New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-13

M
tery of whatever Department csnnot be neg'l'ei
he must eralt his office and cry aloadi Dc must
u.e iLe poets privilege Of making tae saD9cF
matter tie topm IT thing in creation; ne nl'N
ssy il il a berefcelt institution, founded ~ tae
wisdom of our fathers bus which sn ungeaeroai
or p.rsinOnious spirit prevents from receiving
that general extension due 70 the Pursuiss an
destiaies Of great snd free people. Ii 1t DO
diploua,y--Our growing relations with Inn ouc-
toe or Pats gonia demand thai 4 Charge or Consul
should be superseded By full Minister. II " DC
the Poet Ofice-the wisdom Of depudng Govern
mept to carry letters is indisputable, bat the
hostage paid is not enough; raise it, therefore
though individuals are ready to take the JOB on
the Governments hands at present rates, and do
the work as well or better. If it be the Navy
in view Of the great war ia Europe, it is incdm-
bent on people with tens of thousands mpes
of sea coast, and an omnipresent commerce. to
have a protecting nsvy-s steam navy, and so
forth. If it be the Army-re are assured that
the exposed condition of the frontiers is "de-
"plorsble;' and that if they had been properly
cusrded. the Seminole and Black Hawk wars
would have been avoided.
Ina word, it is reduced to business that each
head of Department should ask for more money,
and give reasons therefor. When the ordinary
reasons required variety, the Secretary, as in the
case of Mr.. Dobbin, tells us grayely that the
prosperity of the country is increased by taxing
the people, and then employing them out OF the
taxes. If that be true OF ten thousand people, ii
is true of twenty FIVE millions; and everybody,
accordingly should be fed out of the treasury.
Col. Jefferson Davis, however, does not in his
War Report enter into the region of distractions;
be takes the ground that forts should be manned
for defense and the western frontier largely re-
cruited with protecting soldiers. On the hrst OF
these points, it may be worth our while to remen-
Der that the chances of war are in the direct ratio
ofthe preparations for war. IfEngland and France
had not standi0g armies, they would not have
war with Russs; aud as the English visitors to
Paris would he without English war debts hall
million at least year, it would be impossible
for any French Government TO make war on 80
profitable neighbor. Then, as to the second
proposition-that the frontiers are exposed, and
should be protected by large force, the Secre
tary forgets that such frontiers and ever must
be exposed. The price for leaving the haunts OF
civilization, and rushing to the verge or int) the
bosom Of savage life, is exposure aud danger,
and those things have their good effects in pronot-
ing couroee-making heroes AMI herOines. If
the army were multiplied to fifty thousand, the
individual reliance of the far settlers would
be so far diminished that they would be no better
protected than they are now; but if the army
were abolished, selfcoDstiiuted defenders-free-
rsDgers--uen of the Marion stamp enlisted to
serve when needed and at other times miuding
their own affairs, and tillDg their own fields,
would drive the savsges to the wall. The help
lessness Of people is in the direct ratio of their
dependence on Government, and the progress
of people is exactly measured by the destru'-
ton of the preponderances of the governing
power
The tendencies of our so called Democratic
classes and policemen at Washington are, how
ever all against the diminution of he central
authority which they WELD. Empire is eK-
tended by war, aud is maintained by war
on a small scale; and the idea Of prOduc-
ton ct home is suPplaued BY that of commerce
sbrOSd, and the error that commerce nseds ships
and capuons for prote elton is cherruped add
chstiered equally 10 schoOl.b0y addresses with
the solemn intonatons on the same subject By
statesmen. These ideas of departed age should
be cOnsigued to their tombs and the heal.hfut
belief Of a selfrelying people take their place.