Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-23
VOL. v.

Icy must be changed. Europe is no
longer separated from us by voyage Of
months, but steam navigation has brought
her within few days sail Of our shores.
We see more of her movements, and
take deeper interest in her conlrover.
sizes. Although no one proposes that we
should join the fraternity of potenta,es
who has for ages lavished the blood and
treasure of their subjects in maintaining
she balance of power" yet is said
that we ought to interfere between con.
tending soyereigns and their subjects, for
the purpose Of overlooking the monar-
chies OF Europe and establishing IN their
place republican institutions. 1t is alleg-
ed that we have heretofore pursued diff
ferent course from sense of our weak
ness. but that now our conscious strength
dictates change of policy, and that il,
is consequently our duty to mingle in
these contests and aid those who are
struggling for liberty.
This is most seductive but danger.
Gus appeal TO the generous sympathy OF
freemen. Enjoying as we do the bless
ings of free government, there is no man
who has an American heart that would
not rejoice to see these blessings extend
ed to all other nations. We cannot wit.
ness the struggle between the oppressed
and the oppressor anywhere without the
deepest sympathy for the former, and the
most anxious desire for his triumph
Nevertheless, is il prudent or is it wise to
involve ourselves in these foreign wars
l, is indeed true that we have heretofore
RETAINED from doing so merely from the
degrading motive Unconscious weakness!
For the honor of the patriots who have
gone before us, cannot admit. il.
Men Of the Revolution who Grew the
sword against the expressions of the
Mother country, and pledged to Heaven
their "lives, their fortunes and their sa-
cred honor" to maintain their freedom,
could never have been aclua,ed by so I'M
worthy motive. They knew no weak
ness or fear where right or duty pointed
the way. and i, is libel on their fair
fame, for us, while enjoying the blessings
for which they SO nobly fought and bled,
TO insinuate it. The truth is, that the
course which they pursued was dictated
by a strong sense of international justice.
by statesmanlike prudence and far
) seeing wisdom, looking not merely to
the present necessities, but to the perma-
nent safety a. interest OF the country:lhey
knew that the world is governed less by
sympathy than by reason and force; that
it was not possible for this nation to be-
come "propagandis. of free principles
without arraying against it the combined
powers Of Europe; and that the result
was more likely to be the overthrow OF
republican liberty here than It's establish
ment there. History has been written
in vain for those who can doubt this
France had no sooner established re-
publican form of government than she
manifested desire to force its blessings
on all the world. Her own historian in
forms us that, hearing of some petty acts
oil tyranny in neighboring principally.
"The National Convention declared that
she would afford succor and fraternity
to all nations who wished to recover their
liberty; and she gave it in charge to the
executive power 10 give orders 10 the
generals of the French armies, 10 aid
citizens who might have been or should
be oppressed in the cause Of liberty. -
Here was the false step which led to her
subsequent misfortunes. She soon found
herself involved in war with all The rest
Of Europe. In less than ten years her
government was changed from repub-
lie to an Empire; and finally, after she'd
ding rivers Of blood, foreign powers re-
stored her excited dynasty. and exhaust
ed Europe sough:peace and repose in the
unques,ioned ascendancy of monarchial
principles.
Let US learn wisdom from her exam
pie. Letus remember that revolutions
do not always establish freedom. Our
free institutions were not the offspriugs
of our revolution. They existed before.
They we've planted IN the free charters
of self.government under which the En-
glish colonies grew up. and our revolu-
ton only freed Us from The dominion of
= foreign power. whose government was
At variance with those institutions. But
European nations have had no such train.
ings for selfgoyernment, and every Ell
for, 10 establish it by bloody revolutions
has been, aud must, without that prepar-
alton, continue to be failure. Liberty,
unregulaied by law, degenerates into an.
archy, which soon becomes the mos,
horrid of all despolisms. Our policy is
wisely 10 govern ourselves, aud thereby
TO sci such an example of national JUS
lice. prosperity. and true glory as shall
teach all nations the blessings OF self
government. and the unparalleled enter.
prise and success of free people.
We live in an age of progress, and
ours is empha.icaliy a country of pro-
sress. Within the lasl half century the
number of States in this Union has al
mos. doubled, the population has almost
quadrupled, and our boundaries have
been extended from the Mississippi to
the Pacific. Our territory is chequered
ever with railroads, and furrowed with
canals. The inventive talent of our
country is excited TO The highest pitch,
md the numerous applications for pat.