The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-05-09
TTE DAILY DISPATCH
I srsSsy Msrnins, May 9, 1885.
National Pride.

- Friday Msrnins, May ., 1855. ..-
.-~~,-,<-,~~->~>>~~>~-N~~
National Pride.
There are no two nations on tne
..y,h which have better opinion OF 'nsn''s
than John Bull and Brother Jonathan. An nAs
Ii,hmsn's idea of the importance OF nus coaaAy !"
on,v eoualled by his individual senimP0s
wherever he travels through the esf'n' NO
matter how long his separation rom ms nsuse
land he never sees any country equal 20 mat "o'cn
cave him birth This national conceit mmsraneo
- "a. very nature. II has become so thoroughly
MAR, If his being that, we have no doubt, when
he shakes of this mortal COIL and soesin better
,,or,d he institutes comparisons between the spirit
,sna and that Of which he was native, much to
the advantage Of the latter and lets It be generally
understood by all his new acquaintances thathe
comes from "Old England"
Brother Jonathan Il not . whit behind John Bull
In keen appreciation Of bis own merits He may
not have as much national pride. but the bump OF
national vanity 10 quite IS prominent he may
not bear about In every feature proclamation OF
inordinate sefconceit, but he nevertheless enter
tains motion" that this ID the wisest, freast'
bravest noblest country, the sun Of heaven ever
honored itself by shining upon Compared with
our free and enlightened citizens, the people OF
Britain are but poor, benighted slaves those of
France little better than uncircumcised Philistines,
and all the rest of mankind "outside barbarians ~
The idea is particularly prevalent that the rest of
the world only exists by our sufferancs that we
are the chosen people of God, and could lick" all
Europe as easily as the Jews used to "walop" the
Cansanites and Philistines.
We don't object to enlightened national pride,
and for such pride, we believe, our people have
great reason; as much, to say the least Of 1t, Is
any other nation, and more than most. There are
men yet living who saw the Republic born, and
behold what she already is The world has no
parallel of equal greatness achieved in so short
period, and all by just and peaceful means Nor
do we doubt that there is more general diffusion OF
intelligence in the United States than in any other
country. The stream of knowledge may be rather
shallow but it is at any rate broad. But what we
do object to is the exaggerated idea Of our power
and prowess, which Is so common, and which al
fords convenient handle to demagogues, when.
ever they wish to get up war spirit NO doup'
the American people are as brave IS any on the
face of the earth and Republican institutions have
always proved favorable to the development of
military spirit but far personal courage goes
It exists in equal measure among all nations, and
II OF very pFActic2l faiuC AbociA uhAoos ~NA
ted with discipline and knowledge of arms
We have no standing army worth mentioning; no
military knowledge; and whilst tap ofthe hostile
drum would bring multitude of militia to the field,
1t would take full year before they could be con-
verted into disciplined soldiers. These facts ought
to be borne in mind when demagogues seek to in
fame the war spirit, and attempt to make Ameri.
cans believe that they the first military power
on the face of the earth.
Our gallant kinsman, John Bull, on the strength
of long series of victories over France has held
from time immemorial the idea that con one pair
of English legs do march three Frenchm en-" but,
since the conclusion of the Crimean war, John has
become q sadder and wiser man. Let us avoid a
similar mistake. We may become, at some future
day, great military country, but, at present, we
are, happily, not formidable for aggression against
any other people. Our moral power is executing
thousand times more influence for republicanism
In Europe, than q large army could ever achieve.
Let us see to 1t that we do not weaken that moral
power by rash military enterprises. Let us cult
vate humility and gratitude for the blessings of
our heritage, blessings for which we are at least
as much indebted to Heaven as to our own wisdom
and forethought, and let us pursue with mistaken
constancy that path of peaceful enterprise which
has led us to present high position, prosperity
and power,