The republic., 1851-12-16

Is intriguing and intermeddling in nearly every
part Of the world. She has played the game Of ia
terventiOn more strongly than any other power;
and we venture to say that in no case has she
interfered without placing vastly more reliance
on her military and naval prowess than any
g moral force" that she may be supposed to
WELD. She knows that moral force is not TO
be despised, but she knows also that IFS opera
tion is necessarily slow, and that in dealing
with other warlike and aggressive powers bull
lets and bayonets are indispensable. Russia
and Austria have acted with her too long not to
be acquainted with her character in this re-
spect and journal putting forth such lofty
pretensions as the New York Times ought
not to be forgetful of the fact. But the Times,
with all It's zeal in behalf Of the KossUTH doc
trine of Intervention, will hardly dare to say
that the policy of England commends itself to
our respect, or that our people would be benefited
by its adoption. We are disposed TO think that
her practical illustration of the cost and conse-
quences of medding with other nations affairs
should be regarded as warning rather than as
an example.
The London Nautical Standard-the organ
of the naval officers Of Brtan-makes the fol-
lowing apt observations on the falacy of 'moral
force' intervention:
'There 10 now a feeling prevalent in the country
that the tangled notion OF moral force IL
strong enough to settle all matters in dispute
without an appeal to arms. Nations possess moral
force only in proportion OF their power, when
that power can be put into action, supported by
armies and fleets. country possessing large
armies and fleets, possesses also great moral
power over her weaker neighbors, whom she
may attack and subdue; that is, she has in her
favor the fear that her guns and bayonets inspire;
this is the moral force. During the last war
there was moral force enough enlisted against
Napoleon; towards the end he had to fight not
onv the moral force, for which he cared very
little, but the gunpowder force, which he had,
notwithstanding his immense genius, no means to
resist. Had coalized Europe brought only their
moral forces against him, he would have died en-
naror of France but his enemies brought to bear
million bayouets, and he could not resist 30
terrible odds against him. Moral force is bug
bear that deceves only those who employ 1T or use
it and when a minister of the crown permits him
self to say that the moral force Of England has
great weight in the councils OF other nations, he
tells what he knows 10 be fudge. What gives pre-
pOndeTdDCe 10 WIN oii Hu'ioio sN"s D"'
any large maritime trade, or can be attacked by
sea II is not her moral power or force, but her
men of-war. II is because she has large fleet
ready to act Immediately upon any point. II is be-
cause she can send half dozen such fleets 10
act upon all points at time. 1t is because she
can send armies, by psying for them, as she has
done before, and support her prepondcrance at
the mouth of the gun the point OF the sword.
Here is all the moral power England, any other
great nation. can possess. No nation will laugh
at her guns and fleets but there is not petty prin
cipality in Germany that cares fig for her moral
power
These remarks are as applicable TO this
country as to England. They are true of in
tervention everywhere, and they are especially
true of Intervention in the affairs of continent
from which the waters of an ocean divide us.
If the citizens Of the United States are to be
called upon to adopt this policy, let them at
any rate be apprized of its probable-ay, OF its
certain-consequen 1t is not right-it is
not honest-to endeavor to pervert their gen
erous sympathies and impulses into the means
of entrapping them into war for which they
are in no respect prepared.