series Of VIC
Inns, added 10 the host that has already sunk
under English oppression.
Let US turn then, for moment, 10 the noun
tain of Caucasus. For nine long years have the
dauntless Crcassans stood on the thresholds OF
their mountain homes and defied the vast power
Of Russia We would iain hope that the Fer
nal One himself has commended for this gallant
and chiva.rous people; for their successful de-
fence OF their rights against The mighty power OF
iner invader seems almost miraculous. Fleet
after feet has sunk upon their coast; army after
army has wasted away and disappeared before
the pro Sess ot the intrepid mountaineers-until
the hope appears no, altogether visionary, that
the "Autocra; OF all the Russas" may yet be
ioiled in his attempts 10 reduce the free Circas-
sianto a level with the boorsh sers OF Muscovy
Not SO with miserable Poland. Her destiny
is sealed. The land OF Sobriski and CASH
mir-that land which sent Kosciusko and Pu
laski 10 aid our fathers in their contest fol
freedem-is only the home OF slaves, the Stage or
which tyrant
"Dressei IN little brief authority,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven,
As make the Angels weep
Once more has Poland struggled, and once
again is the vengeance OF her oppressors poured
out upon the heads of her devoted children, FOL
daring 10 raise an arm or voice in vindicatior
of her rights The blood of Dombrowski ba.
ouencbed The las, spark OF Polish liberty; hel
children are slaves; her glory is dust; her fame i
shadow.
Amid the mountains of the Atlas, and the
sands of Sahara, Abdel- kader and his fierce
Arabs yet wage warfare oil life and death with
the powers Of France. Though Alsiers has
long since yielded to the invader-though Navie.
have lowered on their coasts and armies have
traver.ed their land from sea 10 mountain, yet is
The wild disciple OF Mohammed free fighter
for his failh-,he undisciplined warriors OF the
desert have baffled the veteran marshals OF The
Empre-the trained lesions Of France CANNOT
overmaster the wild children of the sun. Bu
fresh thousands OF invaders are pouring upon the
devoted Arab; and il is to be feared the sands Of
Africa will yet witness scenes similar 10 those
which have been enacted on the plains of Poland
and the shores OF the GanSes
But il the tyran,s Of the Old World would con.
fine their crimes TO their own hemisphere, il
would not afford SO much cause OF apprehension
10 US. Such, however, is not The case. Already
are the instruments OF monarchical oppression a
work in the Southern half OF our continent. AL
ready are the red cross flag Of England and The
ri-colored banner OF France waving in conf juno.
ton over bloody fields and captured cities. This
is union which BODIES no good 10 Inc Ireeoom
mankind When nations like Britain and France
forget contest Of FIVE hundred years duration
and the first fruits of their alliance are joint ant
unprovoked attack upon people who bad given
10 neither OF them any cause for hostility, Other
communities should watch their actions with
Jealous scrutiny When see two men, both q
bad character, who have heretofore been morta
enemies each to the other, suddenly form close
alliance, and their first united action IS 10 ial
upon my neishbor, murder his family, burn his
house, aud plumber his property, shall assuredly
load my gun, and sharpen my knife. Such ha:
been the course OF England and France towards
the States OF La Plata. True, those States bad
dissensions among themselves but European
powers had no rgh to interfere. But the pros
pect was favorable tor the acquisition of power
over The beautiful ana fertile countries, watered BY
the Rio de la Plata and its tributaries; the temp.
lalion was too strong TO be resisted nv European
avarice and ambition. Unsolicited, the English
and French thrust themselves into the coniro-
versy; under the pretext Of making peace, they
shed blood; under the pretexl OF protecting the
weak. thev are striving to subdue all. Unless
The Struggles OF the South Americans should
proye more successful than heretofore, those fine
States must soon sink into mere provinces, al
,ached 10 the British and French crowns.
From this summary we see that there are al
This time NO less than six different nations who have
lust been subdued by, or are now struggling
against the several great powers oil Europe-lne
Chinese the Sikhs the Circassians the Poles, the
Algerines aud the States Of the Rio de la Plata.
Nor Is this all that il 10 be iound in the present