The Empire County argus. [volume] (Coloma, El Dorado County, Cal.) 1853-1857, 1853-12-24


to develop their establishments in the Pacific
Without dwelling, therefore, upon the dishonor
which must devolve upon Americans, if they, the
sons of Europe, with arms young and powerful,
crossed upon their breasts should behold their moth
er-country struggling to stay the triumphant flight
of civil and religious despotism, every interest,
present and future, of the United States is vitality
concerned in the issue of the Eastern difficulties.
We fear not to affirm, by his venerable memory
that, if Washington lived, he would unhestatingly
cast the sword of free America into the balance
where the rights of nationality are weighed
1t is calumnous of that hero of patriotism, of vir-
tue, and self-abnegation, to praise him for having
in 1913, erected a national egotism into SYSTEM
when he only acted in obedience to a necessity ap-
parent to his reason, and in spite of the painful
murmurs of his heart
Recall in fact the situation of France attacked
by the most powerful of Coalitions and that of the
United States inhabited by three millions of people,
barely established in the possession of liberty with
finances exhausted with the wreck of an army
which had sought to make it's chief king; divided
by hostile parties which it would have bafled the
constancy and wisdom of any other than Washing
ton to reconcile. The great man, for whom
army most appropriately put on mourning, did not,
under such circumstances, seek to develop theories
pretending to immutablity-he nobly and simply
stopped short at what was possible.
On the 10th of June, 1874, he ordered Mr.. Mon
roe, then Minister of the United States in France,
to declare to the Government of the Republic, that
the steady good wishes of the American Union were
for the success of the French Revolutions and that
he, Washington was personally incapable of re-
cognizeng in any foreign prince the right of inter-
ference with our internal affairs. A few months
later, he instructed Mr. Jay American Minister in
London, to sound the Ambassadors of the secondary
maritime powers on the possibility ofan alliance in
defence of the principle Of armed neutrality-an al
e. H.
to France and which England prevented by con-
cluding with the United States treaty, which she
evaded and then so manifestly violated as to cause
in l8l3 the war with the United States But the
following is the most decisive on the subject of a-
ances:
In l797 project ofaliance was formed between
the Union, England, and South America, to liberate
the latter from the dominion of Spain. Washing
ton, who had retired into private life, consented to
place himself at the head of the American army,
and gave the second command to General Hamilton
1t was not therefore, his opinion that America
should refuse when the rights of nationaties were
involved, to enter into alliance with Europe That
which he did discountcnance most peremptorily
were offensive and defensive alliances without di-
rect specific object The rest he left to time and
the prudence of his countrymen. This idea is well
conveyed in the celebrated farewell address, in
which he recommends his countrymen to make no
treaties even in matters of commerce, which might
not be amended or abandoned after time, in order
to profit by the suggestions of experience and al
tered times. And have they not altered ! Can
the United States, which, sixty years ago, had but
three millions ofinhabtants, and now counts twen-
tythree, hesitate to do in the of its actu-
al strength, that which Washington resolved or at
tempted to do according to the forces his epoch
A nation with an armed and exercised militia of one
millon-with more ships and seamen than Eng
land herself-abounding in gold, and labor-which
is wealth far more precious than gold-can such a
nation be excused if she seek to secude herself in
ungrateful self-consderation, in face of policy
which France combatted when it was sought to be
applied to America 1t is not probable-it is not
possible. General Pierce, the choice of the Demo-
cratic party in his message of the Cd Dec, will
clear away from Washingtons true policy the clouds
with which it has been studiously obscured; the
rights of nationality will count another champion ;
and the world will see an alliance, truly Holy bear
ing on its banners the words the pledge of victory
=" Moral and Material Progress; Political and Re-
ligious Liberty; Respect for Nationalities