North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-03-06
Howst hey View Us.

We can often learn much more from on
enemies than our friends, since their con
duct is always governed by non tlatter
ing view of ourselves. An excellent idea
therefore, of the peculiar character of tn
present political struggle in this countr,
may be suggested by the current tone o
those foreign journals which have neve
regarded us with affection, and have neve
been slow to take advantage of our afflic
tons. The London Times is one of tn
class OF newspapers in question. 1t watch
es the progress of events in the Unite,
States with closeness only cqualled b,
its prejudice, and zeal only commenni
rate with its poorly concealed animosity
When it fancies us involved in trouble. j
promptly assumes the dictatorial languag g,
towards us, inspired by its latent feeln.
of contempt; but when it conceives us t,
be in position of .sturdy independence, i
just as promptly enacts every sympathetic
role from the patron to the sycophant.-
Before our late civil war began and W,
stood before the world model of nationa
prosperity, that journal toadied us to onl
hearts content. The moment that Massa
chusetts and South Carolina were enabled
by the aid Of Exeter Hall emissaries, tt
drag the entire Union into their long
standing private quarrel about slavery, ant
the dissolution of the republic seemed in
evitable, the paper alluded to assumed the
diction Of enmity, and reviled, misrepre
sented, and illuminated US with malig.
nant persistency that was truly marvellous
To its utter amazement, the war soon end
ed with the discontinue of its rebel friends,
and presto ! it was unable to find vocab-
ulary too full of complimentary adjectives
for our use. 1t extolled the solidity OF
democratic institutions, and touchingly
deplored the misfortune to the world al
large" which might even imperit their sue
cessful maintenance. 1t became as earn.
est in its eulogy as it had previously been
bitter in its denunciations.
But this time-serving principle of the
Heading journal of Europe is not with
out its benefit to us if we choose to avail
ourselves Of the philosophy of such ickle.
ness. The London Times simply reflects
at all times, the European view of "the
situation" in our country, and adapts its
course to that circumstance. When il
slobbers over us, we may take it for grant
ed that Europe considers us people too
well united to be treated with 1isrespect
and vixen it has but sneers for our govern.
ment and SCOTS for ourselves, We may rest
well assured that we are doing something
which, in the eyes Of the transatlantic
world, is our emasculating our national
energy and inspiring doubts as to the per.
manence of the Union. And this is jus,
what we are doing now, if VIC may Judge
after this shrewd fashion from the tone OF
European opinion, as we ind it reflected
in the London Times.
Ourpolitical distractions and dissensions
now that the war is over and We ought tC
be firmly united people, are filling the
distant mind with Il profound distrust.-
The determination of the radical party
now that it has temporarily acquired the
dominance, to override the constitution and
the laws in order to carry out its extreme
purposes and perpetuate it's authority, fill.
with apprehension, abroad, the bosom Of
every sincere friend of the Union. They
see, in the course of events here, at this
moment, only repetition of those scenes
which, in the volume of history, have ever
preluded the fall of popular governments,
and the gradual conversion of a republic
into despotism. No wonder, therefore
the London Times argues that this is fel.
icitous opportunity for Great Britain to
settle the Alabama claims. Our disorder.
ed condition, it urges, will secure better
terms than could be obtained of us in any
season of harmony. The menacing pros
pect of the contest between Congress and
the President offers a chance, 1t infers, OF
insisting upon European demands which
would not be listened to if, instead of no.
tional disorganization, the aspect with US
was one of national unanimity.
That there is common sense in the rea
soning of g the thunderer no one may
dispute, but what humilating picture i,
presents us of ourselves for private con-
temptation! How ashamed we ought to
feel, boastful as we are of our intelligence,
of our internal contentious How morti.
flying an attitude we maintain to our Euro
pean friends and how enjoyable one to
our enemies Are we not holding repub.
licanism itself up to the ridicu!e of all
mankind? Are we not palpably exposing
its weakness to every uncharitable mind
Are we not demonstrating, to the delight
of monarchists s. from Indus to the pole, y
how inconsistent is the popular will, how
unstable is popular government? And al
for what? For the ''spoiles of Office y
For the 81 ten loaves and two small fishes
which are the emoluments of civil author
ity! The radical party actually prefer to
hold the ''model republic up before the
world in this disgraceful position, rather
than forego the chance of securing the next
presidency AS if the inordinatc "pick-
ings and stealings" of it's official friends
for the past six years-as if the millions
upon millions plundered from the public
sreasury-were not enough to satisfy it
appetite, it even now prefers, rather thar
relinquish its grasp on the spoils of of
ficc," to unseat the executive, to over
throw the Supreme Court, to trample or
the Constitution, to invite another reyolu
ton, another national bankruptcy, disrup
ton, and perhaps, finally a military dicta
torship erected by coup d'etat on thu
ruins of the republic. In such partisan
hands we may exclaim, God help ou1
country.-N Y. Sunday Times.