The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-11
Our Foreign Relations and Present PO-
slti0n.

plepdlu associates IN the CABINET. tnaL Wliic
they are playing game of fox and geese with
score or so of petty clerks and expectants in
the New York Custom House, or visiting ana
thamas upon Mr.. Edwa ards Lester for doubling
the orthodoxy of free soil agitators, in or out OF
office, the great Powers of Europe have been
carefully at work in accommodating our politi-
cal system, with double view OF ascertaining
its bearings upon them and the best means OF
dividing our councils and Gripping our power
as a nation?
While the Cabinet at Washington finds con-
genial employment in the small tricks and
weak devices of half dozen camp followers
and suffers by whom Gen. Pierce is surrounded,
the great issue between Europe and America
is being settled and pressed for trial. What
ever may be the signs of war in the East and
however men may speculate upon them, there
is no question there which has not been practi-
cally decided. The power Of Russia is as COM
plete on the Continent of Europe as that of the
United States on this Continent. The great
controversy which the future conceals is not
between Russia and Turkey, but between
Russia and the United States Say what you
will--give to England all the power she now
asks make Austria perpetual empire, assure
to France oil that she posses, yield to the Ger
man States what you please, and when you have
done there still remains before you the colossal
power Of the Muscovite Gar stretching his arms
East, West North, and South-consolidating
his energies, charging his capacities by all the
means that can strengthen his subjects, stimu-
lating industry. encouraging and patronizing
the arts, forcing and appr opriating channels
of commerce at every desirable point-now
protecting, then despoilng taking from Swe-
den more than remains to that ancient king
dom, from Poland what is equal to the Aus
trian empire, from Turkey in Europe what is
nearly equal to Prussia, from Turkey in Asia
as much as all the smaller States of Germany,
Belgium, and Holland together, from Persia
the area Of England, from Tartary an extent
equal to Turkey in Europe, Greece, Italy, and
Spain. Her frontier has been advanced seven
hundred miles towards Berlin and Vienna four
hundred miles towards Constantinople she has
reached and now passed the Vistula, the
Danube, and the Araxes. She now presses
again upon Turkey, China and Japan, and
holds in her hands the kingdom Of Denmark to
open her to the North Sea.
Such, in word. is portrait of the great
rival power to America Russia.
Two principles underlie the movements of
these contestants for dominion. Russia is a
naked, unmitigated military despotism-it rests
upon the Asiatic principle in government, and
is avowedly sustained by the divine right Of
the Gar to reign, and passive obedience on the
part of his subjects. To this we oppose the as
ISOLATION of American freemen and ultimately,
perhaps much sooner than is expected, the great
struggle will come off between these rival and
antagonistic powers.
Even now their outposts are in conflict Since
the American Revolution this government has
been performing its silent work of conquest up
on the weaker but opposing European monarch
ical system. The wars Of Napoleon were sus-
aimed by the republican spirit of Western Eu-
Iope contending with the extreme doctrines of
control which prevailed in England, France.
Austria, Italy, Spain and Russia. The very
question raised was that Of legitimacy; but it
was decided without consulting the power that
really brought on the issue. The republican
movement in Europe in 1S4s was another con-
test between the cutposts of the opposing prin-
ciples. These struggles have not borne at all
upon the main questionable real parties to the
struggle. They have, however, been traced by
every Europern government to their source
to the United States. There is not Cabinet in
the world where the great Powers are repre-
sented that does not regard this government
as not only the true author of all the revolu-
tionary movements on the continent-as the
special disturber of Western Europe-but the
only formidable obstacle to the dominion of des-
potism hereafter. The peace of the Continent
can not be maintained SO long as the United
States presents such an example Of prosperity,
wealth and power, in an opposing, an antago-
nistic system The Cabinet at Washington
should remember this great fact. 1t is time that
they begin to appreciate their responsibility
and to learn the bearing Of their policy upon
international as we'll as mere local affairs. The
movements Of governments on the other side Of
the water effect our position and render neces-
sary every precaution. The revolution in
France and the establishment there of the En-
pirethe critical position and dou btful tenure of
its Emperor-the sudden and friendly union
between the Cabinets Of London and Paris
their subserviency to Russia on the Eastern
question-their abandonment of Turkey and
their surrender to the Gar the control of Eu-
rope, involving at once the immolation of Tur-
key and the sacrifice of Denmark; all these
events have bearing upon the United States
and will certainly affect our political and com
mercial relations with the world.
lie imposcih1a IN ovarInoL tho cor;ao p
pid and startling political movements which in
Europe have followed each other in quick sue
cession during the last year; and especially so
as it is now manifest that their tendency if not
their purpose has been more to bear upon the
United States, and to divide their strength
than upon any other Power, not excepting Tur-