New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-03
HOWAMERICA SHOULD VIE WTHE WAR.

CoyTespopcence N
LONDON, Friday, Dec. IS, 1854.
War in the Crimea, and the heroism of the French
and Engli.h soldiers are the al-absorbng topics OF
thought and conversation in this country. The for
times of conendng armies interest the feelings and
excite the passions Of the nation to degree that al
mott parslyzes cool reflection on the principles and
aims for which the hostile powers fercely
tending; and those who rashly venture ike John
Bright the Quaker to criticize the policy Of wsrrisg
against Christian Russia, {" holy Russia, to defend
the Turk and to uphold Mohammedan dominion in the
Es.t, are burnt in efigy by their towLsmen, and
sent TO coventry by national indifference to their
opinions. Nobody likes for its sake, and
all would gladly vote for peace, if it possible
with safety to the welfare of the Western nations;
but every body feels that Russia threatens exist
ence as a nation if we allow her to absorb the
Turkish Empire 1t is not, part, war Of
principle, but Of sheer necessity. 1t i, not the
Turk we are defending or the Mosem faith for their
own sskes ~ a reglen aud people but a. Aecssss-
~ baIriers to Russian arms and policy in that par
ticalar region Of the globe II is rot against Russia,
ss theocratic mo sTohy or despotism that we are
III bling but huge mons er, that would eat rs up
If we allowed it to grow large enough 10 overpossr
us aid approach bear enough to nererfrre With our
free ecion in the Mediterranean sea The common
sense Of England and Of France feel this Instructive
w. apart from the averOn OF free nations for deseot
ic barbsIi.m; but msny peope reason as il principle
sone were the root and cause Of war between the
civilized AID the barbarian powers of Europe FMS
is cause of some Misunderstanding among different
parties who are otherwise agreed Ia hating Russia
and her iron despoiisin. Many Of the Liberals and
Radicals IN EDgand think win kossuth, and the tx.
lies of Poland, Hungary and Italy that We should pro-
claim at once war Of principle against all despDtc
thrones of Europe, and excite the people TO rise
against the Governments wherever Lber y IA crushed
INtfh
England as nation, thinks it could ce-sfally
ACHE alone and is not inclined hope tor aid OF
boy cal value and ethc ency, in such undertaking,
Il ON any OF the nations most immediately interested
in The re.ult If the struggle l. myself was once of
the opinion n at Ems land stOulc acOp that priocps
q hctioD but thu II il in l-fS when all the peo
ple were il iinst their grants ami before the
men who urged thu nations to rebel against their
Governments had prove cd themselves uut rule aud
govern on a sOuncer system Now, deem it utterly
practicable aud delusive for the present generation
TO attempt IT, with the means at their command aud
tie psrs,ivey iilpr pared state OF public thought
and feeling. ! ANXIOUS, therefore that the
ton should be laid aside for one of more lmme-
diate importance 10 the cause Of liberal growth
ard progress; e, that Of the cefeai OF Russia
and her baroarous designs on Eurc,v. When That
Las been accomplished we can discuss at leisure
the principles and policy OF free development 10 ell
The civilized and humatized nations OF Ihe earth. /
can readily excuse kossuih and the exles of Italy,
Poland aud Hungary for criicIsing English policy and
actcs in the present war, because their feelings and
their hopes are naturally much excited under present
circumstances; but tue friends OF liberty aud truth In
England and Americs who are living In their nstlve
or adopted homes. easily be cool ~ judging OF The
tbircs that be done ana must be done, compared
th what e heart cJulo with wrrc possible, aud tue
imagination fonole as near reality The hrst thog
to be allied if possible at present, Is to satisfy the
Governments OF Germany that France and E0gland
have no with to undertake general crusade az .lhet
II principles Of monarchy IN Europe, or TO Interfere
with the Internal Government OF any State but merely
To preveLt State fTcm growing into such proper
toIs would interfere with national existence on the
present basis Prussia and Austria both parayze
by the fear of internal revolutions ana though tnelr
real interests woud lead them TO join the western ALI
anCe in favor Of Turkey and the balance of power IN
Europe In the disturbance Of which they are more
pe all, tire atened than still they dare not move
10 aid thfmselves from fear Of losing more than they
might gain by alternating Prussia while the possolty
If rev olution tares them in the face. No douot th5n
fancy copiures mp the specter Of rebellion ohly or inc
revolution which threatened and alarmed them ia IeiS
is virtually deac The principles OF hoesty s-lu i've
in all the hearts If Europe but the revolution a. en-
bodied in the men and the ideas OF !si-, is nov
corpse ard never can be galvanized INTO the mere
tendance even Of a living body. New IDEAS ana
lew men may rise aud will 10 animate another ge1er
stiou in behalf of liberty and progress, but that
which is past is past and cannot rise again IN the
same form aud spirit The fret act Of the revo luton
sry drama has been closed by Napoleon Ill, and
Nicholas has introduced the second differing entrely
from the fr.i in character and special am. thodsn
EQUALLY, perhaps. W = ni-usl cuN ia A4o
dtsiens OF Providence Practically, however, En-
ola, and France believe that POLAND, Hungary and
ltalv. surrour doc as they by powerful nations,
and divided as they BY theore. and creeds nnl-
mersble ara impraciicable. could not be reconsii-
iu,ed with the ai6 of popular opinions only and the
syssble armies of constitutional nations. They be-
neye in the ero~h OF liberty aid the ultimate I'll
umph Of liberal institutions over cespouc govern
inents but not in the immediate power OF dlsorSah
lied masses 10 cOnieJd wish disciplined and vel or
csrizod gions Englsrd and Frsn,e, therefore are
rot inclined 10 encourage revolutionary iaiares ~
Germany ard Italy ana those who write anu speak
.. If this were possible however much they might
6eire twere co. are only alarming the Govern nenis
Of GERMANY end Austria and preventing them IRON
Joining the Western Alliance to reduce iae power OF
kuaiA 49,,
have dweli chiefly on this one question, bee sase
Il, IL the one great point OF controversy here II all tue
mot intelligent circles Of society mean the society
a. liberal and progressive men and W. mem me
GREAT uns. Of the people 20 instinciyely Win she
war a. il IT, and With the Government that conducts
IL and the aisiocrsc classes have no sym2a,hy Win
lib, real ideas or enmisy against the monar hica pn-
cieI,. of Government in Germany or anywhere else.
have no doubt that ali intelligent thinkers 10 Amer.
lea will 81 upathize with the Western AAancs OF
Europe and the bravery OF our armies against 'ne
Russian barbariaps and their hbertycrushng des pot
i.m We may of course. believe that Queen victoria
and the Emperor Napoleon do not preside over w
mott institutions that could be imasine1 ou
thew. nevertheless rule over the two mos civitea
spd free countries OF Europe; and, as active Pnou
of cyiliz alton against berbartsn they ue-sfNe