Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-03
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d peoples money and lives, let US Republi-
d cans at least, set for both-the peoples
and their monarchs-the higher example
of administering our own affairs honestly,
humanely, and wisely, and in accordance,
d too, with d blessing and a restraint they
have not-a Constitution. ctA' 20
That France took advantage of our
Y weakness in planting her seeds of Latin
despotism in Mexico, is also very true.
Neither was this act very chivalric, or fair,
or friendly. But it is, neyerless, only
/, what human nature always has done and
t always will do. 1t is exactly what we
: have done, and what this same class of
crusading p~ropagandists, VIGOROUSLY, are
waiting to do now with Great Britain.
: More than that. 1t is exactly what we.
: deserved. We had abased, demeaned,
weakened our national power. Our power
deserved the contempt of all other nations,
except Mexico. Now that we are strong,
are we to affict or punish other nations
with wars because we were weak or con-
temptible or because they had the sense
to see us as we were, and the human ma
ture to treat us as we deserved. But the
truth is, weak or strong, we had and have,
no business with Mexico or France in this
affair. As to any point of honor
therefore, it is as baseless as this doctrine,
of which it is a fit part. If our statesmen
of 1920, or on politicians Of 1854, flor the
age of American craftsmanship has passedl
have made an untenable point ofuin-
terest or honor, the sooner we abandon
it now, in our pride of strength, the
more becomingly and decorouly we
shall act. This conduct will also
be more consistent with that calm, con-
scious sense of power which BELTS a strong, |
brave people, trusting ourselves and fear
ing nom others. 1t is only the vain and
weak who should parade and, 1fuster at
every constructive injury or imaginary
insult. - -,r.- |
If, then, these our fellow-citizens mean
war-we have only had too much of that
for the preservation of our wealth and
happiness, or the safety of our own re-
publican institutions A more certain and
patent-right plan of becoming a monarchy
oarseLUes could neither be devised nor i'm
agined, than for US to go to war with Eu-
ripe, and the rest of mankind, in behalf
of the repubticanisna of Merico. In that
case, treason will have done its worst. A
standing army and a continuance and
confirmation of this irresponsible exeeu-
tive military power, beyond 3 question,
must make US the very horror, these OPP
timists affect to resist and overthrow
throughout the world-A Despotism.
And, if it mean only menace and buster,
we have already done too much Of that
either for our credit abroad or self-respect
at home. Besides, the deed may go be-
yond the purpose. France is not anation
to be much or long menaced or bullied
She is easy to be sedueed into a war-not
very easily allured again to peace. One
of the b~ravest, most chivalric and sensi-
tive of all people, not even the memory
of her Beaumarchais, R~ochambeau and
Lafayette, and of our Franklin, Adamses,
and Washington-the traditions of the
men and deeds of l776-can make her I'M !
quietude, long endure our arrogant cham
pionship of Santa Anna, Mirsmon and
Juarez, with their motley, anarchic prin- {
clples and doings of this era. I
1t is not, perhaps, strange that in 1920 I
Mr.. Monroe, and our fathers of that age, G
should have had high ideas of South +,
American Independence, aud the ssuniver- I
sal spread of free principles Bolivar
seemed q Washington then. But, with J.,
our advantages of having seen, in the in !
term, their results, it is passing strange :
that any Of us should cling, or affect to =
cling to that delusion. A lifetime of un- d
e~xceptionable, ruinous and ignominious I
failures, throughout all these fsRepublics, {
ought to admonish us of its futility. 1t is q
as if some old Knight of Malta should =
now arise to urge upon as again the1 T
march to Jerusalem. Surely" he would ::
shout, "the bones of our Savior ought not Il
to be kept in the desecrating custody of in !
fdelsI Press on the holy crusader Mr.. d
Monroe was, doubtless, a very good, sensi- Il
bic, honest, old-fashioned sort of a Presi- s
dent, according to the measure of his abil- 4
1t may be possible that he, really !,
was absurd enough with his doctrine of +,
States Rights n strict construction to :
have claimed this national power to eetab-
and usurp the Office Of an universal b
wet-nurse to all the orphan Republics in Ii
the world However that may be, there
was a patriot statesman, we q
can trust. George Washington-the only y
really and truly grandly greas man who n
ever hlled that seat, has taught us q doc g
trlne, worth his teaching and our remem- Il
ber1ng and observance-the Eleventh :
Commandment II ."Mind your OWL bust :
ness" The especial propriety of this q
IN this particular instance, is the n
more apparent from the strong probability n
that IT we leave things alone, they will of Il
themselves come around to the point we a
desire H-d7s- fI =
This, truly, is very plain talk, but none !,
other IS suited to the dread emergency. -
lust escaped from a war the grandest and :
of all history, we are now threat "
and imperiled by another of un- a
issues, and the most causeless and d
unworthy which ever disgraeed mankind. o.
Can we afford to be reticent2 Have we A
time and opportunity to daily with it'd l
AS for myself, in this crisis and in these u
times, and on such subjects, l have made 8
up my mind, to keep nc secret or conf u
1enee from the people. The issues are h
100 great, the perils too awful and immi- IL
for either silence or hypocrisy. a.
1t may be true, also, that the Governor n
md General Assembly of Ohio have no :,
tirect official relation to such. topics. 1t =
nay be land such has generally been my q
past opinion and course of actionl that it tt
would have been better that this custom W
If u interfering in national affairs had d
never begun. But it is a custom, and
or wrong our constituents have ac- az
Iuieseed in it. And moreover, as the peo- :
pie of Ohio have a deep stake in this
natter l have felt justified in speaking :
'hus plainly and sincerely what L believe /
If this greatest present question. If my -
elbow citizens of the General Assembly SO
hinkdiferently upon this subject would Ia
t not be well enough to cast about in a b.
timely forethought, to. determine what OF
classes of the peoples property can well
oear heavier taxation than they now en-
lure2 If We advocate going into anoth- :
II war, there can be no escaping the re-
possibility Of our voting the means -
Necessary to the end. And if your body Sc
hall determine against my earnest CON at
7%ictionB) to pass the customary resolutions
If advice and instruction to our Repre-
entatiyes and Senators in Congress, in :
of this measure, would it not be lust 4
nd proper for you, to Indicate to them y
ONE fresh and unstrained sinews of war 2 o y
And now, trusting that the General As
of this great commonwealth, in all
hese, their varied and momentous duties
md responsibilities, may deliberate and :
lecide worthily and well for its, people, IL
nd that the people shall, through all their A.
generations, become and remain worthy b
of our fathers who beaueath-
d us all our liberties and privileges, / 70
commend all to the kind care and :
of that Good Being @who hath /
made and preserved us as a nation" u
CHARLES ANDERSON. fr
January LIST 1896 t, de