Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-27
The War Flurry.

1T the New York newspapers are to be
credited, the New York exchange believes in
the belligerous Union, and the stocks are
war. We n puJ.sstttlh st the pr19ssBBeet OF Spanish
it is worth. Bulls and bears are always
sensitive creatures yet, after all, gentlemen
with money to lose may well be frightened at
the tantrums of an administration hopelessly
bankrupt. 1t cannot be denied that logic
points with unmistakable directness towards
hostilties War would be the foolishest
thing in the world; the toolishest thing in
the world is Just what the President would be
likeliest to do ergo, the President will go to
war Without an army, without navy
without a casus bell,, in the name Of nonsense
why should not Franklin Pierce throw down
the gauntlet He may be soundly drubbed
abroad, but he is used to it at home. He may
ruin the prosperity of the country, but he has
already destroyed its domestic peace. He
may be guilty of an indefensible breach of
the comfy of nations, but he has already
disregarded the comfy of the State. Why
should he higgle at an assault upon Spain,
when he has trample upon the internal trea-
ties of the country, the concessions and com
promises, which for years had been regarded
as the safeguard of the Federal Union.
The mystery which shrouds the mission of
the San Jacinto affords the alarmists an
ample subject for sulphurous disquisition. -
The ready rashness of Capt. Hollins may find
an imitater in Capt. McCauley. He, too may
have instructions meaning little or much, as
they may me hereafter construed by time
serving Cabinet. He, too, may be led by the
devil Of ambition into shame galantries; and
in quest of newspaper notoriety, with the
Presidency in the perspective, he may batter
down villages and treat errant fishing smacks
to broadside.
And yet we do not believe that there will be
a war. A nation, in times like these, cannot
afford to wage hostilities without sufficient
cause. Considering its antecedents, such a
contest, thaough armads should he engaged
and armies of imperial splendor take the field
could not shake off its petty larcenous charac-
ter, OF rise above the dignity of squahble.
The moral sense of the age-that great in
| ternational conscience, which neither kings
nor presidents can disregard-frowns upon
| the thieving Of States as it never irowned
before The man who seeks to compromise the
naton-the Soule set Of bad actors and bad
writers-are very insignificant in the eyes OF
Americans. Saunders is scribbler. Davis
a mouthing ranter. Pierce pigmy, Soult
broken minister. Buchanan bad states
man in bad dotage. The intellect of the
people has gauged these men, and knows
their shallowness. The country Will not per
nit war declared without cause, and carried
on, as such war would be, without success
or ability. The safety of the nation is in the
imbecility of the Cabinet. If it invokes the
devil of war, it will be the first to run from
the demon of its own calling. lifts blunders
create the necessary for new diplomacy, il
will take refuge, with perfect JOY, in th'
paper contest of protocols. The big talk o
the Union cannot build frigates or enrol ar
mics. A Secretary of War without any
troops is a harmless creature, and SO is {
President without any brains. Boston Atlas