The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-03
SELECTIONS FROM THE PRESS.
From the N. Y. Evening Post
What have we Gained by the Wars

What have we Gained by the War
This question which the opposition prints are ask
ing, if now the time to answer IT. Lei posleil.s
say what we have gained by the war Let another gee
ration show what has been the result OF shock oelwee
an all powerful nation possessing all te improvements
of modern warfare animated with active, resoute and
nvinclbe spirit and carrying, wherever her arms pene'
tate the intelligence and refinement possessed by the
age. together with the fullest development OF the prnci
Piles of political liberty, and nation nerveless, passive
and torpid to the injustice and rapne even OF her own
ralers, secluded voluntarily from almost all commercial
Intercourse with her fellow men, deuded by false con-
cepho of her military prowess, destitute OF that common
education and political intelligence and equality that can
Flags and cannons and prisoners are the trophies oil
success III bae they cannot furnish proper answer to
the consequences OF the The true gam or loss by
war does not consist in victories and lndemnhcahons
but In ITS effects upon our rights and our principles we
gained victories of Bunker Hill and Saratoga but they
were res compared with that greater gam OF an empire
and privilege TO establish and cultivate unmolesed the
principles of civil and political liberty. Such fruits as
these DO not rPen in single campaign, such trophies
oudeed TO dust, and the bateheds have been turned
up by the peaceful plough share yet these prints would
taun us by repetition OF the question: Wh hat have we
gained by the war;"
Not willing rest here, they next assert that is
unjust and outrageous and that therefore no good
gain to ourselves result from H. Such assertions
show shameful ignorance of the history OF mankind
Even granting TO the uttermoSt all that Is asserted by
them OF the injustice of the war; 1t no less probable
that the fruits OF will be most beneficial and happy Tor
ourselves well as Mexico.
1t would almost seem to be law with mankind, that
weak. Such, all events, has been the practice OF men,
and it has usually been followed by the Improvement OF
the race The devastating march of the ancient jews
INTO the borders OF Asia Minor prepared the rugged NILS
OF Palestine for receiving the foundation of empire IN
which should flourish the nobes and most liberal prln
cples The intelligence and refinement OF Rome i99w
ed her armies over Hspania, Lusanla, Gaul, and bn,
tain, and there planted the germs OF that intelligence and
mental cultivation of which England and France boast
at present. and of which Spain has furnished so many
honorable instances The rapacops invasion OF this
western world by the English and Spaniards furnishes
almost the only instance history In which the original
inhabitants, without scarcely one encouraging sign OF
improvement have faded away, and the invaders have
gained everything There is scarcely an instance to be
found in former times where nations unequal in poll
cal, social and moral advantages, as is snk'ngy the
case between this country and Mexico, have come INTO
collision but il has been followed by greater or less I'M
provemen and elevation in the institutions OF the inferior
nation How absurd, then, these assertions that no
good result from this and that 1t should be ter
minated instaner" Those who take this ground know
little of the world in which they live, and OF the nu-
which lmpel or restrain the acts OF nations.
If these things are soft the results to be anticipated
from collision of unequal nations, and which alone
worthy of the chief consideration Of intelligent men, are
of such high nature and slow growth-and if the his
tory Of mank proves that such results almost sure
10 folow,-hen the mode in which it might be desirable
to terminate this war becomes a subject of important
consideration with those who seek for the difuso OF
The principles of individual liberty and the elevation OF
man.
We shall not undertake to present any general outline
under this view for its termination but sufficient space
left to take notice of two or three circumstances which
might attend its close, which not themselves I'M
favorable to the progress OF those great principles IN
which the human family is momenously Interested
II the should be long one, and the day upon
which peace should be concluded far distant would IN,
evitably make the Mexcans intimately acquainted
with those glorious institutions of which they have
admired and copied, but TO which they never could
mpar that spirit and virtue required to develop theiI
rich fruits They have at distance and vanly
aspired to become like us having citizens and oiI
institutions in their midst, it will be impossible with
tem II Is with human nature everywhere, to resist
genial influence Every day that presence continues
tn
long would not therefore, be unfavorabe to these
results although let it not be unfairly charged upon us
fat agf and Sf Ph iefs Should oow u.s. where
would be the injury to mankind 1t would end in our
teaching the citizens of that country practically that all
to establish their own form of government and to elect
their rulers And in doing this, they could not make
acknowledgment OF any jurisdiction foreign for them
selves, nor exact II.
If we should make peace only when obtain a
permanent and honorable peace, whether at an early
or late day, we shall pursue such consist
ent with principles and will surely promote the
greatest welfare OF all parties. The complaints which
uttered, that nothing has been gained by the
made by those who too blind to that every seI
have triumphed, and that the brightest hopes
awakened for still greater triumph OF the principles
of liberty Those who would have the brought to
instant Close irrespective OF Mexico, find nothing
amity between the two countries, 10 justify such de-
mand. Those who say that the is unjust and outra-
geous part, present nothing that takes away the
certainty that Unreasonable benefits to mankind may YET
flow from it.
the Hartford Times
Dialogue.