The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-15

enablsd to exhibit the proud spectacle Of
4 nation frss from public debt; and. il per-
miasd to pursus our prosperous way for
few years longer In peace. We may do the
same again.
III But il is now said by some that this poll
icy must BE- changed. Europe 10 nj lon
ger separated from Us BY . voyage Of
months, but steam navigation has brought
her within . few days sail Of our shores.
| We see more oil her movements, and-take
a deeper interest In her controversies.
Although no one proposes that we should
Join the fraternity Of potentates who have
for ages lavished the blood and treasure Of
their subjects in maintaining 1.-THE balance
of power yet it is said that we ought to
interfere between contending sovsreigns
and their subjects, forthe purpose Of over
throwing the monarchies Of Europe and
establishing in their place republican in
stitutions. It is alleged that we have hero.
tofore pursued a different course from q
sense of our weakness. but that now U
conscious strength dictates q change Of
policy. and that it is consequently our duty
TO mingle in these contests and aid those
who are struggling for liberty.
This is a most seductive but dangerous
appeal to the generous sympathies Of free.
men. Enjoying as we do the blessings OF
a free government. there is no man who
has an American heart that would not 70.
joice 10 see these blessings extended to all
other nations. W. cannot witness the
struggle between the oppressed and his
oppressor anywhere without the deepest
sympathy for the former, and the most
anxious desire for his triumph. Neverthe.
less, is it prudent or is it wise to involve
ourselves in these foreign wars? Is it in.
deed true that we have heretofore RETAINED
from doing SO merely from the degrading
motive of a conscious weakness? For the
honor ofthe patriots who have gone before
us, | cannot admit it. II aaa
Men Of the Revolution who drew the
sword a~gainstthe expressions ofthe mother
country, and pledged to Heaven .'their
lives. their fortunes, and their sacred
honor" TO maintain their freedom, could
never have been actuated by SO unworthy
a motive. They knew no weakness Or
fear where right or duty pointed the way,
and it is a libel upon their fair fame for ",
while we enjoy the blessings for which
they so nobly fought and bled, to ~insinuste
it. The truth is that the course which
they pursued was dictated by a stern
sense Of International justice, by a states.
manlike prudence and a far seeing wisdom,
looking not merely to the present necessi.
ties but to the permanent safety and inter-
est of the country. They knew that The
world is governed less by sympathy than
by reason and force; that it was not posi-.
BILE for this nation to become q s'propa-
gandist" offrse principles without arraying
against il the combined powers Of Europe;
and that the result was more likely 10 be
the overthrow Of republican liberty here
than its establishment there. History HIS
been written in vain for those who can
doubt this. France had no sooner estab.
lished a republican form Of government
than she NANTES ted a desire TO force lis
blessings on all the world. Her own his
torian informs US that, hearing Of some
petty acts Of tyranny in a ~neighboring
principality. "The National Convention
declared that she would afford succor and
8 fraternity 10 all nations who wished to 70.
: cover their liberty; and she gave IL in
: charge to the executive power to give
8 orders to the generals OF the French
8 armies to and all citizens VIII o might have
8 been or should be oppressed in the cause
of liberty" t@ iFEt
"
Here was tho 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 a republic
to an empire; and finally. after shedding
rivers Of blood, foreign powers restored
her exiled dynasty, and exhausted Europe
sought peace and repose in the unqusstion-
ed a~scendancy Of monarchical principles.
Let us learn wisdom from her example.
Lot US remember that revolutions do not
always establish freedom. Our own FREQ
institutions were not the offspring Of our
Revolution. They existed before. They
were planted in the free charters Of self
government, under which the English colo.
MES grew up, and our Revolution only
fresd US from the dominion Of foreign
!, power, whose government was at variance
with those institutions. But European
t nations have had no such training for self
government, and every effort to establish
=, it by bloody revolutions, has been, and
must, without that preparation, continue
7 to he a failure. Liberty, ~unregulated BY
law, degenerates into anarchy, which soon
becomes the most horrid Of all despotisms.
Our policy is wisely TO govern ourselves,
and thereby TO SGT such an example of
national justice, prosperity and true glory,
as shall teach to all nations the blessings
Of self-govsrnment, and the unparalleled
enterprise and success Of free people,
We live in an age Of progress. and ours
is emphatically q country Of progress.