The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-02

it, absolute and rresistibe power, is sometimes
- little inclined Is any Oriental despot to sur
oflaw. Intoxicated with political power, these self
governing, or self impeling masses, confound that
power with moral omnipotence; and they forget
that al the might Of thousand empires can
not alter the inviolabe conditions Of public recti
tude, or efiace the stain of one act of Injustice
Political interests national predictions, melted by
commercial enterprise or military ambition, are
continually, continual; suggesting undertakings which might
country but the question for nation of honest
men is simply whether they can be lawfully pur-
sued, and whether even in such enterprises
is not rather q disgrace than triumph. To
swindle the public creditor, to attack defenceless
neighbor, to connive ct the designs Of band of
pirates on foreign island, to dispute the most
obvious rights Of other States, simply because
they. interfere with national interest, are things
which no amount of success can palliate but
the only security against these intosrable abuses
of superior force is the moral feeling of the
nation. 1t is on that ground alone that We
can ever presume to condemn some of the acts Of
the American people. No doubt large party in
the United States regret as much as we can do that
Mississippi and Pennsylvania repudiated their
debts that Mexico was invaded without shadow
Of lawful provocation; that Cuba was attacked by
Lopez and his gang; and that Mr.. Webster en-
couraged American traders to appropriate the pro-
dnce Of the Lobos Islands, when they might as
But, in discussing these topics, contemporaries
the other side the Atlantic scarcely appear sem
sible of the distinction We naturally draw between
legal acts Of public advantage to the Union, and
is not the extension Of territory of the United
States that deprecate or condemn, but the means
by which that extension has been sometime car
France, and Florida from Spain, fair bargain was
made and fair price paid for those provinces.
No one ever dresmt of disputing the legality
and good policy of such acquisitions. Nay,
United States and Mexico, though We saw great
reason to condemn the series of candestne aggres-
sions which preceded and led to the war, nobody
questioned that the conquest Of certain territories
was the natural result of such q struggle. If the
crown of Spain disposed to divest itself Of the
sovereignty Of Cuba by recognizing its indepen-
dence, by transferring the dominion of the island
to another power, we should have no more right to
oppose such a transfer than vs. had to oppose the
sale Of Florida. As long rs the progress Of the
Union is carried by legal pacific, and avo wable
means, not only We are not adverse to it, but we
by extending the range Of trade, and by placing
some of the most fertile parts Of the globe in the
hands Of more energetic and industrious people
than the descendants Of the Spanish race. But it is
violence and fraud which calls forth our strenuous
opposition, and which We hold to be utterly unwor
thy Of people already in possession Of an unlimited
territory and unlimited freedom. The American
notion of propsgating democracy and democratic
government in the world by such means, is an absurd
deusion, unless they are prepared to propagate and
70 m the States and nations to which their own in
situations are applicable It would be as practicable
government to the Hindoos or the Sikhs as to ex
tend pure American democracy over the former CO.
lonies Of Spain. The Anglo Americana may take
their institutions a0ng with them, but beyond the
territories inhabited by their own race they will find
subjects and slaves, not fellow. citizens.
Neither is there any sound foundation for the
parallel which has sometimes been attempted be-
tween the wars in which the British empire has of
late years been engaged and those wars of conquest
to which the Americans seem more and moro prone
Our war with the Caffres may be the result of i'm
prudence, but it is war of necessity, and caa no
more be avoided or terminated than the protraeted
contest of the United States with the Semnoles on
their Indian frontier. The war in China was forced
upon this country by the aggravated insults offered
to the accredited agent Of the Crown, and it was
goriousy terminated by no exclusive or territorial
advantages, but by opening the chief ports OF China
to the trade, not of England but Of the world The
extension Of Indian territory has advanced and
probably is still advancing, in defiance of the efforts
made to arrest its progress by causes which appear
perfectly consistent with dutyto foreign powers
well as to ourselves, which we find it easy to JUS
tfy and TO avow; for though in the affairs of great
empire occurrences may sometimes arise which the
severer laws of morality condemn, yet the feelings
and the convictions Of the people of England scorn
and repudiate political advantages purchased at
4 q
would dare to serve his country at the expense
Of public wrong To maintain these principles
of honor, forbearance and legality, is higher duty
and q more lasting advantage than to indulge the
rapacty of conquest or to extend the foundations of
an empire; and we persuaded that the Com
monwealth of the United States will ensure its
prosperity and perpstuate its institutions BY re-
pressing whatever is Irregular IN It's ambition far
diligence Of its passions at the expense of the rights
Of Others.
The Opening OF the Parana and Uruguay.
From the London News, October Is
To all who had fears that the recent movements
in the Plate would end in greater difficulties aud
overthrow Of one dictator would lead to the substi
tuition Of another-who felt dislike Of Brazilian in
reference in the regulation of rivers which have
their sources in Brazilian territories or had doubts
as to the possibility of settling and arranging any
thing in countries apparently so irritable and quar-
resome-the n sws published on Saturday must give
great relief To those who, like ourselves, autici-
pated nothing but improvement from the downfall
of Rosas, the emancipation of the upper provinces
of the Argentine Confederation from the thraldom
Of Buenos Ayres, and the formation Of general
federal arrangements to give to each province
fair shaIe in the common concerns OF al-that
intelligence is reasonable fulfllment Of their hopes
and anticipations. The result gives remarkable
lesson to diplomacy, whilst it opens new era for
commerce and civilization.
When Lord Aberdeen sent Mr. George Ousely out
in 1915 81 ecial mission to the Plate, his first OBJ
jeot was to save the independence Of the Banda OIL
entail his second, to open up the Uruguay and the
ParaDa to foreign trade These objects the British
and French governments attempted to carry out by
blockade, which lasted no less than three years at
the coat principally Of British trade and taxation
1t failed ENTHUSIASTICALLY and theoretically. The
independence of the Blnda Oriental was not pre-
served-it became mere province of Rosas-.lnd
pste id of opening out the navigation of these rivers
Mr.. Southeron, the British minister az Buenos
Ayres, was at last glad to retire ANONYMOUSLY frem
all interference, by signing treaty which closed
both the Uruguay aad the Parana effectuaily to all
foreign commerce. Such the consequences of
i'll advised interference OF British and French dipo
macy in the affairs Of the Plate. Il. left matters
worse far than it found them; it expended large
and deprived commerce Of great profits; aud il
frmed, to all appearance, the power ana strength Of
Rosas.
Happily, during the recent movements, European
dplomacY had hardly time or opportunity for serious