Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-10-27
THE LAND OF THE FREE
BY HORACE GREELEY.

the rubbish of past political controversy, will
find in our past and present Democratic Nation
al Platform an unbroken series of assertions of
the Importance, the necessity, the urgency of
the exercise Of preponderating influence by
our Government over the Independent states
and countries holding the more southerly hall
of the American continent. Thus the Platform
OF 1874 commended "the remuneration of Tex
as as one Of "the great American measures.
which this Convention recommends to the cordial
support of the Democracy of the Union" The
Platform OF 4S affirmed the justice and ex-
peGiency of the Mexican War; that of 80 re-
terated that sentiment, but "Resolred, That we
reJoice at the restoration of friendly relations
with our sister republic of Mexico, and earnest
y desire for her all the blessings and prosperity
which we enjoy under republican Institutions"
etc while that of 'j6 (reaflrmed by both the
recent Douglas and Breckinridge fragments of
the Convention of lS60) declared that "our ge-
ographical and political position with reference
to the other states of this continent, no less
than the interest of our commerce and develop
ment OF our growing power, require that we
should hold sacred the principles involved in
the Monroe doctrine; ) and with regard to the
lsthmus Of Darien, and the right of transit
across it, eve can in no circumstances surren
der our preponderance in the adjustment of al
questions arising out of it." With reference to
the flibuster Walkers raid. which was then
/ filling Nicaragua and Costa Rica with misery
devastation, and carnage. the Convention fIrtb,
er resolved that "the People of the United
States cannot but sympathize with the efforts
which are being made by the People of Central
America, to REGENERATE that portion of the
continent ! and finally, "the Democratic party
will expect of the next 1Buchanan's1 Admins
tration that every proper effort be made to in
sure our dScendeHcy in the Gulf of Mexico"
ETC., etc. Such has been, according to the
party's most authentic utterances. the Grca, mar.
amount object of our Foreign Policy. under
Democratic ousnicas for tho iost Ton ~ fc,oo,,
wears. What have been the fruits of that nol;'
cvp
IT is not very lonp sinco under vor,, d;ear
cnt rule. impelled by radically different ;rn,,ls
es. these United States were regarded from Fl
Paso to Cane Horn. os the elder bro,ber ond
natural head of the family of American Rornl
lies. The vounper states osk, II ne n, mao, ,bo,,
in friendly council ot Panama yyi,h;n Tho r,onoa
rv of most of us. and tbouob ,Lo, r,no,;n,,
was frustrated bv Euronean icalousv and ;n'
trrue. the spirit that dictated The ;pv;,a,ior
long survived the occasion which dcvoloned i
For generation. our sister Renublics op tb;s
continent reporded This confederac, win ,,;n,,
led affection. pride. and trust and our c;,izo9s
who traded tn their morris or p,;,,ra,od ~ ,ha;s
soil were welcomed and confdeJ in os brn,t
rem.
Now. all s changod O,r nower ;s foorod H..
our sister Renubl;cs and ,ho; roo,,lo. -. ~. -!
are no Longer loved nor trusted he ,bor, ~
superior sk;ll and ingenuity ore NO olonoor 90 o. 0
ly sought bv them Rrit;sh s,eom ioa,s s"So g..
nayioafe their rivers IN tho excins;om ~ "om o'.
own: British engineers worL tbe;r n';nos o aud I
run their f,ctor;es. British mnrcbop,s sn,,r,i,.
them with tobrcs. oven not;ra S,an;aSds X!
were abhorred there n generation s;nce ars n,
preferred to Americans. Our .rade is thus cnr.
tailed by some millions per annum: while the
political "preponderance' or "ascendencv." so
ardently desired, is wholly lost. There is not
Government between the Gila and Cape Horn
which is the hearty friend of our own; not one
in which our influence is paramount The Ar
gentne Confederation quarrels, dissolyes. and
recombines, without seeking or wishing our
good Offices; New Grenada and Peru EXCHANGE
civilites with us, but do not seek orr friend
ship; Mexico endures wears of desolatinp an
archv, and, when at length she casts desparing
eye toward US, we respond to her appenl by
proposals for further spoliation of her provinces.
driving IA Sh,lock bargain with neiphbor in
the agony of death. 1t seems hardly possible
for our dinlomatists to negotiate a treaty with
any other American country which is NOT
promptly rejected either by the rulers of that
country or by our own. Mexico in her death
agony appeals, not to us but to Europe. for
helping hand, and that hand is extended. Our
power, throughout the countries south of us. is
measured by the calbre of our cannon, the
proximity and weight of our frowning batteries.
For this Union has caused itself to be re-
garded and dreaded as the King Stork of the
/ American Rennhl;cs Our so;y,,ra ond It.
,;o, or ~. a,,r ;,..I;o ~ a"u .''e ""
u1h vi ieAas' oui ihNdsion ana partition OF
Mexico our supefcllious refusal to recognize
the independence of Uayti; our intrigues for
predominance in Dominica. or bullying ex
nedit;on IN P,r.gro,, u;,b IT, r;d;ouIona e.
~. s,," et! - i'a ii.',u'ous s,.,, r,ae'
wv W. oP.h s!"iP".hy WIN anu aiu 10 Nlillam
| walkers butcheries in Nicaragua and, finally
the impunitv wherewith this sanguinary pirate
has been permitted TO launch n new wari;le ex1
ned;,;or kop, onr ror,s aoa;ms, H." -, Nr
'I'oi :. ,'o'' 1"i Po.'s aS"iist the o1]ect OF
ms cupidity ana amoition-h how could all these
fail to make deep impression on the mind of
all Spanish Americans? Fear-dread-bate-
detestation-such are the sent;ments which orr
cordro, 49, - -, ,,r Sne h'i i.'o" ou.
'''. "s Pe'Fe' our uenance Vi the most
neirbhorbdoJ ava oo,o',,n;oJ Ju 80 ,a;.n anu sood
heon !, ;s mn "aV a' ,i ~ INSPIRE. anu
all ,hoso or;oS Smo"n ,,iau .u a,;ans purpose
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