The Hillsborough recorder., 1864-10-19

if its form is such as not to furnish military
strength to the full extent of its means, it
must disregard that form. The Republican
form. especially the form Of Coniederacy
Of free States. is net the best adapted for
war. In fact it is peace establishment.
The form best adapted to war is national
military desPotism. The Republic at war
is gradually passing into military despot-
ism. As the war continues and the pres
sure of its enemy increases. this transition
is accelerated. A Republic forced to the
wall by a powerful enemy must end in
despotism. lf we turn our eyes to Eu-
rope we find only two nations with free
institutions, Great Britain and Switzer-
land. Why is thisi The reason is obyi-
Gus. The necessity Of being constantly
in the highest state of preparatioE for war.
cempels every country to the utmost de-
selopment Ofits military strength. Abso-
Lutte government is part Of that state Of
preparation, and therefore absolute govern
ment is the ordinary condition. Ii there
were no other obstacle to France being a
republic. the immense standing armies she
rs compelled to keep constantly under arms,
would be conclusive. France is compelled
to keep 100000 men always in arms
France is obliged therefore to be what she
is, military despotism. Take the case Of
Prussia in the celebrated seven years war.
Suppose her institutions had been liberal,
what would have been the resul.i Frederick
the Great would either have had to abaa-
den the struggle, or seize all power. Moth
ing but absolute power in the hands Of
Frederick enabled him TO come forth veto.
rieus from the contest. He sacrificed
everything else in Prussia to the one idea
Of military strength. As Prussia had no
natural defeuces, and was greatly inferior
in strength to the other great powers. j,
was necessary TO give exclusive develop
ment to the military idea this Frederick
did. As Macauiy said, he made Prussia
"all sting" This was logical in Freder-
lex. To save Prussia il was necessary TO
give her the maximum Of military strength
--he did this. Prussia still has place on
the map, but. he made no effort 20 save L.
berty. Frederick found Prussia an abso.
Lutte monarchy, he left it an entrenched
camp. Liberty was never thought Of. Ii
Is impossible in her condition. If Prussia
with her excellent population were at .
vast distance from where she Is, and pro-
tected bv oceans and mountains, she might
De republic; but where she is, il is Im
possible. On the continent Of Europe n
State can exist with free institutions, be.
cause the form Of government must be such
as furnishes the greatest amount Of militia,
~ strength. Perhaps il may be said thai
Switzerland contradicts my theory. re-
ply that Switzerland is an exceptional case
"a few nests Of poor people buried in re.
mote yallies surrounded BY inaccessible
mountains; they are not worth conquering
Besides the mutual Jealousy Of the grea
powers Is their real safeguard. Englans
Is the only great and free power 10 Europe
This IS owing to her insuar position. rh,
ocean is the divine charter Of her freedom
IL nothing bur surveyors line separate,
England from France. England would be
military despotism as France is. No couu
try can be free which has 70 sleep with be
hand on her sword.
But Why resort 10 general reasoning an,
the condition Of European natisns to prov,
what | have asserted. when the proof stare
" 10 the face in the example ef dur eui
country. We see il in every sight; VI
ieel u IN every emotion we hear it in ev
cry sound. When cur preseat governmen
was established, everything possible wa
done IN the interest Of State Rights. ever,
conceivable guarantee was taken for iudl
yidual fresdOm--as little a. possible va
conceded 10 the Federal government. Th
Federal government was "csbined, crib
bed, confined. hedsed in By saucy doubt
aad fears" The school Of extreme Stat
Rights we're At work framing Constitution
for federal government. with the accu
mulated suspicious Of seventy years. TIE
did their work we'll. The problems TO b
solved was the framing Of 1 Federal 20