Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-17
Sensible view OF American Anarrs.

The outbreak of civil war in America has
this country against popular institutions. We
are hidden to look across the Atlantic, at the
greatest republic the world ever saw, broken
in pieces by treason, and in the agonies of
bloody conflict and we are asked whether an
hereditary monarch and an hereditary aristoc
racy would not have avericd this calamity
The eyes of tories glisten with delight as they
point to the disruption of the United States as
an argument against me,ldling with the fran
chise, and limid politicians are content to
pause, in order to see how matters will end.
The jubilalon Of political rcactionsts is sur
prSing In the midst of those marvellous
events which have taken place in Europe, and
especially in Italy, during the last two years,
and which have incOntestlby proved the self
control OF which the multitude is capable, the
discussions in the United States are welcomed
almost us all inlerpoSition OF Providence.
Hitherto they have had to invent the facts upon
which p0pes a..d empcrors rested The
superiority OF their merit over repub-
lies and constitutional governments. Now
there is some fatal hope that the adj
mittcd condition of America may furnish
an argument in their favor. 1t indeed history
had supplied au example of any government
which was secure from the possibility of treat
son, there mig I be some truth in the charges
made against the Government of the United
States. Such claim has never been set up
or even suggested. No government, indeed,
the world has ever seen, has had to deal with
elements 50 dScordant as those of America,
has shown so much wisdom and forbearance
in dealing with the difficulties TO which those
elements have naturally given rise, or has
managed to ward off that catastrophe which to
most men has long s.emed inevitable. When
the East India Company was abolished, its
advocates Justly claimed Tor it the merit of
having governed with success vast territory
teeming with men for more than a century;
nor was the occurrence of a gigantic mutiny
allowed to Obilerate all remembrance of the
past. Let only the same justice be done to
American institutions 1t is impossible to
deny that Tor nearly century the government
OF the United States complicated as it I'M
doubtedly is, las maintained its authority
over a heterogeneous population, ridiculed
from every corner OF the earth without
impairng local self government, curbing
that spirit OF expansion, which has peoped
the continent from the shores of the Atlantic
to the slopes Of the Rocky Mountains Up to
the time when Mr.. Lincoln was elected presi-
dent, it would have been the merest paradox
to assert that popular institutions had failed.
Nor is the observation less absurd, now that
the civil war has broken out. 70 hear people
talk, it would seem as ii such crisis ha 1 new.
er occurred under any other form of govern
ment. Have kings or popes, or emperorS,
never lost any portion OF their d0miniOns
Did not England lose these very states Did
not Spain lose Mexico? Did not Austria lose
Italy and Hungary? And has not France ex-
perienced the like disasters AT what period
of the worlds history have such disasters been
deemed conclusive evidence against the form
of that government which sustained them
No doubt the conduct which President Lincoln
and Ills cabinet adopt will furnish cogent proof
OF the wisdom aud energy which can be ob
tanned in the American republic. Ii is a favor
lite maxim with some, that the present politi
cal system of Amer lea excludes the best men
from the highest offices and the opinion is not
unsupported by plausible reasons. The pres
ent crisis will test this theory Few will dis
pute that more difficult task never was inn
posed upon any ruler than that which is now
imposed upon MIR. Lincoln. 70 many, per.
laps to most it seems impossible. In this
respect it forms a strange contrast to the task
which was imposed on the ministers OF George
Ill. at the end Of the last century, or, the
other day, upon the government OF Austria Or
Naples 1t is universally admitted, that, if
these monarchs mad conducted themselves
with ordinary common sense and justice they
might instead of losing provinces, have long
ruled over contenled people. There is not
Ter Who was not FtJ e3p5bfS 6r t26s 1Ge % NE
benighied sover, ign, which, if it had been
followed, would have rescued him from his
difficulties. Yet there is not a Statesman in
Europe who does not congratulate himself
that he is spared the responsibility of occupy
ing the White House at Washington at the
present time. But while every man OF the
least political experience forbearS to offer adj
vice to the American government, it is re.
markable, that, since the accession of Mr.
Lincoln 10 office, no plan has been mooted, no
act has been done, by the government of the
United States, which has not been dictated by
moderation and political wisdom. Difficult
as the situation has hitherto been, it has nov
becsme much more complicated. 1t the cab.
met at Washington succeed in restoring har-
mony to the country, or in terminating the
contest with satisfaction TO the people, they
will not only cover themselves with glory, but
will eXat popular institutions