Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-05
A Great Stroke Of Republican Policy

that much of the sympathy which Frank
lin managed to create abroad for his
struggling countrymen in our revolution
airy times, grew out of the austerity with
which he practised in his walk in society,
the simple republicanism of American in
situations. Monarchs and courtiers re-
vered him-were awe-stricken in the
presence of his simple grandeur-while
the millions almost adored him, as the
living representation of the principle of
equal rights, privileges and advantages,
on the universal supremacy of which, they
looked, even then, for termination of the
atrocious civil disabilities under which
they rested everywhere. Our rulers, since
Franklin's day, have committed great
oversight, in failing to insist that the rep
resentatives Of America abroad should al
ways remain American in reality: eschew-
ing the follies. fripperies, manners and
habits which pervade the different courts
to which they may be accredited, and
which grow wholly out of anti-American
views of the rights of the governed, on
which the few justify themselves in hold
ing the many in political slavery. We
rejoice that, at length, the Government OF
the United States realize that they may
legally and peacefully keep before the
eyes fall, in every monarchical country,
living representations of the principle and
of the superiority of American institu-
tons, in our representatives of all grades
abroad. 1t was, indeed, wise and far
seeing policy which dictated Secretary
Marcy's recent circular letter to his su-
bordinates in foreign countries. He has
ordered them, in fact, to demonstrate to
all that, under our system, equality
reigns; that its strength is in the univer-
sal conviction that it is just and benefi-
cent to all, in all it's influences. That it
IS stronger than any other system of gov
eminent, because it gives no honest cause
for efforts to destroy its supremacy That
it fears no evil from within, because it
seeks no advantage for any class of its
citizens at the expense of other classes.
In fine, that it's ordinances are every
where supreme, without aid in their en-
forcement, other than that arising from
its moral power over all within its juris.
diction, without regard to race, educa-
ton, original associations, or difference in
condition, temper, character or intellect.
If it answers for the heterogeneous and
conglomerated population of the United
States, in which is now infused so large
portion Of the elements regarded (be-
fore their emigration to our shores) most
dangerous to the stability of all govern
ment, why may it not answer for any
homogeneous population Civilized and
cultivated) of the Old World2 This is
the question which is constantly to be in
the minds of those who are, hereafter, to
see American public functionaries abroad,
just as they are always to be seen at
home. With this influence before the
eyes Of the oppressed of Europe, their
hearts will be strengthened greatly for
their future struggles with their oppres-
sors. They number two hundred and
twenty-five millions, while the latter
number only twenty five millions. The
great drawback under which they have
labored, so far, is the temerity of the
property-holding interest, which, hereto
fore, has always dreaded change. The
altered customs, habits and appearance
of American representatives abroad, I'M
der Secretary Marcy's instructions, will
familiarize that powerful interest with
the fact, that free government, in the
hands of the people themselves, mot in
those of demagogue adventurers,l can be
upheld without danger to the permanence
of honest rights in property. This ap-
pears to us to be well-nigh all that is
wanted to insure the speedy political re-
generation of Europe. These reflections
have arisen in our mind from reading
short passage in late letter of the Paris
correspondent of the London Times, de-
scrptive of the effect of Secretary Marcy's
instructions, as already carried out by
our acting Charge at the French capital.
The passage we refer to, is as follows, viz:
''Among the diplomatic corps was, Of course
Mr. Sanford, the Charge d'AffairsI nc tha