The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-10
American Character and the Absorption o.
Adjoining Territory.
From the albany IN. ~ Register.

From the albany Nv. Y) Register
We have become 30 accustomed to see every OBJ
stace opposing national progress give way to
our resolute will and executive energy, that we
deem nothing impossible; and among the contin-
gencies of the future there is hardly any thing
more certain in popular estimation than that Can
ada on the one hand and the Mexican and Central
American States on the other, up to and including
the Isthmus Of Panama, together with the Antllan
Islands, WILL in process of time and that not very
remote, constitute integral portions of the United
States. This conviction-for it may be called
is 30 general and 30 deeply seated that, even now,
politicians considering the expediency OF using
it as lever whcrewith to move the masses in their
favor. prediction, if generally believed, often
causes it's own fulflment, and such may be the
suit in ths matter; but it will be an evil day for
the United States, il, within the ensuing fifty
years, annexation should be effected on the large
scale indicated
The history of the world is full of examples prov
ing that no purely homogeneous people ever be-
came great, powerful, and stable nation. By the
force OF uncommon genius and favoring circum-
stances, such people, like the Greeks of old, may
attain great temporary power and eminence; but
without the infusion of other blood to invigoratc
the original stock, their greatness will soon decay
On the other hand, excessive mixture OF foreign
elements is sure to produce like deteriorating re
suits. We started in this country with good n
stock to build on the world possessed, and the
additions to it from abroad during the present cen
fury have not weakened its pristine vigor. But
there is a limit even to powers of absorption
and assimilation. The already immense and
pidly- increasing immigration from Europe is be-
ginning to tell sensiby our national character,
and in another generation will be felt far more de-
cidedly than now. There Is some danger that the
grand types of American character will undergo a
change not altogether for the better under the in
! nuence Of causes already at work, and which we
cannot control il we would That the American
cha racter would rapidly deteriorate if the whole
! sale annexation now talked about should be effect
ed, hold to be Just certain that effect fol-
/ lows cause The American people proper are not
yet numerous enough TO take in and assimllate
the motley millions of the Ilspano- American
States.
Improved political and religious institutions can
do much toward raising these last to our level, but
not all 1t is very common mistake to rely too
much on institutions. As general thing every
people have such they suited for. Several
generations would be requisite to make the Portu-
gueee bold, high spirited, generous, seli-relying
people, even with the best institutions. The Amer
leans are what they are by reason of their native,
inherent strength of character. They made the
institutions, not the institutions them lnsttu-
tons, however, in every country become, at last,
part and parcel of the national character, and no
wise man will undertake to make radical and vio-
lent changes in them. The Americans changed
! from a monarchical TO a republican form of gov
eminent, but the change was less in fact than in
name. In all, nearly all, substantial things no
change made. But if we undertook to annex
the Mexican States, republican they style them
selves, should be under the necessity of max
ing changes of the most marked character, or
else tolerate the anomaly of institutions widely
different from, and in many respects antagonistc
TO, our own, to cay nothing of the difficulties and
evils that would result from the differences of race
and language. These are things that cannot be
overcome in year, nor in generation. Instead
Of kind, fraternal union violent antipathies would
grow up on both Sides leading to inevitable COLI
sions between two distinctly marked races. Oi
course the weak would be pushed to the wall, but
wherein should We be the gainersf II is easy to
talk in swelling phrase, that "the whole boundless
continent is ours" but piratical land stealing
ancestors never made such mistake as we should
by undertaking 70 absorb Mexico and the regions
beyond.