Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-13
TIL. following article is both striking and phi
losophical


losophcal:
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
OUR WAR WITH MENlCO.-The saga
cious soldier who il the Montreal 'zeite, cri-
ricises the IA tics oil the Federal administration,
and of the philosopher OF tn partisan press VINO
crilicise them VS. that the exu,tation exhibited
nv those ph losophcrs, in trying 10 make their
own government ridiculous, is rather American
rhan dionified. This is grave charge But
with shame arc we obliged To confess It's trulh.
Americans alone of all people in the world, are
entitled 10 The infamous distinction Of haunting
The successes Of their own country, ana rejoicing
in those OF its enemies. When any european
nation is involved in war, all It's citizens or sub
;ec,s ,eel under a moral obligation TO sustain
their own government in conducting II. This IS
especially applicable TO Britain and France,
each governed by popular institutions, and con-
seouently by parties. Whenever either Of these
nations has been involved in war, no party,
h wever opposed 10 The existing administration,
bas ever censured or ;eviled IT, or attempted 10
impede lis operations. All parties forgetting
their local animosi;ies, have Then agreed 70 re-
gard their country as their highest object OF soil
citude, and It's public enemies as beyond Their
sympa,hies. In The dispute between our own and
the French Government in the last Admlnlslra.
lion of General Jackson, no French party or
French journal became The advocate OF oW
cause. All Frenchmen were unanimous IN or
position 10 US, and in support oil their own 60
yernmeni against US. So in our disputes with
Britain upon the Oregon question, no British
press. Wing or Tory, defended our claims. All
British journals all British politicians however
divided upon domestic questions, made com
mon cause against us. And in the war OF 1872
the British officers naval and military, invariably
exhibited respect towards all Americans who
faithfully defended theirown country, aud treated
with unmi,igated contempt, and often with The most
calling indienily, those Americans who courted
their alliance. When they captured Castine in
Maine. they reviled and even chasised The
"wooden nutmeg" traders who took The oath "t
allegiance 10 The British Government, Tor The pur-
pose OF procuring British license 70 raae WIN
Britain or her colonies.
How does this contrast with the coarse OF Anne.
rican journals and American poli,cians2 In
The war OF 1912, State Senate declared that 'it
was unbecoming a moral and religious peo-
pie 10 rejoice in the successes ofihat wicked war.
In our disputes with France, some OF those poll
iicians and journals who "played such fantastic
tricks" in the war Of 1872 defended the course OF
the French government, and declared, IN high
official places too, that, they would not aid the
measures Of their own government, for The public
defence Though The enemy were laundering al
the gates oil The Capitol" And in our recent dis
putes with Britain her government was defended
by no small portion Of The American press, and by
American statesmen OF no slight influence. And
in the present war with Mexico American presses
and politicians are jealousy striving TO JUSTLY
Mexico, and exhibit their own government, to The
world as ridiculous or criminal. We'll may the
chivalrous patrio, who speaks through the Mon
ireal Gazette, scornfully characterize The practice
Of reviIing and opposing their own country
through its government, 50 freely INDUCED in BY
American journals and politicians, as more
American than digni6ed" With shame are VS.
compelled to confess tina, the inefably base prac
lice is exclusively American. In all Europe
traitors are dsspised, scorned, e1ecrated. in 'h'