The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-05

The Great Struggle OF Repubiics-The
Crisis AT Washington.

from Europe 10 America Rome, Milan, Genoa,
Pesh, Paris, have ceased for the present 10 be the
attractive spots 10 the lovers OF republics. WASH
ington is now the point towards which all eyes are
turned. The cities of Europe, in the desperate
struggles Of 1913 and 1919, were deuged with
blood, in the efforts OF the people 10 gain what we
complished in l776. The city of Washington,
thank God, has thus far been deluged only with
speeches from statesmen and fanatics. But the srug-
gle in Washington is one of far more importance to
The civilized world than any in the history of the
human race. II is not to achieve a republic, like
the tremendous efforts of the people of Europe,
but It Is TO preserve the only left of all those
started into existence since the birth of man.
The history Of all former attempts at republican go
vemment, IN ancient and modern Rome, in France,
IN South America, has been unsatisfactory TO those
who have questioned the right and the perpetuty of
kings-though wide-spreading belief, generated
and strengthened by our progress and success thus
far, has received vigor and energy in of the
promises OF theory. The republics of ancient
nations were founded upon premature sense of
the dignity OF the species-in the midst of con-
fiioting elements, winch crippled and retarded their
growth-in close proximity TO nations, whose only
restraint upon common plumber OF their neigh
bors was their weakness-and surrounded by
kjrriy v1yuasties who viewed their ascent in the
teale Of nations with envy, that broke out c6ntinu.
ally into the worst forms of malice, recklessly
directed 10 the subversion of all liberal govern
mcnt. Antiquity has furnished nothing upon which
20 base anything more substantial than theory.
The bTillancy of the short of the republics
Of the East, il is true, stimulated the genius OF
man to devise plans for the happiness springng
from selfgoyernment but the light which threw
the thrones of the earth into a shadow, could be
Looked upon only as an unwonted phenomenon
IN the records of governmental science.
All nations, and republics especially, might have
benefited by breaking away from the palpable
errors through which we dimly trace the deca-
delce and downfall Of the first republics OF his
tory bat the strange and predominating charac-
terisuc Of this age-its boastful self consciousness
- has established an almost superhuman reliance
uTon ITS energies, that is nowhere more strongly
exhibited than IN the United States. Obstacles
are not TO be found in the lexicon OF the people
difficulties are onexisients, since they are always
surmoun,eG-and the coastrulng OF the will of the
majority is a sudden, and, too often, gra,uious
hazard.
II becomes US, however. TO preserve ne well as to
cssAee ~ fortify as well as to strengthen, and
To- ~nsDine those cardinal and catholic principles
which rot only were fret established for the per-
msnsnt existence Of our institutions, bu; for the
safety Of that constitution, through which and out
at which sPring all have OF peace, Of pros
Periiy, and Of happiness. u was never intended
hat the small State voice OF sections should con-
stTue, control, or impair the rights and privileges
q the people a whole. To this end, all the
skill, foresight, and anxious hopes of our political
fathers were directed, so to arrange the machinery
o, the federal government, that It would be strictly
conservative Of the rights Of minority, even were
IL possible for the majority TO be IN error, or bent
upon changes and revolutions. Treason, there
fore, was made a possible crime-a bride was
provided for unhalowed ambihon-and checks of
every possible efficiency were devised with such
admirable ssgaciiy, that il is difficult to say which
% admire most, the genus that constructed the
harmonious machine Of government, or the appa-
Tsms ITSELF so mGgnifcsntly fitted to exact the
homage and to preserve the liberties Of e
It's beautiful sFeotaclc-one that must add to
he love OF cur instituiions-io behold the undis-
tolbed subhmity with which the constitution of
ihs Unted States encourages the faini-hea rted and
uisuusiiul, while the shocks Of party fanatcism
aid the surping waves Of maddened and aspiring
fsciions conyulse and shake the confederacy. The
tgh', duly appreciated, will give us, az a people,
more confidence in the power Of that organization
uron which patriotism grounds Its hopes, and
eventually viii the bunglng fanatics, small
politicians, end bTawling stump orators, Of the
cout,mpuble hueness Of their struggles for noto-
utty.
The danger 20 be spprehsnded from the madnes.
# factions, or even Of the assumed majority, how
ever, is not the less great for the barriers inter-
pcsed by the constiiuiion-because the passions Of
men once infsmed, no human power can calculate
the course they will take, or the ruin that would
,nsuc to all the established regulations OF the
county. The tyranny Of passion could dePopulaie
earih in an hour. IL is IN thisvIew tina, the threat
cnci evils must be met in season-thai the actual
elity must be- awake TO the crisis, aud bold to
assert the supremacy Of. reason above all narrow
esd party considerations. We require action
crornpf and decisive The world will receive, in
tie event Of dissolution OF the Union, the se
Vertst sIilic,on since the deuge. The hearts OF
milho1s, whose eyes have been turned upon us
for TIRE, score and ten yesrs-whose hopes for
liberty have been enlivened and invigorated-
whose triumph cen spring only from our success,
snd whose assurances are written IN our progress,
would perish in despair, should We hurry TO cur
destruction by 6 suicidal act Already the die
co,dani vibrations Of the county have saluted the
ears OF the opprcfeofs ana the oppressed, suengtn-
ching the former IN their yrannlsal sway, and pal
ewing the latter whlie they were about TO throw of
the woke Of submission. And how would the t.
diugs OF a disruption Of the Union be received
throughout the globes Would not the liberty and
happiness OF millions be sicutcsdl Would not
the hIne and glory Ct this country perish, aad a
roor inheritance remain to those who are to come
ser Us. in the event of sacrifice 50 appalling to
the aspirations Of humanity
ia blow IL to be given to liberty throughout the
world LEI !, not be traced TO these shores. where,
for 50 many years, the down-trodden of king
hidden countries have found an asylum aud re.
fure from the orpressor Let it proceed not from
uur own deirium, but lex US exhibit to the world,
l., LIE midsf Of en- iniemsl contest, a once The