Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-24
Our Foreign Relation s.

The questions of paramount importance
for the new administration, are those reat-
ing to our foreign policy. How are we to
be recognized aud felt by other nations p
What sort of power on earth is this nation
to be! These questions are becoming ur-
gent and must be answered 1t matters lit
tie, comparatively, who are made post mas.
tors, collectors, sub-treasurers, and the like
but the Presidents answer to these questions
is Of the utmost consequence. Neither the
present state of the world nor our own ma
tlonal interests and pretentons can allow
them to put off.
President Fillmore has trihed with them
through tmidity and incompetency. Great
Britain has presumed (because she saw that
she could presume) to violate the Clayton
and BuIwer treaty by retaining her position
in Central America, an behaving atrocious-
Iy towards Honduras. That piratical organ.
izaton Of the "Colony of the Bay of Is
lands" has been followed up by further out
RACES against the State of Honduras, if the
last news from that quarter is correct. By
virtue of the existing treaty, Great Britain
is responsible to the United States for this
conduct; but she seems to act on the as
sumption that brother jonathan has become
cautious old fogy who sits in his easy chair
and talks bombast, save when he has an OPP
po7tuniy to beabor some weak and con-
templble antagonist Mr. Fillmore and
Mr.. Polk, too, so conducted as to encourage
this notion. What will become of the new
administration
We incline to the opinion that President
Pierce will not follow in the footsteps Of
his Immediate predecessor 1t appears that
his Cabinet has already acted on this Hon
duras matter, and resolved to deal with it
thoroughly If the proper course is taken,
John Bull will explain, and back out, for be
is not ready to persevere in the practice Of
slroclous injustice, at the expense of serl-
Gus quarrel with the United States. lie
would not do this if the sky of Europe were
bright and tranquil He cannot afford to
do it while that portentlous thunder-cluud
is gathering in the East But, whatever he
may think or do, our national interest aud
character are too directly involved, to allow
further rltllng aud weakness to be ether
wise than dsIraceful From what quarter
the influence comes to dcta'e such lrifllng,
may lie seen by observing who they are in
Congress that smoke nightly with an erup-
ton of terribly brave words when their pa
trotlsm is not directly called to practical
uses, but Immediately dodge round some
corner when serious issue approaches 1t
is always safest, noblest, and best, to be
without fear. and without reproach
But, we repeat, that, in our view, ser.
Gus difficulty between England and the IT,
nlted States does not seem possible. The
intimate relations between the people of
the two countries, the position of England
with respect to the more despotic powers Of
Europe. and multitude of 9th r. reasons
forbid it, and these reasons will have po-
tenllal influence to set matters right in Cen
trail America, if our government, instead
OF paitering and playing the fol, becomes
reasonable, resolute, and decisive.
Therefore, the question where and how
will the influence of our government be
felt. in the coming struggle in Europe, S
still more important. This question reach
es farther. and involves more. All over
the Unlted States, and all over Europe.
here are brave aud earnest men, who are
anxiously listening for the answer to it,
They know where Russia aud the despots
will be found. The wall from the blood
soaked feds and prisons of Hungary and
Italy, tells that. But they are not certain
no, they are doubtful and ANXIOUS, as to
what this Democratic Republic will do
1t is now well nigh certain that President
Pierce must speak to this question clearly,
and with out much delay A war between
Austria and Turkey will move all Europe
and make the question urgent. We shall
how see it will be answered. Communicable.