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

well written article appears in the N. York
Herald of the 9Th inst, entitled "The question
of the day-Oar foreign policy" from which
we take the following extracts viz: "Ihe most
prominent question of the day is the policy cfthe
American Government towards Europe. The
question is, shall we abandon the policy we have
heretofore pursued, and take part directly and
practically in the contest which is close at hand
in the Old World, between despotism and libcr-
ty?
"Thc moment we approach this subject the col.
lossal power of Russia looms up before US
Situated on the confines Of Europe and Asia,
the influence of Russia is felt from China, TO
the shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific. 1t
is clear that if Its career be not stopped, France
and England will in time be absorbed, and the
whole European continent be ovcrshadowcd
with the darkness of the middle ages. This is
the power now arrayed against freedom in Eu-
rope 1t is proposed that the United States
shall unite with England and France in resist
ing its further progress. But how is this TO be
brought about Our American government,
the Administration at Washington, is utterly en-
bcclle, and nclines TO the cossack rather than
towards liberty, and it is beyond doubt that this
question will enter into our next Presidential
election.
God forbid, that such question should ever
present itself to the practical consideration Of
the American people, though if the possible
t,mc should arrive, they will no doubt be found
ready and willing to meet it. But when there is
talk ofis entering into the ncxtPresdcntial cam
paign we must confess that the natural impulse
of our mind, leads us to pause and ask, for what
must ssihis question enter into the next Prcsi-
dental election - We ccannot suppose that the
American mind is prepared to believe that, that
time has arrived, however rapidly it may be ap-
preaching, when the nations Of the earth will be
summoned to the final battle field of liberty
And until that time does arrive, we cannot be-
leve that there is in esse, any disposition, how
ever remote that would foster for a moment, the
abandonment Of that past and present policy,
which was sought to be soemnly impressed
upon the American mind, by the great father OF
his country.
We take it, that nothing bat pure necessity could
Justify deviation from the strict line of Amer
lean policy; and we know that we speak the
sentiments of the people of this country, when
we say that such deviation would be regarded
by them, as the most disastrous in its conse-
quences and suicidal IN its policy, of any, that
has heretofore invited public attention.
The proncness of some minds to run into ex-
trcmes, induces them too often to take hold of
the new and enlarged views of ruling spirits,
and present them to tie public, rc-moulded and
re nodded, after the manner and form suggest
ed, from the workings of their own narrow and
contracted spheres of mental action. The
simple fact of the declaration having been pro-
nounced by leading American Statesman,
that the time might arrire when this people
would become, for the time being, the allies of
a foreign power, to stay the desoIating progress
of relentless dcspotism, by no means involves
th4 conclusion, that the great question of for
cicn policy consequent upon the arrival of such
aa era, must at once enter the political arena,
and become a question, hobby horse, upon
which political aspirants may ride into power
When tEat day arrives, we expect il to be
day Of anguish and Of sorrow for the :,
liberty throughout the world, and, as conse-
qucncc, day of imminent peril TO ourselves,
and high time for the consideration of such a
change in our foreign policy, and will conserve
the best interests and security of the Republic.
Then, and not before, let this great question
arise-let it be question suggested by the na>
tons solicitude, and not by the desire for polit
ical elevation, or distinction. If this question
be thus left to the natural course of things, the
times themselves, will suggest the period of its
national consideration.