The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-12-27

The last number Of Les Entretiens Litter
aires contains the ill-sounding outburst Of the
famous poet and politician NJ. Lamsrtine,
which has already excited much comment
in this country. 1t is here translated:
I am not afraid to say 1t boldly, notwith-
standing the natural opposition which may
exist between the diplomacy Of the republic
and that OF the empire; against interests SO
French, 80 elevated, 90 European, rs those
we defend in Mexico, there Is no patriotic
opposition possible. The conception of the
policy in Mexico is n sublime conception, q
conception misunderstood, q shall explain
further on why,) conception Us just as ne
cessary, ~ vast rs the ocean, IS new as all
that which is appropos, . conception Of .
statesman, fecnnd a. the future, q cencep-
ton Of safety for America and for the
world.
We must here raise ourselves to great
height in order to comprehend the full
force Of this policy. The first empire, 4
purely military empire, and which sold
Lonisiana for q piece Of bread to feed its
armies, was never capable Of = conception
which equaled this.
The idea Of bold and e.hcacious position
to be taken in Mexico against the usurpa-
ton Of the United States Of America is
new but just idea.
Europe has the right to take this position
France takes the initiative.
Let US examine the right from this eleva-
ted point Of view, from whence We distin-
start from this tribute NO. radical position
The Globe Is the property Of Nan the
nsW continent America, Is the property Of
Europe.
In starting from this principle, which has
become ct this moment fact, thar the Amer
lean Continent las become the collective
property Of mankind, and not the disreputed
Union Of single race without title or with
out right, At least over Spanish America,
and over the Latin race, mother of all civil
lization, the principle of tho protection of
Europe and Of its independence, ut least in
the seventeen Republican States of South
America, belongs evidently to US and all the
Powers of the old world We must be pre-
pared for events; we must protect the Latin
race; we must in the first place, take posi-
ton at the point menaced by the United
States.
We must do this, or else we must declare
that the new continent the property of Eu-
rope, 10 to belong entirely in twenty
years perhaps, to the armed pioneers who
recognize no other title for their usurpation
than their convenience, and who permit their
citizens, like Walker, to raise individually
fleets and armies against Cuba, while their
federal general enters in the name of the
Union into Mexico, and from there into all
the civilized capitals Of South America
Why, therefore, should Europe, or the Old
World recognize these rights Of piracy by
sea and by land for thesnited States, whilst
in the Old World we recognize not only the
right Of protecting such property as is use-
ful 70 all, but further the rights to appropri-
ate with Indemnity the right of al states
and individuals in things useful to us?
This principle Of the protection of inter-
ests useful to oil which applies to a country,
does it apply with less right to continent
entire. Evidently not. We do not say
appropriate the United States Of Spanish
America, their proper organic anarchy will
appropriate then, sufficiently! But we say
Europe has the right, and We hold the obi
CATION. Of not giving over 10 them the Latin
race, in Spanish America, the half which
still remains free and independent Of that
magnificent part Of the globe, more than
half Of the heaven, the earth and the popu-
lation of the New World.
What are the collective, sacred possessions
the necessities Of mankind Mt large that the
policy Of the Old World cannot and ought
not to be delivered up to the United States
Of English America
These things are the capital Of the entire
world. used by few, necessary to all, in our
state of civilization and in our system Of
exchange, which renders to US all moneyed
gold, IS necessary as bread. The mines Of
gold are there!
In the second place, the food of the Old
which people subsist, and Of which the pri-
walton in the years Of famine might produce
in Europe incalculable calamities and de-
structions Of populations.
In the third place, the industries which
have become in the last few years especially,
b.. the salaries they assume to at least forty
millions Of workmen in cotton, the vcritable
and indispensable stipendium Of wages and
Of life
In fine, commerce, which compels us to
maintain navy aud sailors, floating popn-
lation. incalculable as number Of men fed
under sails, still more incalculable as
an element Of our national power. To per-
init the United States to renew the folly Of
the first empire, 70 establish an anti -Europ-
can blockade no longer on their ports alone,
but on the world, as they have just proclaim
ed It is no longer poltroonery, it 10 TO &C.
cept what N. York offers US, it is to abdicate
navigation. commerce, cotton, free trade, the
marine of the Old World; it is not to live but
on the death Of life.
Thus who does not know that the grain Of
America, OF the valley Of the Mississippi
especially, does not constitute the worlds
granary in case Of famine, ~ Sicily was the
granary Of the Romans? Who does not
know that the monetary capital Of the uni
verse is in the immense mines of Mexico,
and Peru and Sonora, and that these mines,
given up to their natural productiveness by
good system Of drainage, will place all the
capital in gold and silver of the universe in
the hands Of the United States, masters Of
the two Americas? Who does not know that
the master Of car ital is the master Of inter-
est, and that Europe, delivered up to this
country Of monopolies, will be forever sub
ject to its despotism Who does not know
that, masters Of the price Of gold and silver,
they will be masters also Of our most
vital industries, and that their coalition al
ready organized against our industry in silks
which rivals their industry in cotton, will
ruin Lyons, the capital Of tissues, and the
second capital of France! who does mot
know that in depriving us, or in depr:ving
themselves by the extinction Of the South,
Of the element Of this industry in Europe,
cotton, they will continue to starve, "a they
have already starved, eight millions of work
men in France, more than that in England.
five millions in Austria, and thus take Eu-
rope by famine at every caprice of their
arbitrary interests! Who does not know,
in fine; that our commerce and navigation
will be subject to the same destruction as