Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-06-03
THE WAR SPIRIT.


scarcely more than mere faction OF aboll-
tionists. and absurd non-resistants, who will
attempt to advocate the British doctrine of
right of visit and search on the high seas.
There is no party in this question; that the
flag protects the ship and cargo, and that
every vessel legitimately bearing the ma
tional ensign is part of the Republic, and
as much entitled to immunity from foreign
aggression and to protection by the Repub-
lies forces as city or warehouse upon land,
is our doctrine of national acceptance, and
if need be, national defence As Senator
Crittenden has both eloquently and Justly
said, Ale would not dispute with England
about the abstract right of search, let her
found her claim on what prerogative or
supposed right she might; but the moment
she made an aggression on our national
rights and honor, he would fight her on the
fact and leave her the argument"
With this unanimous agreement as to
what are our rights, and just belief in
our ability to protect them, there ought to
be, and there no doubt will be at the proper
moment, clear and manly enunciation to
England Of the position We occupy, and of
our determination to permit no assault upon
1t to pass without reparation. But this
should be done without the foolish vaunt-
ings or senseless braggadocia that will in
vite ridicule without at all evidencing the
real strength and unity of the national de-
termination. The proceedings of the Brit
ish fleet in the Gulf of Mexico are certain
ly extraordinary and unprecedented, and
excessively irritating on account of their
unexpected and abrupt opening but until
the British Government avows its full re-
sponsibility for them, and signifies its res
olution to continue the assertion of the
principle upon which they have been based,
no cause of war exists The excitement
on the subject therefore, though perfectly
natural, is somewhat premature, and is
already producing absurd results. 1t will
not help our cause to send across the water
such declarations as that Of Senator Toombs
that 4" he was ready for a war with Eng
land, that he had been in that uneomfor-
tably belligerent condition "at any time
these ten years, and if VIC got up war
now he wanted to be counted in :" neither
will we convince Englishmen by congratu-
latory articles on the advantages to be
reaped by this country from war with
Great Britain, nor yet perhaps frighten
them by the bombastic resolves of Demo
cratic General Committees, even if COM
posed Of embryo Secretaries Of State, who
come forward with recommendations to the
Cabinet " that in case of any overtures to-
wards the amicable adjustment of our pres
ent difficulty with Great Britain, to totally
expunge the word explanation from the
language of diplomacy, and substitute
therefor PREPARATION if not 'reprisal,' be-
cause more consonant with the harmonious
and healthful tone Of American sentiment"
All this is contemplate balderdash, un-
worthy the utterance Of really earnest men,
and quite beneath subject of such mighty
moment as a war between two nations Oc-
cupying the van of civilization and bound
together by ties of blood and interest that
have never been paralleled in the worlds
history. A war with England ought to be
accepted as duty if the honor or dignity
of the nation requires it, and fought out
with tenacity of purpose that would leave
no legacy of unsettled questions; but in
every other respect, except as an inevitable
alternative against the surrender of national
rights and character, such war should be
regarded with aversion by all patriotic,
Christian and enlightened men. To talk
lightly of it and desire, in slang phrase, to
be counted in,' to seek it because, upon
a cool calculation and the balancing of ad
vantages against the inevitable evils, we
pight make our opponent suffer more than
ourselves, or to endeavor to make party
capital by arousing the people to the war
pitch, is not necessary in the present con-
dition of affairs and certainly not commen-
dablc.