The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-10-20
Is an European War Dssirable7


are terrible to contemplate, and perhaps
under no circumstances is war justifiable OF
desirable. We propose briefly to view the
prospective war in Europe with regard to
ourselves.
With respect to the United States then
we maintain that general war among the
European powers, as the one now threaten
ed, will rebound to our interests.
The immediate result of declaration OF
war, is in our country the depression Of the
money market. Wall street, New York,
has been compared to barometer, which
foretells the approaching storm among the
nations of the earth, and as the money mar
ket is becoming tighter, it is pretty eviden,
the lurid signs of war are reddening the
Eastern horizon.
1t is universally admitted that if wal
break out in Europe now it must become
general, in that case the U. States being
neutral must have the carrying trade of the
ocean and our commerce become world
wide. "The greater the number of nations
engaged in it, the wider the opening for
American labor. If the navies Of England
and France are gathered in the Egean and
the Euxine, into whose hands will the car
rying trade fall! viii not the neutral bot
toms OF America contain, and the American
flag cover, the main portion of the vast ma
terials which are to be trans ported from
country to country! Everything that floats,
if the stars and stripes shall swing from its
masts, will be filled to repletion. They can
command their own reward, and what busi-
ness has ever been discovered that can COM
pare, in its overaowing compensations, with
the carrying trade, on land or main! Give
US the carrying business of the world, and
we buy everything we need II Russia,
Turkey, Austria, England, and France, are
to be engaged in the general melee-draw-
ing in, perhaps, other allies and dependen-
cies-there will be compensatory business
enough for every steamer, ship, schooner,
and tu,, known to our waters. Nav, new
+ rests may fall, and speedily ride the waves,
upbearing the rich cargoes that will throng
the shores"
The extension of our commerce would
have It's effect upon every branch of indus
try. American manufactures would be
quickened, while the demand would be SO
great that the price of labor would advance.
la the language of the New York Times.
"who would feed and clothe the contendinp
hosts! Who supply the deficiency caused
by recruiting from the ranks Of productive
industry. to fill the absent battallionsl The
labor thus suddenly withdrawn from the arts
of peace; would leave vacuum towards
which, with the unerring instincts of trade,
would rush the various growth of American
soil. and the needed products of American
manufacture. In such cases, too, prices
would be amply remuneratiye. The nation
may make its own terms. The control of
the carrying trade would also tend, materi-
ally, to throw the business Of supplying Eu-
rope into our hands"
Commerce and manufactures would not
alone be benefited; agriculture, "every func-
ton of which is allied to virtue" would be
equally advantaged Our soil would yield
as abundantly and the market being extend
ed and the demand so great, prices Of every
article of produce that could be shipped to
foreign port, would be advanced Lead,
iron and coal would be as plentfuly pro-
duced and in as constant requisition. These
things must have tendency to increase
money aud make times easier. While from
the bellgerant state of things in Europe,
foreign capital would seek this country for
investment Collectively then and selfish
" we admit, that, with some of our cotcm-
poraries, we see nothing to produce fear in
the warlke aspect of things in Europe.
But there is another view of the state of
things which is more ennobling, more pleas
ant to the contemplation Of the humane and
philanthropic. 1t is this: Nothing could
be more certain to advance the cause Of lib
erty and enfranchisem in Europe, moth
ing so sure to break the chains of despo-
tism, and upset the long established habits
of subserviency to hereditary power, as a
general, or, indeed, universal European
war Indeed, without such an event, it is
idle to hope for European liberty, and it
may be no paradox for the warmcst and
truest lover of humanity and human hapPi-
ness to pray with all his heart for acar, un-
til the kingdoms of this world shall learn
that all men are sovercigns.
The Lower Rapids.
The Lower Rapids are becoming awful
Every boat that has occasion to pass them
gets stuck on the rocks. The Wisconsin
on her last trip knocked q hole in her bot
tom, breaking seven or eight of her hull
timbers, and was forcel to return here for
-enairs The Montauk had a several days