The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-12-31

our prosperous way for few years
longer in peace, we msy do the same
again.
But il is now said by some that this
policy must he changed. Europe is no
Longer separated from US BY voyage OF
months, but steam navigation has brought
her within a few days sail Of our shores.
We see more of her movements, and
take a deeper interest in her contro-
versies. Although no one proposes thai
we should join the fraternity ofpo:eniates
who have for ages lavished the bloc | end
treasure Of their subjects in maintaining
'ibe balance Of power" yet il is said that
we ought TO interfere between contend
ing soversigns and their subjects, for the
purpose Of overihrowing the monarchies
Of Europe and establishing in their place
republican institutions. tits alleged that
we have heretofore pursued different
course from sense Of our weakness, bul
that nov our conscious strength dictates
change of policy, and that il is conse.
quenily our ddty 10 mingle in these con
tests and aid those who are struggling for
i liberty.
This is most seductive but dangerous
appeal TO the generous sympalhies Of
freemen. Enjoying as we do ifeStless-
ings Of free government, there is no
man who has an American heart that
would no, re]oice 10 see these blessings
extended to all other nstions. We can
not witness the struggle between the
oppressed and his oppressor anywhere
without the deepest sympathy for the
former, and the most anxious desire for
bis triumph. Nevertheless, is il prudent
J or is il wise TO involve ourselves in these
foreign wars? Is il indeed true that we
! have heretofore RETAINED from doing SO
merely from the degrading motive Of a
: conscious weakness? For the honor Of
the patriots who have gone before VS., !
cannot admit il.
! Men Of the Revolution who drew the
sword against the oppressops Of the
: mother country, and pledged to Heaven
. "iheir lives, ihei fortunes, and their
sacred honor,n TO maintain their freedom,
could never have been acluaied by so
r unworthy motive. They knew no
, weakness or fear where right or duty
4 pointed the way, and il IS libel upon
4 their fair fame for US, while we enjoy the
a blessings for which thsy so oobly fought
? aud bed, 10 insinuaie il. The truth is
that the course which they pursued was
s dictated by stern sense Of international
{ justice, by siatesmanlike prudence aud
3 a far-seeing wisdom, looking not mcr.ly
to The present necessities but 10 the
. permanent safety and interest Of the
J country. They knew that the world is
I governed less by sympaih. than by reason
8 and force; that il was not possible iol
I this nation, TO become 'propagandisi'
u Of free principles without arraying against
1.-THE combined powers OF Europe; and
g that The resul, was more likely to be the
II overthrow OF republican liberty here than
' lis establishment there. History has been
h written in vain for those wl,e can douhI
i this. France had no sooner established
! a republican form of ofgovernment than ahe
i manifested a desire TO force its blessing
9 on all the world. Her own historian in
g forms us that, hearing Of some petty acts
3 Of tyranny in a neighboring principally
T. "The National Convention declared lha
/ ssbe would afford suceor and fraternity 4
d .all nations who wished to recover thei
II sliberiy; and she gave j, in charge 10 tn
IS executive pewer TO give orders 10 TN
d generals of the French armies 10 aid al
c 'c,izens who nigh. have been or shoul'
i sbe oppressed in the cause Of liberty.
d Here was the false step which led 4
l. her subsequent misfortunes. She SOIL
il found herself involved in war with all to-
Ic res, Of Europe. In less than ten year
II her government was changed from
t. republic 10 aD empire; aud finally, afis
10 shedding rivers of blood, foreign power
s. restored her exiled dynasty, and exanste'
d Europe sought peace and repnse in ,h
i. unquesiioned ascendancy Of monarcha
D. principles. Let us learn wisdom iror
70 hor example. Let US remember thu
Of revolutions do moi always establish free
ii dom. Our own free institutions wer
8, not the offspring Of our Revolution
l. They existed before. They were planie
Ig in the free charters Of self governmen
al under which the English colonies gre
up, and our Revolution only freed u
is from the dominion Of foreign powe
lie whose government was at variance wit
i. those institutions. But European natior
er have had no such training for self so'
IN erpmea,, and every effort 10 establish
q BY bloody revolutions, has been, an
" must, without that preparation, conlinu
Sc 10 be failure. Liberty, unregulated b
s. law, degenera,es into anarchy, whic
n soon becomes the most borrid Of all de'
ts potisms. Our policy is wisely 10 COVER
en- ourselves, and thereby TO set such a
lg example Of national justice, prosperi'
lst and true glory, as shall teach to all nj
ch tions the blessing Of salfgovernment, an
is the unparalleled enterprise and succei
q 4 NJ a froa mamie