Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-26

""'a hSW dVotIilte mus III Aotsut1 n power
inl advocate The pdnciples advanced by him
IsFs-4ist, That every nation has right 20
Determine for itself its own internal policy; and
second, that the violation Of that right. on the
part Of any foreign power, justi6es rad calls yor
the intervention Of other nations, 10 prevent or
rsctify such violation" The question does no,
turn upon the abstract right set forth in the frs,
proposition, for that, we presume, nobody ques-
tiOns. The second is fine in theory, but prac-
tically QuixOtic. We may possibly have a
Raked right 70 interfere between Austria and
Hungary, but at the same time II is impossible
that such interference can be 81 any advantae e
TO Ms or Hungary. We have certain Republi-
can principles, constituting the best and the
haPpiest form of government, it is possible to
conceive, for people such as those of the
United States; but history has proved that 70
free nation unfit for liberty is TO unloose wild,
uIHtameable, bloody -moulhed anarchy. How
much practical information have the best in
formed men in our country, Of the actual state
OF things in Hungary? We know that under
our form Of government this country has grown
arsi prospered woasSsfSi;syI, and thai we enjoy
as people, greater number Of blessings than
any other nation under heaven. Naturally and
properly enough, we desire to see this form Of
government, with its accompanying blessings,
spread over the world as rapidly and as fully as
possible. But Austria, Russia and Hungary
are all unPrepared for liberty; they are behind
France in intelligence, and she has not general
Intelligence enough to retain freedom. We
propose, then, to interfere where interference
may not increase the happiness of the people, if
successful, and if failure, would iniure us and
doubly damn them. What do we know about
this man Kossuth, who claims 10 be the Co
vernon Of Hungary, and who asks for bayonets
to reinstate him in his Office? His fold on the
confidence Of his countrymen at home is not by
any means clearly ascertained and undoubted
fact. He is accused by prominent actor in the
Hungarian Revolution, of unprincipled and vas
cillating policy while Governor; he is said to
have sought that office in the day of victory and
glory, and to have ingloriously abandoned it, in
49, '.S%h ~ " hAOWn ana,
anxious alone for his personal safety, hastily de-
serted his friends, the army and his country.
and fled into Turkey, and that too, while the
power Of Hungary was yet unexhausted, and the
spirit OF the people unbroken. Perhaps these
charges are true; perhaps they are false: the
very doubt the character Of Kossuth is involved
In, warns us not to hasten to place him in a
position by which it wosld be in his power To
lead Hungary to downfall worsethan the first
Suppose the people of that nation INTELLIGENT
enough for self-government, have they sufici-
ent strength to maintain their independence, or
must the United States forever be their guar
diam irresponsible charge, truly, and likely
to be both costly and troublesome.
Even if our Intervention should not involve u
in everlasting European wars, war with Rus
STA. alone, would be no child's play, or of short
duration. The vast empire of Russia covers an
area which fills more than half Europe; with a
population Of 62,OO0,OOO, she has standing
army Of above half a million, more than six
times as numerous as that Of the colossal power
of Great Britain; and no soldiers in the world
surpass those Of the Russians in discipline,
hardihoOd and bravery. The Russian navy is
also formidable. They would be near home,
we at distance. As for soaring Russia by
protest, that is all stuff.
We had better, far, stand by the policy of
Washington. Let us be thankful enough for
the liberty we enjoy 10 preserve it. Let us not
Tecklessly plunge our country into the quarreIs,
stormy political eonyulsions, and perhaps end
less wars, which seem now impending over
Europe, and from which we might never emerge,
but through darkness and in despair. We want
no entangling alliances with foreign nations, we
want no fierce, long continued, and bloody wars
with European powers; for through these our
own proud and glorious Republic may sink
down in ruins, and leave nothing on the face of
he earth, but the dust and ashes of liberty.
Col. BENToN.-We understand that Col.
Benton will shortly open the campaign at st.
Charles. An invitation will be sent to him by |
lis friends in this section, to visit this oity.-l
L is expected that he will come here by land.
rom st. Charles, and then proceed to trav erse
MIR. Green's district. The Benton men are an
cipating pleasure from this visit; but the antics,