The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-10
The American Balance Of Poyer-The Policy
OF the United States.

The American balance OF fOwer-Tne Policy
OF the United States.
On the threshold Of general war, involving
''rectifcation of the boundaries" of, perhaps,
every State Of Europa contest which, in its
consequences, may prove to be counterpart Of
the wars resulting from the first French Revolu-
tion-the question naturally arises, is this great
Power, the United States Of America, to remain
an idle spectator of this tremendous drama from
the lifting to the dropping of the curtain? We
should answer, no For while the belligerents of
Europe are absorbed in the formidable work of
reconstructing their checks aid balances against
each other, there will be an opportunity afforded
for the quiet settlement of the "balance of
power" on this continent which our government
cannot and will not regard with indifference.
We have full authority for this declaration in
the regular and special messages Of Mr.. Bucha-
nan to the late Congress, concerning Mexico,
Central America and the island of Cuba They
are each to us what Turkey is to Russia, Asick
man." who can only be saved from the most ter
rible dissolution by the most powerful remedies.
1t is reported that this European ENHANCEMENT
hinges upon an understanding between the Em-
peror Alexander, the King of Sardinia and
Louis Napoleon, in reference to the "sick man"
Of Turkey and the eastward extension of the
power and civilization of Russia. In any event,
we may safely predict that in the terrible atrug-
gle between Austrian and French arms and ideas
in Italy, the paramount idea with Russia will be
the opening of her "road to Constantinople.r
In view of this important element 10 the gene
raj European programme, England may now be
occupying an enforced position Of armed neu-
trality; for ere long, with or without the co ope-
ration Of France, she may be called to the de-
fence of the overland route to India. Surely
there will be work enough in this prodigious job
of the reconstruction of the map of Europe to
occupy for year or two the undivided atten-
ton Of England and France. Nor is it probable
that Spain will be permitted to play, meantime,
the part Of passive spectator. She is too in
tense]y devoted to and identified with the Pope
and the Church Of Rome to remain neutral in
contest involving the very existence Of Rome
as the headquarters of the Church. But if
Spain should still find it her policy to stand
aloof, the fierce contagion of war will almost
certainly rekindle within her own borders the
fires Of Instruction and revolution.
Thus, then, with France, England and Spain
completely absorbed in the bloody European
drama, what will there be to prevent the govern
ment at Washington from quietly settling the
troubles and complications of our ssick" neigh
bors upon strong and solid American basis?
Mr.. Buchanan has definitely settled the Kansas
question; and he has put the Mormon diff
Guilty into such shape that it will very
soon settle itself At the same time, the
revived and still increasing financial and
commercial prosperity of the country dis
poses of the otherwise troublesome tariff ques
ton. The schedules Of 1851 will answer the
purposes Of relieving the Treasury, and bounti-
full crops and an increased carrying trade will
satisfy the present wants Of the country. There
will thus, in Congress, be no disturbing domes-
tic Issues in the way Of a bold and decisive Anne
rican foreign policy
Under the pressure Of the general war and
bankruptcy OF Europe, Spain may be persuaded
to sell her "ever faithful island,' Mexico may be
quietly Induced to part with half her territories,
or to come bodily into the Union; and the States
Of Central America may be moulded to the
true intent and meaning" Of the Monroe doc
trine. During the siege of Sebastopol there was
such an opportunity for these interventions on
orr part, looking TO the commercial apd military
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