Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-10-29

MORAL INFLUENCE or THE WAR WITH MEXICO
That war IS an evil is unquesonable and that il is
TO be avoided, far may be with honor is
equally true; but there are few evils without coun-
tervailing good.
Civilization has been the legitimate consequence of
national conflicts, the justice nor the seeming propri-
ely of which the world could applaud. Collision of
arms has brought collision of minds, and general
intelligence has increased and gained strength by It's
very diffusion. knowledge grows not by boarding,
but, like other wealth, adds 10 itself by being judi
ciously impaired.
Whether tie present Mexican race is susceptible of
much enlightenment, is matter into which it is not
now our purpose TO enquire. Sufficient is II, that
these people cannot but be measurably improved by
the acquain,anceshp they necessarily experience
from the existing attitude Of the two countries. But
greater benefit than this, or any other which the
present may experience win be the disPellng of
the charm which has so lgng yelled that country frpm
the rest of the world, almost unknown land.
The barbarism of the Mexicat nation, and the unset
tied condition Of It's government, have conspired TO
keep hidden of the first agricultural and manu-
featuring countries on EARTH In future, here will
men of enterprise meet from every country and either
elevate the national character of the native Mexcan
or raise up a nation of their owE.
This war will facilitate the march OF improvement
in many respects The day is not very distant when
of civilized must people the shores of the
Pacific lying in comparative neghborship with China.
trade so valuable as one which might readily be
established between the Atlantic coast and China,
this continent, cannot for many years be neg
eciod. Opening path then 10 these distant regions,
bringing the CALIFORNIA; to Us, BY acquaintance
ship, teaching our young men the route TO the future
homes of many of them constitute a national good,
the benefits Of which will be felt, when all the evils
of the existing war shall have been forgotten.
Tie requirement of more Just appreciation of the
Anglo-American character, by the Indian, will be
another benefit springing from this war Heretofore
tie Indians of the southwest have derided all efforts
to cviize them, for the reason, that those who
sayed the task were neither physically nor mentally
their superiors. The efcninaie Spaniard or mongrel
Mexican, has been their object OF contempt. rather
than emulation. Of other white races teJ have seen
neighbored by powerful and highly civilized nation.
The Indians of the west, and northwest, are but
lille better informed. They have occasionly met
with an American trapper, missionary, and have
learned to fear the and respect the other bat
to national strength the number Of people, or
the condition of the useful arts among US, they know
nothing They have considered or reputed power as
fable, and IN than instance, it is said,
have punished, with death, those who have rep
resented the number of white people as being greater
than their
military expedition, then, 10 the interior of that
vast region which so many savage tribes roam
but above all, tie suhjngaton of nation whom thcv
well infer had injured US, will produce an effect
among the amazed red-men, which cannot but be
guaranty of future friendliDess. Convince them tlat
we have the power TO punish, and they will take for
granted the viii. As we have before observed. AN
intercourse must soon spring mp between two branch
of great nation at two extremes of the conineut
intercourse is manifcsilY desirable.-N. Louis Union.