American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-11-21


last three months, aud leading organ Of
their opinions on our own soil. only some
days ago, very frankly and plainly ex-
pressed their ideas as follows:
Europe had two means of combating
the menacing progress of the American
Union. The first was the division of
America into States nearly equal in
strength and military povess in such man
ner that no one of them could absorb the
rest, and to form upon this hemisphere
Nations that could not surpas3 in resour-
c3s and influence the leading Powers Of
the Old World This means has been
attempted by France who hal counte |
upon ,ho support of the rest of Europe,
and who Had been weakly left in the lurch.
Her Government, the honor Of the CJun
try once engaged, thought b,st to prose
cute the enterpri13 ; we have already ex,
plained how untowlrd circumstances and
mistakes have caused its failure. To
think Of renewing it would be folly
We must now make up our minds to see
the Meth American Continent under the
power or. at least, the direct influence Of
the United States. The moment when
such sLall be the case may be delayed !;
but it will come as every symptom in Ii
Gates. There remains. then, but one
means of coun'eractng the consequences
OF ihis formidable preponderance. II
consists in framing European Union
not copied setvilely afer the American
form, for a host Of reasons exist why such
an imitation should not succee bat "a
Confederation that would secure and pro
toet the Interests of Europe in her rela
.ious with the other Continents"
Pursuing tins reflection, the writer
points out the immense increased weight
that such a cooperation would give to
Eurol can colnsels in Africa and Asia
US we'll as in America, and in regard to
the latter Continent, tla..s plan By
which, in spite of any accumulation Of
strength IL the other direction, the new
Union could meet undue pretensions with
combined resistance. For example,
should the United States, in the asscr-
ton of the Monroe DJctiiac. or any other
political or commercial line of policy, see
iit to clo,a the Gulf of Mexico against
outside Powers, the latter, by common
consent, could re.aliate by shutting us
ont from the Baltic, the Mediterranean
the German Ocean aud lhe British Chan.
nels With strong foothDlI in the Can.
adas and the British Possessions of the
North West, they might even disembark
armies and meuac2 Us severely upon the
coasts of both Oceans. The many othel
ways in which such coalition could be
made annoying require no analysis. They
suggest themselves to the practical mind
at Gucc.
We have touched upon this topic, not
because we believe that the project of a
European Union il the sense above set
forth is 10 any imncdia likelihood oi
realization, but because its grave discus
sion by large and Intelligent portion OF
the frreigu press, is sign of the times
not to be disregardcd by our public men.
We are of those who look forward with
the most sanguiue faith, to an early re.
form in public sentiment that will de-
away with the abuses We have still to de
plorc, and give a far higher and noblcl
tone to the National voice abroad as wc,
as at home. Ouc OF tie first effects OF
such a change viii be the concentration
Of all our influence upon the affairs OF
the two Western Continents, to establish
such alliances between ourselves and all
the States of the North aud South Amer
lea, as shall conduce to the general wei
!are of mankind, while setting at rest for
ever the question OF European interfer.
euce. Hitherto, the Balance of Pow,
or, So called, has OILY evealed itself in
the oppression Of the feeble by ;he strong;
the Partition OF Poland, Denmark and
the smaller States of Germany; the Goa
lition of Monarch against the people
and the endless anxieties and disturban
ces Ocsasioned hy mutual treachery and
intrigue, aud ofitiogsintsrmeddling upon
every pretext. In fine, the thing has
been afarce aud misnomer unworthy Of
civilization = disgraceful to Christian
epoch.
Onr balance of power will be founded
upon the free and full consent of the peo.
pic acting on behalf Of liberty, justice
and progress; it will be general coun-
Gil of emancipated States, an expression
of the opin;ons7of mankind, taken in the
aggregate, an Areopagus of Nations
The time is ripe for such coalition, and