The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-17
should have taken his devices of non Intervention

should have taken his devices Of non intervention
for peace instead Of war.
II ought not to be thought strange that the peo-
pie Of The United States should sympathize with
kossuth and his companions on account Of their
gallant struggle and the sufieriDgs Of their "down
trodden" countrymen; nor that they should dcPre
cate oppression whenever and IN whatever form 1t
ma Y be presented; nor that they should desire to
disseminate throughout the world free and
liberal institutions Such feelings and such desires
are implanted in their breasts by nature and by
enlightened education. But, having due reverence
for their own instii utions, and just regard for
their own progress, preservation and prosperity
should they, ought they, can they do more than
profer their cordial sympathy to the oppressed
aud "down- trodden" of the world, and tender
them home and an asylum free from oppression
and beyond the reach OF despotism? II is not pos
siblc that they are prepared to commence cru
sade, not to rcscuc the holy sepulchre from the
possession of inidels, but against all the crowned
heads in the world, to contest their right TO govern
according 10 the forms in which their governments
are organized. Such must inevitably be the re-
suit if we adopt the principles and plans OF Kos
suth, to the extent of his wishes and yet
those amongst u.s. to whom VIC have looked for
sound views and safe counses upon all subjects re-
lating to the interest and welfare OF the country,
advocating and encouraging his impractcable
scheme. Perhaps these gentlemen would say they
do not intend to go beyond declaration of what
they consider should be the law Of nations. Elk
p ricnce teaches that such declaration would
not DC regarded by the crowned heads Of Europe
any moro than the passing wind, unless backed by
a force adequate to enforce it.
The lessons derived from experience are more
valuable than plausible theories. The future is
nhrouded in dar kncss--the past is our own Tothc
future VIC may look for possible blessings; to the
past we must look, if tcould guard 0ursstpes
against probable evils. In recurring, then, to the
past. l need not tell you that war is great evil,
and the grea test that befall any people
try. II has been the curse Of nations, whether
caused by fanaticism, intervention,* revenge, am
bition. the acquisition Of territory. Civil wars
have been, in most cascs, promoted, first, by ambi-
ton and then by oppression, necessarily resulting
from the expenses Of the first. Oppression is the
concomitant OF war. The oppression induced by
high taxes in England, we, the continent
of Europe, is the bitter fruit of war. France has
been struggling for liberty for more than sixty
years, and VIC feel and dcplorc that our ancient
ally ia, at this moment, in worse condition than
when she first uniurled the standard of rebel
lion against Louis xvi; in the mean time, mil.
lions OF lives have been sacrificed, and debt inn
posed The industry Of the country, that efforts
can cancel. The people Of Ireland, Italy and
Hungary, have each, in turn, struggled for liberty
and independence, and what have they gained?
All have been ovcrpowcrcd aud trodden under
foot by despotism, and left without the power Of
resistance. II you would guard your free, happy
and prosperous country against oppression, or
Heed not the denagogue, who, to crafty his am
bition, would drcnch his country in blood Re-
MEmBER, the loss Of liberty commences with OPP
precision, and oPPa EssioN follows WAR!
Your friend, JOHN +. WOOL.