The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-06-28
to negro suffrage, will take upon this
amendment.
WARS FOR TERRITORIAL EXTEN,
SION.

| How vast those of Augustus Cesar )!
was but {. Margraratc, and Prussia a
mere Ducny. Within two centuries
past, how has England enlarged her
domains in Asia and America and
Russia. extended her vast frontiers. and
even our own Republic, added to her
national domain For q small and
feeble State to maintain its national
independence, especially IN theneighbor-
hood of more powerful rivals, is heeon-
ing more and more difficult. At no
period has the lust for territorial con
quest been more active than now.
Large empires are the fashion Of the
day. Piece by piece the lesser kine
dons are dismembered. and their PROV
inces annexed to the overgrown bulk Of
some mighty ncighbor. Russia having
added to her domain the territory Of
unnumhered tribes in the north and east
of her original boundaries, and having
swallowed Poland, now aspres 10
dev0ur Turkey. France ',aving con-
quered Algier- ,andahsorbed Savoy, Waits
only tie slightest opportunity to add
Belgium to her domain, and extend her
provinces on The Rhine. England seizes
upon every favorable movement to eX-
tend her territorial domain in the east.
The armies of Austria and Prussia but
a short time since. left the field against
the Danes, upon a question of terri
-orial iurisdiction-and now these two
powers are taking the fed against each
other upon similar question. Even
our Republic seems waiting only till
the pear is ripe, chat we may eat At oHf
eisure the remainder OF Mexico. AMI
then swallow Cuba and the Sandwich
Islands as graceful conclusion OF the
feast.
It's nat rash 10 predict, that in few
years. tie earth will be entirely divided
among eonparativelya small numbered
powers. Few, if any little fish, VIII be
left IN the political saa-and whether
the small number ef Leviathans tAai
will sort in tha.deep, viii dwell
together IN greater Heaee and prosperity
time alone can determine.
The wars chat have been waeed Il
different periods for territorial extension
have usually been bHief in duration.
ttoaeh fierce and bloody in character.
Ordinarily. the issue ifota Il G first, ia5
not cen doubtful 4 desperate resist
anee has often been maele, but usually
unavai.ing-for tine aggressive power
almost Invariably has been the stronger.
But Che policy Of the conquerors has
generally been, not 10 exasperate ana
Cypress the vauqaishetl, but 10 make
their conquests valuable BY the accession
Of peaceful, obedient and prosperous
subjects. Sometimes the vanquished
have been largely the gamers by their
defeat. Becoming incorporated with
the eonquering power, and admitted to
the privileges OF its subjects, they have
attained a higher civilization with It's
multiplied blessings, social and po-
litical. This is manifestly true of
those provinces of Mexico, made few
years since, a part Of our Union-also Of
some of the provinces of the b itish
Empire, as those Of North America.
Yet the change may also he for the
worse, and in the destruction of the
lesser States, they may be preparing for
empires whose very greatness shall be
their bane. 70 many rejecting minds,
the enlargement OF o1n. national domain
to such an extent beyond its original
boundaries, has been source of anxiety
and tear-and Judging from the past.
nothing will save us from disinte-
grafton and national ruin, bat "A sacred
of that variety in unity
that many in one-contemplated in our
as framed and interpreted
by its immortal authors. In this view,
the course of our central government
for the past few years, has been in high
degree threatening to our permanence