Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-16
SOUTHERN DEMOCRACY"

A leading Southern paper, perhaps the most
influential organ Of what goes by the name Of
Southern Democracy, argues the cause Of Rus
STA, against Turkey, France, and England,
with much feeling. II ridiculcs the sympathy
manifested by portions Of the American People
with the champions of Freedom in Europe, and
speaks in high terms Of tho condition Of the
serfs Of Russia, as compared with that Of the
masses in England and France.
1t is the uniform testimony Of intelligent
writer's it says, " that the Russian peasantry,
or people are more content, enjoy larger
measure Of social and domestic comfort, and
are more attached to their institutions, than
the same class under any other Government in
Europe. We discern among the masses in
Russia more Of the spirit Of progress than is
anywhere else perceptible on the surface OF
European society. In contrast with this, pic
ture, let the American freeman contemplate
the condition of English operatives and the
Irish peasantry or the universal silence and
stiffness of despotism which brood over France,
and determine on which side he will enlist his
his sympathies.'
Our Southern neighbor doubtless thinks that
tho serfs Of Russia arc about as well off as the
slaves Of America. "a fellow feeling makes
us wondrous kind" England and France have
been so ruthless as to emancipate their slaves
Russia likes the knout as well as ever.
aWhy then, have we become the enthusiast
tic partisans of France and England, in their
struggle with Russia? Russia is, in the lam
euage Of jackson, our early and steadfast
friend France and England, on the contrary,
are onr rivals and enemies They have inter
rupted our commerce, insulted our flag, baffled
our diplomacy, and have sought in every other
way to arrest our growing power"
Such is the tone Of the entire article-com-
plimentary to Russia, denunciatory Of France
and England.
AS to the notion that continental war
will benefit this country, it pronounoes it q
delusion 1t will profit the North, to be sure,
but damage the South.
0The price OF agricultural products will be
enhanced, and to that extent will the poor of
our own country suffer. The commercial and
manufacturing interests of the North will
prosper in the storm, but the industry OF the
South will be paralyEed. The-great staple of
cotton-the basis OF our benign institution OF
Slavery-will become drug in the market
And thus we applaud England and France
for precipitating crisis which sound policy
would counsel us to deprecate"
Now listen to tho closing paragraph of this
Southern Democrat, in which he recommends
an alliance with Russia:
aWhat principle shall dictate the policy of
this Government under such circumstances
Shall we, like The canting fanatic obey the i'm
pulse of a morbid philanthropy or shall We
steer our course By marims Of STATE? Shall we
feel more concern for the effete Empire Of the
barbarous Turk, than for our own interests
Shall We yield to the influence Of England and
France, and passively fall victim to their in
trigues, or shall qce hroio out the hand Of friend
ship 10 Russia and thus dbdte their aspiring
prefensions and counterGct their ominous alb
ancea England and France hate our republi-
can institutions, and dread eur maritime SUI
prcmacy. Their purpose il to impair our
strength and impede our growth. We have a
resource which win not fail in the extremity
to which they seem disposed to drive us"
This resource" we presume, is, the alliance
Of Russia and The seizure Of Cuba!
This is Southern Democracy "a Democra-
cy that affects Native Americanism, that hates
the alien, that despises the masses Of the People
in Europe, that abhors the causes Of Revolution,
that sneers at the champions Of Liberal Institu-
tions abroad, that admires Russian Serfdom,
courts the alliance OF Russian Despotism,
and would rob Spain Of Cuba, for the sake Of
giving stability to the benign institution Of
slavery And this is tho Democracy that
holds the Administration in it's fist, and the
Northern socalled Democracy, under its heel.