Nebraska advertiser., 1858-06-24
Miscellaneous.
Hare We q National POliey9

A careful perusal Of the history Of the
United States would go far 10 establish
the conviction that our foreign national
policy was still unsettled. At times as
suming positions which absolutely startled
the world BY their boldness, aud that at
traeted the universal admiration Of all the
friends Of free institutions, we havn on
other occasions exhibited an indecision OF
aFaslly that zuenrd rto create serious
doubts of our sincerity.
No Administration could be expected
to always present in its principles of a
foreign intercourse a fair exposition of
the tendency of the people, as the latter,
in government Of opinion, must ever
be in advance of the former. The pop
ular impulse is to extend the boundaries
of our republic. The composite race
which constitutes the population Of this
nation, is aggressive in Its character. En-
terprising, restless, daunted by no diff
culties, and deferred by no dangers. the
pioneers of our republican civilization
penetrate every neighboring State, and
there prepare new governments for an
nexation; or, led by the same reckless
courage that precipitated the ancient
Spanish cavaliers upon Mexico and Peru,
wherever civil distractions prevail, they
with sword in hand enter the contest, la
Dor to create order out of chaos and pros
perity upon the tomb of decay, in the full
expectation of adding, at no distant peri
cd of time, new star to the galaxy al
ready gathered in our national constel-
lation.
But the government restrains this pop
ular impulse. Its policy, in this regard,
if that can be called policy which is
vacilllting, is one of repression. Ac-
knowledging the right of expatriation, it
seems to be very jealous of the departure
from our ports of any considerable num-
Der of citizens for adjacent States dis
turbed by civil strife. 1t defends its
neighbors by paper proclamations, at the
very moment that the werk Of revolu-
tisn, under the agency of our own citi-
izens, is in progress. And when the
country is prepared for union with the
Republic, the doors are opened for its
admission. The foreign policy of the
government of the United States, is, thus
far, behind the popular tendency, and in
its struggles to accommodate its action to
the prediudices of the world, and, at the
same time, represent the American peo-
pie, it often exhibits both insincerity and
miserable vacillation.
In regard to the questions that will
arise, some of which are already fore.
shadowed, in connection with the weak
and decaying States of this Continent, the
United States must soon explicitly define
its position. Commercial relations, the
}, contiguity of territory, and Similarity Of
institutions, demand that we should open
ly exercise a predominating influence IL
all the States bordering on the Gulf oi
Mexico and the caribbean Sea. The
Monroe doctrine, first enunciated with
perhaps far different intent, essentially
expresses the policy demanded by the
popular voice, and which, in self-defense
must ultimately be applied to the North
ern portion of the Western hemisphere
Can it now be considered as indicating
: our foreign policy9 Re-announced a
the doctrine of each succeeding Admin
r istration, it has, for all practical purpos
es, been like a sword enclosed in its scab
= bard-an empty declaration satisfying fo
: the moment the demands Of a peopl
t thirsting for the recognition of local su
0 premacy, but followed by disappointment
? and discomfort whenever occasion deman
/ ded its modification or its practical appli
cation to the settlement of internationa
Y questions. We have, then, no settled an
D well defined policy On this subject, an
: hence the vacillations that can only b
: accounted for by considering the natura
f conservatism of our Government at time
r broken down by the overwhelming pres
+ sure of popular feeling.
|. Russia marches forward in the exteI
e sion of her domain under the guide of
i steady intelligence which is irresistibl
il working out its magnificent plan of futur
: empire; the United States, expandin
), with greater rapidity, achieves its e1
|, pansion by the force of assimilation an
:, attraction, as well as the natural SUI
e cession of the living heir to the estat
r of the deceased, without the interpc
v sition of the Government to hastel
e but rather to restrain the progress
= events. Though the Monroe doctrine
It only theoretically regarded as expressin
our foreign policy on this continent, II
n time is not far distant when it will
Ie practically enforced. We cannot perm
e, any European power to take possession
g any new territory. The worlds con
10 merce promised as our inheritance, WI
ID forbid divided or secondary control (
Is the American gulf, sea, or isthmus.
ct The interference Of the gallant i
Of graham to snatch Kostza from the han
at Of Austrian tyrrany, claiming him as {
It, American because he had vowed all
u glance to the stripes and stars, was fl
so exposition of what the American pc
Or pie desire our foreign policy should be
IN regard to the rights of Its citizens abroa
re That act, and the able State paper viii
l. followed it, more powerfully impress
be the boldness and in6exibllity of the Anne
no ican government upon the nations of E
a rope than any other thing that has {
I'd Cured In our whole history. The pc
en- sistent maintenance of this doctrine wOu
-e. make it better to be an American thar
Sc was of old to be a Roman. The tTJ
national, if not impregnable position th
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