Polynesian., 1852-12-18
Che 1)olpnesian.
The Destiny of America..The Effect in
England of the Lone Star.

cal speculation, there are none more suggest
i've than that discoverable in the future des-
tines of America. We use the term as i'm
porting not simply the thiry-three United
States, but the entire western world-the
two enormous continents of North and South.
Of Europe Napoleon once remarked, that in
half century's time it would be either Re-
. public or Cossack, and we can now at least
conjecture which Of these two it will not be.
But how is the fate Of America to be define
ated or conceived: In their present politi-
cal condition these immense territories re-
semble those of Europe in the days of Char
lemagne. They are imperfectly stocked by
a motley population, including barbarous
tribes, degenerate races, rising communities
and powerful States. From north to south
and east to west, everything appears in pro-
cess only of formation, incomplete and un-
decided. FIVE except the boundaries be-
tween the British colonies and the Union
and perhaps, there is no great necessity for
making even this reserve-we shall find no
frontier, demarcation, or limit likely to be
stable between the Polar Sea and Cape
Horn. 1t is uncertain which or what will
be the States of the American continent as
it was what would be the kingdoms of Eu
rope ten centuries ago. English, French,
Russians, Spaniards, and Portuguese have
each their representatives in the field; but
! besides these there is composite communi-
| ty more powerful than all.
! If the reader will glance at map of
America he will observe that the two conti
nents appear fairly and inteIligbly partition
ed among greater and smaller States; but the
| truth is, that few of these formations or di-
visions give any promise of durability. Next
to the United States lies the famous country
of Mexico, one of the noblest territories in
the world and so vast that, before its recent
losses its extent was more than five times that
of the Spanish peninsula. To this day ii
comprises immense provinces abounding In
mineral and vegetable wealth, rich in histo-
rca traditions, and possessing advantages
from geographical situation which are sec
ond to none But Mexico at the present
moment exists in little but name. 1t can
not construct, organize or maintain any con-
sttution or government. 1t cannot discharge
any of the functions of State or provide for
any political necessities, domestic or foreign.
Its substantial anarchy is only mitigated by !
the sparseness and incidence of IFS popula-
ton. 1t has no frontiers except on the map;
the very Indians invade it at all points with
impunity; and an enemy more formidable
than the Indians is waiting for the inevitable |
consummation which it would be wholly su
perfuous to precipitae.
To Mexico succeeds chaos of republics,
resembling it in origin, prospects and posi-
ton, and stretching from the passes of the
Isthmus almost to Cape Horn. The very
names Of these States are only known to Eu-
ropean readers as those Of repudiatiDg debt
ors. Their wars, though conducted with the
ferocty of cannbals, and almost deserving
record from their very barbarity, survive
scarcely in the memory oftheir own genera
ton. To enumerate the constituent provin-
ces of s Columbia would seem gratui-
tous piece Of pedantry, and it would read
like a mockery if we expatiated upon the
demarcations, politics, relations or prospects
of Peru Bolivia, Chill, La Plata, and Banda
Oriental and Paraguay. The most assidu-
Gus student of current history recoils from
the murders, massacres, and revolutions oil
people whose whole energies appear concen-
trated on homicide, and whose actions seem
scarcely more comprehensive than those oil
the Polynesian islanders. For such commu-
mites no permaneHce can be reasonably an
ticipated, and it would not be easy, indeed,
to say in what respect the cut-throats OF
Buenos Ayres surpass the native savages OF
Patagonia.
The eastern part of the southern continent
is absorbed in the enormous empire OF Bra
zil-a state which has at least legitimate [
dynasty, an ancient title, settled govern
ment, and a respectable population. BY lis
righteous and liberal treatment, too, of the
colored races, it has neutralzed the worst
element of political evil, and the sincerity
which il is now evincing the abolition of
the slave trade is evidence both of sound pol
icy and administrative power. But there is
little energy in the Brazilian character
They are clearly not conquering, scarcely, /
perhaps, an enduring race, and they are al
most lost in the boundless expanse Of terrific
ries nominally their own. We see, there
fore in America, three great divisions-those
of British America, America by excellence,
and Brazil. The second Of these, even alter
ACQUISITIONS which within ten years have
doubled its extent, is still not large as
either of the other two, and yet this extraor-
diEary State already aims at universal do
ninion. and stretches its views OF conquests
over two continents and as many oceans.
We need be at no trouble, we are sure, to
bespeak the notice of the reader for the letter
of our American correspondent, when we
publish to-day. An 'sorder" has been lnsti-
tuted in the Union, under the name OF the
Lone STAR" for the avowed purpose OF ex-
tending the .power, influence, and COM
merce of the United States over the West
'ern Hemisphere and the islands of the At
Iant;c and Pacific oceans" The highly fig |
uratiye language in which the objects OF the
society have been described in Its public GER
emonies is likely to excite more ridlcule than
;,,oroet and some allowance must doubtless Il
be made for the exageration Of which all
Transatlantic reports are found 10 partake.
We believe, however, that the league thus
4 a-.-.l IL lees ,r, raa alifx SvmhnllZe q ruiin0 II