Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-09-01

The intelligence and refinement Of Rome
followed her arms over Hispania, Lusita-
mia, Gaul and Britain, and there planted
the germs of that intelligence and mental
cultivation Of which England and France
boast at present, and which Spain has fur
nished so many honorable instances. The
rapacious invasion of this western world,
by the English and Spaniards furnishes al.
most the only instance in 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 IN instance
to be found in former times where two na-
tons unequal in political, social and moral
advantages, as is strikingly the case be.
tween this country and Mexico, have come
into collision, but it has been followed by
greater or less improvement and elevation
in the institutions of the inferior nation
How absurd then are these assertions, tha,
no good can result from this war, and that
it should be terminated s'instanter." Those
who take this ground know little Of the
world in which they live, and Of the infiu.
ences which impel or restrain the acts of
conflicting nations.
If these things are so-if the results
thus anticipated from a collision ofunequal
nations, and which alone are worthy of the
chief consideration of intelligent men, are
of such high nature and slow growth, and
ifthe history of mankind proves that such
results are almost sure to follow-then the
mode in which it might be desirable to ter.
inmate this war becomes a subject of inn
portant consideration with those who seek
for the diffusion Of the principles of indi-
vidual liberty and the elevation Of man.
We shall not undertake to present any
general outline, under this view, for its ter
mination; but sufficient space is left us to
take notice of two or three circumstances
which might attend its close, which are not
in themselves unfavorable to the progress
of those great principles in which the hu.
man family is so momentously interested.
If the war should be long one, and the
day upon which peace should be concluded
far distant, it would inevitably mako the
Mexicans more intimately acquainted with
those glorious institutions Of ours which
they have admired and copied, but to which
they never could impart that spirit and
virtue required to develope their rich fruits.
They have seen us at distance, and vain
ly aspired to become like US; having our
citizens and institutions in their midst. it
will be impossible with them, as il is with
human nature everywhere, to resist a ge-
nial influence. Every day that our pre-
sence continues only serves to add power
and life to such impressions. A long war
would not, therefore be unfavorable to
these results, although let it not be unfairly
charged upon us that we are advocating q
long war, or any war.
five should carry our arms over the
length and breadth Of Mexico, and our
principles should follow US, where would be
the injury to mankind? 1t would end in
our teaching the citizens Of that country
practically that oil men are free and equal
and that they have perfect right to estab.:
lish their own form Of government and Sc
lect their own rulers. And in doing this
they could not make an acknowledgment
of any jurisdiction foreign from themselves,
nor we exact 1t. .5S,
If we should make peace only when we
can attain n permanent and honor
able peace, whether it be an early or
late day. we shall pursue such course as
is consistent with our principles and as will
surely promote the greatest welfare Of oil
parties. The complaints which are utter
ed, that nothing has been gained by the
war, are made by those who are too blind
to see that at every step our arms have
triumphed, and that the brightest hopes are
awakened for still greater triumph ofthe
principles of liberty. Those who would
have the war brought to an instant close,
irrespective Of Mexico, can find nothing in
reason or circumstances. or in prospect
of future amity between the two countries,
to justify such demand. Those who saw
that the war is unjust and outrageous on
our part present nothing that takes away