The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18
From the Christian Statesman.
NON-INTERvENTION.

, We believe that it was the duty of the Amer
lean, English, and other liberal Governments
to interfere, by the most imperative remon
STRANGE, to prevent Russian interference with
the Hungarian, we will not say rebellion, but
resistance to the encroachments of Austria
upon her ancient Constitution. This inter
ference of free countries TO checkmate despotc
interference should have been made at any
hazard of mourning the frowns of Russian or
Austrian despots. But we have no belief that
their displeasure would have exhibited itself in
anything more than frown and there is
every reason to believe that had America and
England acted on this noble and generous pol
icy, Hungary would now be quietly enjoying
the fruits of her patriotic struggles for liberty
But the question is now settled for the time,
and our country and Government can only la
ment the sad catastrophe. We should not 20
| to war to undo what has been done but should
another struggle take place between Hungary
and Austria, we are clear for the interposition
of this and other liberal Governments, by the
most imperative remonstrance with Russia, to
prevent the forcible Intervention of that des-
potic power.
In these views we are sustained by the oft
repeated opinion of Mr. Webster, whose au-
thority upon all questions involving nterna-
tional law is not inferior to that Of any man
living
In his celebrated speech upon the resolu-
tons offered relative to the Greek Revolution he
said:
" II may, in the next place, be asked, per-
haps, supposing all this be true, what can we
do? Are we to go to war; Are we to inter
fere in the Greek cause or any other European
cause! Are we to endanger our pacific rela-
tons! No: certainly not. What, then, the
question recursI remains for u.s. II We will
not endanger our own peace If we will neither
furnish armies, nor navies, to the cause which
we think the just one, what is there within
our power
"Sr, this reasoning mistakes the age. The
time has BEEN indeed, when fleets, and armies,
and subsidies were the principal relances,
even in the best cause. But, happily for man
kind, there has arrived great change in this
respect Moral causes come into consideration
in proportion as the progress of knowledge is
advanced; and the public opinion of the civil
lied world is rapidly gaining ascendency over
mere brutal force. IL il already able to oppose
the most formidable obstruction TO the progress
of injustice and oppression; and, AZ it grows
more intelligent and intense, it will be more
and more formidable 1t may be silenced by
military power but it cannot be conquered 1t
is elastic irrepressble, and invulnerable to the
weapons of ordinary warfare. II is that i'm
passabe, unextinguishable. enemy of mere vio- |
lence and arbitrary rule, which, like Millions
angels,
Vital In every part.
Cannot, but by annihilatng, die
"Unth his be propitiated or satisfied, is
vain for pocer to talk either Of triumphs or Of
rpoS. No matter what fields are desolatea,
what fortresscs surrendered, what armies sub
dued, or what provinces oyerrun. in the his
tory Of the year that. has passed by U.S. and in
the instance of unhappy SPAIN we have seen
the vanity of all triumphs, in cause which
violates the general sense of justice OF the
civilized world IL is nothing that the troops
of France have passed from the Pyrenees TO
Cadiz; il is nothing that an unhappy and pros
trate nation has fallen before them; it is moth
ing that arrests, and confscstion, and execu-
ton. sweep away the little remnant OF national
resistance. There is an enemy that still exists
to check the glory Of these trumphs IL fol-
lows the conqueror back 10 the very scene of
his oyations; Il calls upon him 10 take notice
that Europe, though silent is yet indignant; it
shows him that the sceptre Of his victory Is
barren sceptre that it shall confer neither JOY
nor honor, but shall moulder to dry ashes in
his grasp In the midst Of his exutation it
pierces his ear with the cry Of injured justice;
i denounces against him the indignation OF an
enlightened and civilized age J; it turns TO Bit
terness the cup Of his rejoicing, and wounds