The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1852-12-08

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to pursue our prosperous way for a few years
longer in peace, we may do the same again.
But it is now said by some that this policy
must he changed. Europe is ne longer sep
arated from US by a 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 inter
est in her controversies. No one proposes
that We should Join the fraternity Of poten-
tates who have for ages layished the blood
aud treasure of their subjects in maintaining
''the balance Of power" vet it is said We
ought to interfere between contending SOW
ereigns and their subjects, for the purpose
of overthrowing the IpOnarchies Of Europe
and establishing in their place republican
institutions. 1t is alledged that we have
here;ofor pursued a different course from a
sense OF our weakness, but that now our con-
scipus strength dictates a change of policy,
and that it i, consequently our duty to min
gle in the contest and aid those who ere
struggling for liberty.
This isa most seductive b~utdaugerous ap-
peal TO the generous sympathies o. Ireemen.
Enjoying as we do the blessings of a free
government, there is no man who has IN A
merican heart that would not rejoice to see
these blessing extended to all other nations.
We cannot witness the struggle betwF en-
the oppressed and his opPressor anywhere
without the deepest sympathy for the form
er and the most anxious desire for his tri.
umph. Nevertheless, is it prudent or is it
wise TO involve ourselves. in these foreign
wars2
Is it indeed true that we have heretofore re-
Trained from doing so merely from the de-
grading motives Of a conscious weakneSs?-
For the honor of the patriots who have gone
before us, | cannot admit it. Men of The
Revolution who drew the sword against the
expressions of the mother country, and
pledged to Heaven tthere lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor" TO MAINTAIN
their freedom could never have been actUa-
ted 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 us, While W. enjoy the bless
ings for which they 50 nobly fought and bled,
to insinuate it.
The truth is that The course viii h they
pursued was dictated by Il stern sense of in
ternational Justice, by a statesman of pru-
dence and a far-seeing wisdom, looking not
merely to the present necessities, but to the
permanent safety and interest Of the coun-
try,
They knew that the world is governed
less by sympathy than by reason and force;
that it was not possible for this action to be.
come a propaganda of free principles with
out arraying against it the combined pow
ers Of Europe; and that result was mere
likely to be the overthrow of republican lib
rrty here than its establishment there. HIS
tory has been written in vain for those who
can doubt THIS. France had no. sooner cs-
tabIished a republican form of Government
than she manifested a desire to force its bles.
sings on al the world. Her own historian
inform MS that, hearing of some petty act o.
tyGanny in u neighborlng principa lily, "'The
National CoaycnliCn DECLARED that she
would afford succor and fraternity to all ma.
irons who wished to recover their liberty.
and she gave it in charge to the executive
power to give orders to the generals Of the
French armies to aid all citizens who m!rht
have been or should be oppressed in the
cause of libprty." Here was the false step
which led TO her subsequent miSfortunes
She soon found herself involved in war will
all the rest OF Europe. In less than ter
years Der government was changed FROM d
republic toan empire; and finally, after shed,
Ing rivers ofblood, foreign p, wers restored
her cxilcd dynasty, and exhausted Europe
sought peace and repose in unquestioned
ascendancy of monarchial principles. Let
us learn wisdom from her example. Let us
remember that revolutions do Not always
establish freedom. Our own free institutions
were not the offspring of our Revolution
They were planted in the free charters of
self-government under which the English
colonies grew up, and our Revolution only
freed lis from the Dominion of Il for cign
mower, whose government was at variance
with those institutions. But European, ma
tons have had 70 such training for self gov
eminent, and every effort to establish it by
revolutions has been, and must, without that
preparation, continue to be a failure. Lib
crtv, unrtgulated by law, degeneratcs into
anarchy, which soon becomes the most
horrid Of all despQtisms. Our policy is
wisely to govern ourselves, and thereby to
set ssch an example Of natiQnnl j~uStice,
prosperity, and true glory, as shall teach to
all nations the blessings Of self-goxemment,
and the unparalleled enterprise and success Of
a free people.
We live in the age Of progress, and ours
is emphatically a country of progress.-
Within the last half century the number Of
States in this Union has nearly doubled the
population has almost qu%adrupled, and, our
boundaries haze been extended from the
Mississippi to the Pacific. Cur territory is
%chequered over with railroads, and furrowed
will. canals. The invenliNe talents of our
country is excited to tho highest pitch, and
the numerous applications for patents fol
valuble Improvements distinguish this. age
and this people from all others. The genius
of one American has enabled our commerce
to move against wind and tide, and that o.
another has anniI'ilated. distance in the
transmission of intelligence. The whole
country is full of enterprise. Our common
schools are d~iifusing Intelligence among the
people and our industry is fast accumulating
the comforts and l~uxurjes of life. This is
in part owing to our peculiar position, tc
ouI fertile soil. and comaratiyely spare pop
~ulat!on; but much oft is also owing to the
institutions under which we live, to, the free.
dom which every mpn feels to engage in
any useful pursuit, according 10 his taste OF
inclination, and to theentire confidence thai
his person and property will be protected by
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