The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-12-24
AMERICA AND EUROPE.

There are few things, perhaps, that could oc-
cur, which would 60 farther in confirmation of
the often observed truth, that men for the most
part, are the mere creatures Of circumstances
than the tone and temper Of the American press,
with reference to our past and present foreign
policy When the immortal w ashington.on the
18th of Sept, 1876, actuated by those feelings
Of national paternity, which formed so conspicu-
Gus feature in the character Of that great and
good man, thus addressed his fellow country
men, lie felt but too wildly the importance of
the admonition it contained, and he was under
stood and fully appreciated By an infant people,
who buried his counsel deep in their hearts,
where it has remained nviolate to this day
1.-The great rule Of conduct for US says Washing
ington, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extern
ding our commercial relations, to have with them
as little political connection as possible. So far
as we have already formed engagements, let
them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here
let It stop
Europe has set Of primary interests, which
to US have none, or, a very remote relation
Hence she must be engaged in frequent contro-
versies, the causes of which, arc essentially tor
eicn to our concerns Hence therefore, it must
be unwisc in US to ,mpiieate ourselres, by arti-
fetal ties in the ordinary cieiss,tudes Of her pol
lities, or the ordinary combination' and coils
sions Of her friendships, or enr,ites." This sol.
emn admonition was pronounced at time Wien
we were in our infancy. An infancy which had
been conceived in the crushing wrongs of a
proud usurper, and brought forth on the field OF
terrors, where contending armies had met, the
one to shelter its helplessness and to nurture it
into glorious manhood, the other to extingush
the vital spark, and qucnch in the hearts blood
of its victim the burning vengeance. of exaspera-
ted tyranny. America was then weak; it was
her policy and her interest to steer clear Of
every wave that rudely threatened her, and to
appease, rather than provoke the anger Of her
enemies She was conscious Of this weakness.
and therefore it was, that her 'children received
the ad,nonition Of the father of the Republic
with reverential awe, and to this day have chung
to it with the tenacity Of devotion.
The man who would then, or who but few
years ago, would have had the temerty to sug-
gest the MODIFICATION, or unnecessary Of any fur
-ther observance Of our non-intervention policy,
would have been considered a. petitioner of
self lanacy, or traitor to the best interests of
his country. But times have changed. The
infant Confederacy has DOTTED the bib, and
American Ike claims to be recognized as having
attained proud and Independent maturity
With the left wing OF her power resting upon the
shores Of the Pacific, and the right upon the At
lantic, she proudly folds her arms, andin all the
complacency Of conscious security and strength,
contempla,es the disasters that threaten the old
world, and gravely proposes to herself, the glory
and the renown, Of stepping forth in the majesty
OF her might and power, and saying to the con-
tending elements Of European discord, "Peaee
be still"
Such, indeed, is proud and glorious reaec-
ton. But let US bear in mind that there is but
one step from the sublime 10 the ridiculous, and
that true greatness consists in a just apprecia-
ton of the position which it commands. The
pie to take part in the svicissitudes of European
politics. and it is for this reason that we regret
to see disposition on the part of many OF our
contemporaries, to foster the hopes Of those who
would seek to give national, or political char
acter to the question of change in our foreign
policy, before the arrival of that extraordinary
period which alone can justify US in SO doing
That such time may comets not only possible,
but highly probable; but until it does, in the
language Of President Washington, stalking
care always to keep ourselves, by suitable es-
adjustments, or respectable defensive posture,
we may safely trust to temporary alliances for
extraordinary emergencies. "s'i.'
But, unless in the case of very "extraordi-
nary emergency" IN the further language Of the
illustrious hero and patriot whom we have just
quoted, s.our detached and distant situation, in
vitcs and enables US to pursue different course
IF ice remain one people, under an efficient Co.
vernmcnt, the period is not far off when we may
defy, material injury from external annoyances;
when we may take such an attitude as will
cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve
upon to be scrupulously respected; when belig-
ercnt nations, under the impossibility of making
acquisitions upon US, will not lightly hazard the
giving us provocation; when we may choose
peace or ,car. as our interest, guided by justice
shall COUNSEL
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