Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-02
NATIONAL INTELLIGENGER.
THE PRICE OF GLORY.

THE PRICE OF GLORY.
A great deal is said, nowadays, about the excel
lent prospect of ar immediate peace; and as the
oeope evidently desire il, the extra newspaper folks
are busy manufacturing and selling rumors TO that
effect. We see at present (says the North Ameri-
canl no reasonable grounds for such anticipations.
The situation of the Mexicans in regard to their
ability TO maintain the contest at this moment is
analogous TO that of the Americans after General
Howe had captured Philadelphia, our capital and
seat of government. Our lorelathers were not
beaten, nor had they any thoughts of being beaten.
They moved their Congress 10 Lancaster, rolled up
their sleeves, and went at the work anew. The
British spent the winter dancing, frocking, and
performing plays and MeSchianzaS, till they had
run their Government in debt to most irghtul
amount-an amount which staggered the
money-spending British Parliament. The country
people about Philadelphia, meanwhile, were paid in
guineas for whatever they sold to the enemy.
The parallel between this state of affairs and the
present state of affairs in Mexico is not quite COM
plete but it bids fair to become so. Already we
hear that Congress will assemble in some provin-
cial town. General Scott will enter glorlously into
the capital and his army will revel goriously in the
Halls of the Wonteeunas." They will pay go-
riously for all they buy with Brother Jonahan's
golden eagles and hard dollars and the result will
be glorious national debt of about five hundred
millions of dollars, at the least.
Mr.. Polk, no doubt, is sick of the war-a great
deal sicker than the Mexicans. The fact is, when
he least expected it, he has caught Tartar. We
all remember the story Captain, have caught
Tartar " Fetch him along, them" " He won't
come" Come along yourself and leave him"
Il can't-he won't let me-" 1t is an awkward
predicament for President to be in, and he has
the compassion of all Christian people. "But the
war;" say its advocates, has brought much
glory! True. Wing captains fight well. There is
no denying that But glory is an expensive article,
and the people are beginning to regret that their
President had not regarded the following prudent
piece of advice given US in the Edinburgh Review
some time ago.
s'We can inform Jonathan what the inevitable
quences of being fond of gory-rAxEs upon
ticle which into the mouth the back,
placed under the foot upon every thing which is
pleasant hear feel smell taste upon warmth,
light and ocomoton taxes every thing earth and the
under the earth every thing that from abroad
or grown at home taxes the raw material taxes
every fresh value that is added by the industry Of
the which pamper mans appetite and the drug
that him health the ermine which decorates
the Judge and the rope which hangs the criminal the
poor salt and the rich mans spice the brass nails
of the coffin and the rbands Of the bride bed board
couchant levant pay. The schooboy whips his
taxed top the beardess youth manages his taxed horse with
taxed bride a taxed road and the dying Englshman
pouring his medicine, which has paid per cent into
spoon that has paid fifteen per cent? filings himself back upon
his chinz bed which has paid twenty per cent? and
pres the of apohecary who has paid license Of
hundred pounds for the privilege Of putting him TO DEATH
His whole property then Immediately taxed from to
per Besides the probate large fees demanded for
euying him the chancel his virtues handed down
posey taxed marble, and he is then gathered his ia
theirs to be taxed In addition all this the habit
of dealing with large will make the Government ava
cious and prouse and the system itself will inaby gene
rate vermn of spies and nfomers and still
pesent of political tools and etainers of the
and odous description while the prodgous patronage
which the cectng of this splendid revenue will throw
the hands of Government will with so an inu-
ence and hold such and temptations corruption
all the virtues and public spirit, of republicans, will
be unable to resist.
'Every wise Jonathan should remember this"
What England is America may yet become, if
the lust of conquest is cultivated by her rulers
and sanctioned by her people. This was has al
ready cost over hundred millions of dollars, and
It's expense will 60 increasing long it con-
tnues in quadrupled ratio. Standing armies are
10 be maintained at an immense cost ; thousands of
military and naval officers must subsist on the pub
lie purse, and crowds of contractors will drain the
public treasury. We ask the people of Pennsyl-
vania-the tax-payng peope--to think of this, and
10 determine whether they will encourage that state
OF things which the reviewer so graphically de-
scribes. The approaching election will be regard
ed as test, and should Mr.. Skunk succeed his
success will be claimed as an evidence that the Ma
nonal Administration, with its myriad costing war
and all Its other ourages, have the confidence of
our farmers and working men.-North. finer.