The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-15

41tnmOuM @ISfaNM
FRrDAY................ DECEMBER Is. 1865.
France has been engaged for some time
in the experiment of civilizing' Next |
co. We like the phrase, and applaud
the philanthropic spirit which II ex-
presses. Nothing is more admirable IN
the Great Powers Of Europe than their
anxiety to "civilixe'' the world. Ihes
might be content to cultivate In pe"''
their own fertile acres, and never :"
cognize the claims of a cono" ~
mainly upon their active ~
and cooperation. WrnPpeu up so
ishlv in their own affairs, they might
,,ern,;t the rest of mankind to go to de-
s,rnction their own way. But no such
sorlid and contracted spirit is permitted
to dictate their policy. To their honor
be it spoken, there is not, and never has
been, prince or potentate OF Europe,
who possessed the power Of being useiui
to his fellow creatures, who did not ex-
ert his energies to reclaim them from tho
WAYS of ignorance, superstition, ana par
barism. and to bring them within the
illuminated circle Of his own superior
civilization.
Prompted by such motives, England,
France, and Spain have, from the first,
underworld to extend the blessings OF
law. order and morality to this be-
nighted hemisphere. Its original occu-
pants, naked savages and cumberers OF
the earth, presented an inviting field for
missionary effort. If heartlessly aban-
doned to their aboriginal condition by
the civilized nations of Europe, this
whole continent would now be howl
ing wilderness. What it is, we need not
describe. Empires, crowded with order
and intelligence, have started out OF the
primeval forests as if by enchantment.
"Steam, that fleshless arm,
Whose pulses leap with floods OF living nre,
stretches forth it's potent fingers where
the foot of the most adventurous savage
had never penetrated, and the artificial
and mechanical forces Of this single
country exceed all the hands Of the
four continents of the globe century
ago. The savages themselves, insensi-
BILE as brutes to the kindly influences
exerted in their behalf, have ceased
to mar and disfigure the virgin henis-
sphere, and have taken up their march
to hunting grounds beyond the reach of
civilization. Mexico, where the native
inhabitants cling with most tenacity to
the.soil, and mingle the muddy waters
of their inferior blood with the ruddy
currents of European civilization, alone
remains of North America impenitent
and UNIFORMED. The United States,
from morbid conscience and false sense
of delicacy, has long avoided the duty OF
''civilizing," which any European Power
would long that ago have performed
to a depraved and impotent neighbor.
Thus neglected by it's natural guard
JAMS, and apparently forsaken by all
earthly sympathy, the good and great
NAPOLEON has undertaken the beneVo-
lent enterprise of "civilizing' Mexico
Thirty-five or forty thousand French
missionaries, under the auspices OF the
ABBE BAzAINE, have been for several
wears engaged in the holy work OF
retaining her from evil courses, and
instructing her in the proprieties OF civil
lied life. We should be glad to be able
to give an encouraging account of pro-
gress and proficiency under this en-
lightened and self-sacrificing patronage
So far as we are advised, however, there
remains in that besotted people a stolio
and ungrateful want of appreciation
a spirit. indeed, Of miserable discOnten
and INSTRUMENTATION, which resists tn
philanthropic intervention OF NAPoLEo,
ON their behalf as if it were an insul
and wrong. Under these circum
stances. it will not be astonishing il
stung by their blindness and ingratl
tude, the Emperor of the French ultl
lnately leaves them to their fate. 1t
some consolation, however, that, whethe
he does or not, we shall ourselves recog
niHe the duties we owe to Mexico, an
perform our part in the great work
civilization. 1t will perhaps be as we
for NAPOLEON to relinquish altogethe
the business of civilizing,' on this cor
tinent. to American hands. The lat
Mr.. MONROE was of opinion that TN
was exclusively an American mission
and we cannot much longer postpor
the conferment upon Mexico of thos
superior blessings which France, thong
willing, is, alas, incompetent to impart
In the meantime let mankind
grateful to Europe for the application
the word civilizing'' in this connection
1t must be grateful to scrupulous Col
sciences to be informed that it is no lOl
ger a crime, but virtue to appropria
the goods and chattels, the civil and p
litical rights Of others, if the design
their improvement. The vocabulary
the police courts will no doubt be rel
/. dered more euphonious when this pril
ciple is applied to individuals as well
nations. The pickpocket, who Impress
upon mankind the transitory charact
Of earthly possessions. and the ma