Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-29
Capability Of the Nation for War.

The possibility Of future war with any Of
the great powers of the earth, naturally leads
to the reflection whether we should be able to
come out of such a controversy with honor
And, in considering such question, it is cheer
ing to reflect that, young as our country is, and
comparatively imperfect in the science of war,
she has always proved unconquerable by all the
enemies whom she has hitherto been called to
encounter. While it is true that her policy is
peace, it is equally true that she has never en-
gagged in war from which she did not emerge
with victory and renown. From the moment
the Anglo-Saxon race was planted on this con-
tinent, down to the present hour, its progress
has been on,card, and every obstacle, whether
of man or nature, has receded before it. In
dian, Frenchmen, Englishmen, and Mexican,
have, one after another, given way before that
Anglo American arm which will ere long sway
the destinies of this continent. If, even in our
colonial days, untaught Yankee volunteers
could blight the laurels of French regulars,
what may not be expected of the soldiers Of
this nation in the full development of its colos-
sal manhood? If, in the days of our revolu-
ton, thirteen feeble colonies containing only a
population Of three millions, could successfully
resist the armies of Great Britain, and at last
extort from that proudest and most powerful
empire Of the earth an acknowledgment of
their independence, what may not be expected
of q nation OF more than twenty millions i'll de-
fence of their honor and their soil?
While this country cannot now, and probably
never will, carry on war of invasion against
any European power, it is not too much to say
that, in n war of defence, we are invincible by
all Europe. An ocean of three thousand miles
spreads between us and the powers Of despotism
its deep waters; we are nation of farmers
possessing the unbounded agricultural resources
of fresh and unworn continent; we can sup
ply within our own limits, food clothing, and
millions Of freemen, imbued with martial
spirit, and apt pupils in the school Of war, as
was shown in the Mexican contest. If we have
not a large regular army, our experience has
shown that volunteers, in conjunction with reg
uars, make most gallant and reliable force,
and the first tap Of the drum would bring them
forth from towns and fields, from mountains
and valleys, by hundreds of thousands. If we
have not large navy, it could be speedily in
creased, while privateers would swarm on every
wave. Another great advantage to our country
in defensive war, and one which she did not
possess in the contest with Great Britain, would
be those internal improvements Of which she
has so generally availed herself Whatever
point of our coast should be menaced by n
foreign feet, the intelligence would be spread
by the electric telegraph with speed which
would laugh to scorn the Cross Of Fire." while,
answering the lightning summons, armies would
be concentrated upon the threatened point by
the magic speed of the railroads which girt the
country in all directions with their iron arms.
Morning Mail.