Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-04-19
National Greatness.


"Great Britain is to Englishmen an appellation
worthy all the means they have used to attain it.
As from one mind and one heart the alteration of
the whole people is offered at the shrine Of this
ignoble ambition.
The happiness and welfare of the people-of
the HUMAN FAMILY comprising the British en-
pire-haye seldom or never been truly regarded
by their legislators. The seeming elevation of
her position before the world and the magnitude
of her influence alone engross the thoughts of
every mind, and alone are indicated by her deeds.
To extend her dominion over widespread regions
in many chimes, to preserve and increase her
population at home, and to sustain the latter in
the prosecution of manufactures and commerce
by means of coerced intercourse with the former,
are objects for which she is ever willing to exert
the utmost energies of her power, to send fleets
and armies to the utmost ends of the EARTH and
to subdue nations even with desoating hand.
America, and China, and India, and portions of
the continent of Europe, and her neighboring
islands, have all known and felt the influence of
her cupidity and ambition and even Africa can
not fail to experience their effects.
"The greatest good of the greatest number"
though sometimes ridiculed, is the true axiom of
human government but it has seldom found its
way to the hearts and understandings of British
statesmen.
To supply the wants of its constituent members
should be the effort of every community; and to
direct Alright and regulate men in the achievement
of this purpose is primary object of their asso-
ciating together in communities. While this
truth is kept in view human government is ever
n blessing; and when remembrance of it ceases
it becomes curse. "The common welfare" is
the great and only purpose; and this comprises
"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
subject to no restraints but such as are necessary
to guarantee these rights to all.
Viewed by those who have this understanding
Of the duties of an organized government the
policy Of Great Britain appears but the wanton
and heartless tyranny of the intelligent few over
the wretched, degraded, and detected many
Artificial distortions are produced in every region
controlled by her abroad, by the suppression of
manufactures to supply their wantsAand at
home, by the almost exclusive direction of the
labors of the people to this department of indus
try.
As the wants of every community are many,
the products Of the labor Of every community
should be many; and the variety of employment
thus produced ever tends to instruct, improve
dignity, and inspirit a people while the minds
and morals of people are sure to deteriorat,
under the opposite influence. Commerce almos
direct between the producer and consumer o
everything needed is thus superinduced; tn
philosophy of commerce is comprehended, wit
the losses of unnecessary intermediate agents
the reciprocal relations of members of society t
each other are illustrated, and the value OF tn
common bond Of protection is appreciated; an
all supplies are obtained in obedience to tn
manifest will Of Providence from the earth arount
us where we dwell The natural aliment of man
that best adapted to his uses in any particula
locality, is in general the growth of that locality
and so, also, with the raiment he should wear
A little reflection will convince every intelligent
mind of the truth of these facts.
II will here be objected that the civilization q
mankind is dependant upon the commerce O
countries remote from each other, and that tn,
tendency Of our theory would be to retard thi
desired work To this we reply that the love Q
luxury and novelty, the spirit of enterprise, espe
cially fostered by the condition of society "
would encourage, producing q love of knowlede
and philanthropic impulses, would be suftcier
to oyerrule this objection. It is not asked ne
desired that there shall be perfect non-intel