The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-02
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER !. Iss4.

THE DAILY DISPATCH.
SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER !. Fss.
.sHouLD rHK AMERICAS PEoPLE SrMrA-
rHrxE WITH THE ALLiEs 7'-This Is ques-
ion which is being generally discussed by
he American press. and the almost universal
conclusion arrived ct is. that we have no
cause Of sympathy with the Western powers
Ia what Is on both sides war OF interests
md policy. On this subject the baltimore
American says: "The government Of Russ 10
Is undoubtedly despotic. TheCzar is an Au-
kocrat whose sway is absolute; and Of course
his subjects cannot enjoy the blessings of
or any other kind of freedom.
II is quite likely. too. that he is ambitious
and like all other sovereigns and rulers, seeks
to extend his limits, develop his strength, and
augment his authority among the nations
But, il ali this something new under the
sum- Have constitutional England and Re-
publican France just walked up to the fact
that Russia is not free country-that she is
striving to increase her power and extend the
realms of her Empirei Is Russia more abb
solute or more aggrandizing new, than when
she dismembered Poland? Was she any less
the friend of national right, when she sent
her legions against the brave Hungarisns,
effaced their national existence and consign-
ed them to the dominion of Austrian absolu'
tism? Russia for an hundred years has been
Just as despotic and ambitious as she is to-
day. Yet never until now, have France and
England felt called upon to cross her path, to
question or oppose her progress. On the
contrary, it was English soldiers joined to
those of Russia, that made common cause
against Liberty in France, and waged the
bloodiest ar of modern times to crush Napo-
leon, to reconstruct monarchythat had been
abolished by the French people, and reseat
banished Bourbon King upon the throne
England-the friend of Humanity-saw un-
moved Poland invaded.-her Constitution
destroyed, her Government annihilated, her
sons murdered or exiled, her territory dis
membered and divided as spoil among crown
ed robbers. England-the champion OF Ma
tional Independence-hadn nothing to say, not
a tear to shed, when the northern Autocrats
banded their armies to overwhelm the brave
and noble patriots of Christian nation, and
crush them and theirs beneath the boots OF
brute power. The same and more, perhaps,
may be said of England's ally in this great
crusade for human rights. 1t stands upon the
record, that whenever, in any part of Europe,
Republican Freedom has attempted to raise
its head, it has found its most relentless and
fatal foe in those two powers that now claim
to be champions of Liberty. How many
martyrs of Freedom are at this moment wan
dering among the nations, homeless and
friendless, because these champions of Liber-
ty left them to struggle alone against supe
rior and vandalic force, or gave additional
weight to the blows that crushed them.
1.-THE sympathy of this Republicwill be ex-
tended to the people of Europe in every strug-
gle they may make for deliverance from op-
preston. England would have enlisted the
earnest support of the United States, if she
had heretofore interposed her power for the
vindication of popular rights, popular enligh-
tenment freedom of conscience, and consti
tutional liberty wherever they have encoun-
tered the embattled hosts of absolute power.
And even now, if the allies would prove the
sincerity of their claim to be recognized as
the friends of freedom, by espousing the
causeof freedom in the despotic States of the
Continental they would form an alliance
with the people of Poland, and Hungary, and
Germany and Italy, and fight their battles,
they would receive the sympathy which they
complain is now withheld. But how can the
American Republican sympathize with a
cause which courts the alliance of Austria,
and promises support to one despot while re-
sisting another %
These views of the American will COM
mend themselves to every man of common
sense. There are other reasons, also, which
naturally cause Americans to withhold their
sympathy from the allied powers, in war in
which no principle of any value to us is in
volved. For the French, it is true, our peo-
pie have only friendly feelings, the result of
an ancient alliance and of almost uninterrup-
ted concord from the first moment of our ma
ti0nal existence. For England, notwithstand-
ing two wars, there is, to say nothing of the
ties of kindred blood and common tongue,
admiration of her greatness her wisdom, her
valor, and the sterling qualities of her char
acters. There are few Americans, we sup
pose, who, if called upon toname the greatest
nation, in their opinion, of the old world, in
all in its annals, greater than Rome or Greece
who would not point to England. Yet, not
withstanding these just and natural feelings,
the course of the British government has
been such asnot only to slienatethe affections
of Americans, but to make them anxious,
from the instinct of self preservation, that
there should be no farther accession to Bri-
fish power. While the government of Rus
STA. with which no American can entertain
the slightest sympathy, has uniformly treated
this country with respect and even kindness;
whilst she has never. at any period of eur
history, interfered with our domestic affairs,
and never, by open hostility nor secret arts,
sought to thwart our progress, -Great Bri
tain, next to our own the freest coun.
try in the world, Great Rrita;o from ,vb;oh