American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-14
Might and Right.

SBCCI lOl III OO-cAioI anu COOpCIdlt Ill
the administration of the affairs of ma
tions, they go on prosperously. Domes-
tic interests are protected and Justice
controls the foreign relations. The ideal
is not always, we might say not often,
realized in tie "Family of Nations. -
Might too frequently takes precedence of
right in the consideration of ruling pow
ers. The great nations of Europe are at
this hour occupied with computations of
comparative strength. The nice balance
of power has been disturbed, and ne
spontaneous adjustment of it appears
probable. Hence spring the estimates
and the speculative measurements of the
powers of the different nations, both by
themselv yes and by each other.
The rapid development of interior
strength in Russia, accompanied by ex-
terror aspirations, especially in the di-
rection of the Bosphorus, is, probably,
one latent element of apprehension
More conspicuous, though, perhaps, not
more real, is the sudden accession of
power by Prussia-the result of such as.
pirations, And the immediate ground
of apprehension is, that for mutual in =
terest these may combine and by might
right being put in abeyance-endau-
ger the peace of Europe, from West to
East. Such alliance is believed in fact
to have been formed, although its imme.
diate purposes are not definitely even
conjectured. The article in the Edin>
burg ReuieU, which has attracted atteu>
tion and comment, refers to this supposed
Russo Prussian alliance. The following
sentence, coming from British pen, is
remarkable, as showing at once how Sc.
rious is the apprehension of danger and
how changed is the tone of England
towards her old and hereditary enemy.
The writer says:
awe do not conceal our opinion that
the power, and even The superiority, Of
the French army, is an essential condi-
tion of the liberty aud independence If
Europe. France has ere this given lib.
erty to others, even while she denied ii
to herself; and if the future had in store
a military combination between the pow.
ers of the North-the forces of Germany
backed by forces of Russia-it is only by
close and intimate alliance of France
with this country that the cause of
Western civilization, and perhaps the
independence of the East can be upheld.
No traces of past rivalry and animosity
no apprehension of future Differences
shake our faith in the alliance of France
and Great Britain as the best security o.
public law and of peace; and we there
fore regard the efficiency of the French
army with an interest second only to thai
which we feel in tho efficiency of oul
own forces. 1t cannot too often be re
peated that the peace of Europe i.
threatened, if it be threatened, not by
France, but by the changes Prussia has
made in the distribution power"
There is among the affiliated nations
of Europe. sort of modified States
rights doctrine maintained of necessity
denominated by them the balance O
power. The moving of the Schleswig
pebble from one scale to the other dis,
turbcd the equilibrium recently, auG
fierce war ensued. To move the Venice
pebble from one scale to the other, a it
tie while ago. Southern Europe was con
vulsed with alarms anG battles. And
even now the estimates of power are
made, irrespective of right, with refer
ence to the transfer of other fractions oI
European territory from their old mas
ters to new ones. Russia has not with
drawn her expectant eyes from the do
main of the Sultan. Nor, probably, has
France relnq iished hopes of perfecting
her boundary towards the Rhine. Thes,
schemes of accession and others, wheth
ers, real or imaginary, cannot fai
to excite both interest and apprehen
sion among the great powers themselves
as we'll as among those which are marked
for appropriation by might without right
The success of Prussia and her subse.
quent impunity and naughty bearing, al
once excite the fears of the other nations
and stimulate their ambition for similar
achievements.
For little time after our triumph
over the rebellion, the consciousness Of
power exhibited itself among us in boast.
full and even in menacing speech. i
was the natural outflow of the occasion
But the normal principle of respect fol
right speedily asserted itself, and it
claims, as heretofore, met with prompt
add almost universal response. For oul
nation, right is the first thing to be de-
cided on, and then power, ample and
suitable, will rally for its support.-Pins