Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-05-18
International Complications.

International Complications.
Since the war of the Revolution the
people Of this Country have stood alo, {
nom oil 'entangling alliances" with
other powen, aud maintained the ma
eonal honor with q Jealous pro,npti-
tude that has given our citizens no
cause Of complaint. The Wisdom of
Washington's council was so apparent,
o our isolation from the great Euro
Pean Nations and Court intrigucs so
complete, that our government has
been enabled, thus far to abstain from
al alliances for belligcrant purposes.
England has complained with great
bitterness Of our policy. Her great
strength consisting chiefly in the
number Of her wal vessels, and the
valiant heroism of her brave mariners,
she has ever sought 10 draw into her
quarrcls with others powers, some ally
that could supply arm'es, to do her
land fighting. Germany has always
been her chief reliance. While the
Great Napoleon was in the zenith Of
his power, England obtained Spanish,
German and Russian land forces, 70
crush him on the Continent, while her
Navy WA quite efiectusl in %conquering
his own less powerful fleets Of war
~vesscl-. In the war with l.ussia, Eng
land was 10 be the substantial gamer,
but could no mole have sustained u
successful campaign against Russia
without aid than she can against the
United States. Louis Napoleon saw
asplendid opportunity OF consolidating
his own power in France, and COMPEL
ing the respect of legitimate Soscrelgns
by entering into an alliance with Eng
land. England WAS the real gamer,
France the real loser, and Napoleon re-
ceived . respite, employing his armies
in q foreign service where IA new lustcr
might be added To the French Eagles.
England then sought our alliance, but
was rcpulscd, and pettishly threatened
to regulate international affairs upon
this Continent when European matters
were adjusted. England is now at war
with China, and again, while Napo
Icons throne is tottering to its fall, he
sees an opportunity Of diver,ing public
attention from himself and his tyranny,
TO the prowcss Of his army with China,
and he becomes England's ally. lie is
England's tool that may one day cut
the hands that employ it. lie fights
her battles, ~impovcrishcs France, and
postponcs tho day Of her emancipation
from tho yoke Of the Periurcr. The
statesmen of this Country are ~ wise
~ scrpcnts, while they are as harmless
~ doves. They are ready Ia fight any
and all nations that shall violate the
honor of u flag or the obligations OF
treaties. But they can see no benefit
to be derived from the expensive and
bloody sacrifices Of fighting the battles
Of England, TO sustain her national
honor or her love Of conquest. The
mission Of the United States is one of
peaceful degeneration OF this North
American continent. Years must
necessarily clapse before that mission
is fully executed. All our time, cner-
gies, philanthrophic labors, and tenevo-
lent enterprises, o fright should be con
fined TO hat great and glorious work.
To make North America the Empire
Of Freedom, from the Isthmus to the
Arctic ocean, from the Pacific to the
Atlantic, is worthy Of a large share OF
the attention of our happy race. At
the same time our Commercial rela-
tons may be extended to every quarter
Of the globe.
Let England and France ensanguine
the soil Of Europe in the blood of its
inhabitants; let England conquer, OPP
press, rob, and plumber the poor natives
Of India, or chastise the treacherous
Chinese; that may be her mission, wen
il it is = bloody one, ir~reconcilable with
oh our nations Of Humanity. We, OF
this country can gain neither profit or
glory by going to her assistance. We
need treasures and our people to
fight the peaceful fight Of Civilization
on this Continent. We behold vas,
unproductivc fields Of u~ndeveloped
wealth, now in the possession Of savage
beasts and savage Indians. W. send
greeting to the poor Of Europe to make
their Exodus from bondage and enter
this Canaan ofplenty, and become pro-
prietors Of the soil We invite them
70 come and build our Rail Roads and
Canals; and We also invite European
Capital to the most prolific fields for
investment that the world can produce.
We give to tyrants and their Cypress
ed subjects the influence ofour exam
pie, our noble charter of human liber
ties our exempliication Of the capsci-
~ Of = people to governthcmselves; our
free tolerat;o on OF all religious worship.
and cay to them behold, read, under
stand and profit by our experience
But We cannot fight the battles Of En-
ropean peoples or European monarchs.
w are engaged in a more glorious