New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-25

toward America Since they seem to think war
is over with tue Autocrat they foam away at the
democrats on this side. Having got into the vein
of talking war against one foe, they find the
transition easy 70 address the United States in the
same strain. We may pardon this exhibition of
pugnacity on the ground that it is quite void OF
meaning. Doubtless obstinate and stupid English
men NAV be found, who think John Bull might
safely 20 to war with America But the stupid
ties of those trueuent gentlemen are quite over
ruled by the general good sense of the English
people, and especially by the prudence of the Gov
eminent. That country cannot 90 to war with us
without ruin to her entire commercial, domestic,
and political fabric. The shock of arms with the
United States would be the signal for the dissOlu-
ton of her empire. Distress at home would go
far to light the fame of civil war. The chain OF
her Colonial possessions would snap under the
strain. Canada and the lower provinces would fall
into our hands, while British commerce all over
the world would be cut to pieces by system that
would convert our mercantile marine into vast
and ubiquitous naval force Her manufacturing
establishments would go to ruin under the deprya-
ton of our annual supply of cotton, and her tnan-
cial and banking system explode into fragments
under the crushing load Of an enormous and aug
menting national indebtedness. With her ancient
nurseries of soldiers depOpulated, as her own late
writer's declare and prove, England could nowhere
recruit men for a war against the United States
Tn view of such a war; well might The London
Times renew its cry England trembles upon the
pinnacle of her greatness" And she would tremble
only to tOpple into an abyss from which she could
never extricate herself. England has feet
numerous and powerful feet; but when we have
said this we have said all. With it she might to
some extent ravage our extended coasts, and de-
stroy millions of property, Her power might be
even competent to overthrow the institution of
domestic Slavery in the South. But having done
this she would have to stop. Nowhere could she
obtain permanent foOthold on our territory No
where could she land an army which could not he
outnumbered teniold in a short time. Indeed the
military strength of England has been demonstrated
in the late war to be Insignificant. She has not
got and cannot raise great army. Her military
prestige has departed. And while we could not
meet her on the sea at once on terms OF equality
with National vessels of war, we could crowd her
coasts with feet Of armed vessels that would
carry CONSERVATION to all her shores. In bar
baran war for the destruction Of private property,
which is the kind indicated by the amiable threats
of the British press, we have the means OF as wide
and as destructive ruin in our own hands as En-
gland even at the start, while the more active and
entesprsiDg habit of our people would soon mani
fest itself in an advantage Oh this score as great
as it would be deplorable. For such war as
the British press threatens, we are quite as we'll
prepared as England If the power of England is
competent to destroy our commerce on the high
seas, and to burn our sea coast towns, the Ameri-
can ability TO do the same thing for England is not
a whit the less In such work OF mutual de-
structiOn we are equals.
But in other respects the case would be far other
wise. We are young; England is old. We are
lusy and vigorous; England is eete and stationary.
We heye no debt; England groans under the
weight of hers. We can apply our entire material
resources in war with readiness, skill and
agility, which England, under her cumbrous fabric
of aristOcracy and routine, cannot approach. 1t
would be a race between an old man on clutches
and vigorous youth. Again, England is the great
squstter power of the world. She is spread all
over the globe and is vulnerable in thousand
points, while we are vulnerable in but one. More
over, the heart of England is unsound She carries
within her system various artificial, social and
political excrescences repugpant to common sense
and Repayment to the feelings Of the masses OF En-
elisbmen war with the United States would
result in war OF ideas among her people. 10
this contest the aristocracy would be the Only
losers, and in the end would inevitably 90 over
board Thus not only would the material power
Of England be abridged and her pride huulbled,
but her institutions would be crumbled, and her
empire disiDtegrated under the pressure Of az
American war.
To the English press let us soy tbs, We esh
have no war with England The British Govern
ment will not provoke us TO hostilities. To do Il
would be to sound the klell of the British I'm
pre. Our cotempOrsres in the United Kingdom
will then do well to make less offensive display
of rant and swagger in discussing this question
We want nothing of England but that she shall
not NEEDLE in our affairs. John Bull has always
been in the habit of considering himself in rcls-
ton to distant powers, as occupying posi-
ton not unlike that Of the donkey among the
chickens ind the Kind OF forbearance be has
been wont 10 exercise toward them may be st-