Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14
The spectncIe we Present,

It would seem from variety of facts
and intimations, that the policy of Mr.. Bu-
chanan has been to prevent forcible coli
lision between the insurrectionists and the
troops of the Government until he is out of
cfice, and to prepare the way for such COL
lision as soon as possible afterward. Such
course, in day when things were called by
their right names, would have been &C
counted treason. There have been periods
in the history of the country when it would
have rendered the guilty party instantly in
famous. How it happens that such is not
the case now, is a question the answer to
which would open v ide field for the anx-
ious consideration Of the statesman and the
patriot We have men among US who do
not hesitate to approve the course Of the
President-who really profess to hope that
hostilitiss against the Government viii begin
on the 4th of March; and who, SO far as they
are able, give their influence to push on the
South to open war, instantly on the inaugu.
ration of Mr.. Lincoln; who thope-if their
declarations are to be believed-to see the
Government overthrown. by force, and all
resist its overthrow defeated and subdued.
This is the spirit of anarchy, the practica
effects of which may best be seen in the
history of the so-called Republics of South
America. The question is before us: Do we
find that in their condition to render us
nationally desirous to initiate it Has our
boasted Anglo-Saxon civil character degen-
Grated to the standard of that of the mongrel
Spaniards of Mexico and New Granada7 We
are certainly getting up a very correct imi
tation Of their style of proceeding. We have
among us those who talk, write and print
and, what is more, profess willingness to
act, according to their model. We talked,
not very long since, of establishing pro-
tectorate over Mexico: Would it be unfair
now for Mexico to propose to return the
There were at that time those who suspected
that the propensity of a republican people to
govern other States was evidence of grow
ing incapacity to govern themselves; and,
perhaps, they were in the right. There is
ground for fear that the epeople of the United
States win have to begin at the rudiments
and learn tho art Of selfgoyernmeut over
again. Men are certainly very oblieious to
the ends for which Governments are con-
structed, when they are able to look with
pleasure, or even with indulgence, upon acts
on the part of those to whom its Admins
tration is entrusted tending directly to its
destruction. s - f,7f ii
Hitherto we have been prone to boast of
the respect in which the United States was
holden by the rest of the civilized world.
We were the model Republic. We had
tested by experiment, the question of the.
capacity of mankind for selfgovernment,
and had realized most triumphant result.
Tyrants trembied on their thrones at the
thought of the influence Of our example
upon the human race, and discovered in our
prosperity the presage of their own deca-
dence. The toiling millions of the old Con-
tinents saw in our growing greatness the
haIbinger of their own emancipation. The
past and the present paused to contemplate
the march of institutional freedom in
America-the one all surprise, the other all
anticipation. What asspectacle we were,
and what a spectacle we arei "The
most splendid fabric Of human gov
eminent upon which the sun ever shone,"
is being administered upon as a horde of
wolves administer upon dead carcass.
There does not seem to be an agency
anywhere, gifted with a spirit even
to protest. The majorities in both
houses of Congress are, in sympathy, with
the enemies Of the Union. There is not even
SO poor thing as a political party that has
the moral courage to stand squarely up for
an Administration of the Government in ac-
cordance with the organic law of the land.
What condition-the greatest, freest most
virtuous and intelligent people upon the
aarfht .