The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-11
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions of the Leading Journals
Upon Current TOpics-COmpiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph
CARPENTERS FOREIGN POLICY.


Senator Matt. II. Carpenter of Wisconsin,
hade an address at Beloit College last month,
IN occasion of the dedication OF Memorial
Gall in honor of the fallen heroes of the war,
and explained in the course of it the pro-
(ramme of party among our pontlcal men
whose opinions, whether we agree with them
rnot. demand our most careful considera-
fion. Senator Carpenter reminds us of the
early Puritans who governed the State with
the aid of the catechism, and constructed po-
Iitical platforms upon strict theological prln-
ciples The choice of party is for him
matter of prayer and devout meditation. The
Constitution of the United States is to beread
by the light of the Bible, and the Fourth of
July is not only a national holiday but
of such earnest politicians it is
fitting that we should listen with
respect these men are not very numerous,
but they are very strong, and sooner or
later they exert powerful influence. Anne
rican liberty, according to Mr.. Carpenter, is
part of Gods scheme for the social regenera-
aion of the world. Out of the darkness and
oppression of Eastern despotism he gradually
evoked the dawn of liberty, which moved ever
eastward until in the British islands, on the
very verge of the civilized world, it broke into
the fixed light which is destined to irradiate
4he whole earth. The new continent OF Anne
lica received the gift, and here it was fos
tered by the almost miraculous assistance of
heaven until it resulted in the perfect doc
trine of the full equality and freedom of man.
We have reached this goal through long suf-
ferng and trial and war, and now 1t is our
duty to spread throughout the nations the
same elevated principles. Hence the mission
of America becomes according to this view,
a divine inspiration, and Republican states
men are elevated to the romantic dignity OF
crusaders Hence, also, certain degree OF
Interference in the affairs of Europe becomes
bot only our privilege but our sacred duty
Mr. Carpenter is far from desiring that we
bhall declare general war against kings and
emperors, especially If steady menace OF
war can be made to serve our purpose as well
as actual hostilities; but we are bound to
exercise our influence wherever we can In
support of popular institutions. England,
for instance, is now in the agony OF great
struggle between the people and the aristo-
cracy Our relations with that Government
enable us either to aid or embanass the
Liberal party We have a heavy pecuniary
claim against England for damages in
ficted by the Alabama; we have
cause of grave complaint, even of war,
for the unparalleled ''insolence" of Great
Britain in the Mason and Slidell affair; we
have just grievance in the conduct Of the
Ministry towards the SoEthern Rebels, whereby
the war was indefinitely prolonged, and our
commerce and treasury suffered loss not to
be computed in dollars For all these INJURIES
and all this insolence we have a right to hold
England responsible. Our true course is to
keep the exercise Of this right in reserve
until it can be put forth in such a manner as
10 most effectually serve the English Liberals
--thatis the English people-who were always
our friends, and whose interests are Identical
with our own. We have right to go to war;
very well, the right will keep. Let us wait
till the time comes to use it. eff, in some
crisis of her political destiny, we should see
that 1t was In our power, by enforcing our
utmost rights by war, to be an instrument in
the hands of God to avenge the outrages COM
mitted by that blood-stained monarchy, and
to establish the republican element Of her
people, no principle of the law of nations
would be violated that we had chosen that
moment for the stern enforcement Of our Just
rights" Let our Government, if it will buy
up the claims of it's own citizens for indem-
nifty on account of the Confederate piracies,
and then let it say to the English Republi-
cans:-"You have got the aristocracy on a
down grade; 1lOl0 push them. We will wait
for our ten millions actual pecuniary loss,
until you get into power and can pay it, and
when you have trampled the governing
classes under your heel you will thereby have
saved us the trouble of chastising them for
their insolence, and then we will clasp hands
across the Atlantic in joint sympathy with
every people struggling to be free
With the Republicans of Spain, of France,
of Italy, of the other countries of Europe, we
are also united by ties of interest and of
solemn obligation, and them also it may be
our privilege some day to help as we can now
help the Republicans of England That this
general crusade of liberty can be preached
without a final appeal to the sword, Mr.. Car
penter, for all his peaceful disclaimers, evil
dently does not believe. All good things. he
reasons, must be bought with a price; educa-
tion costs money, prayer costs money. life
itself costs money; and the glorious functions
which the Almightyhas assigned to the United
States cannot be fulfilled without labor and
battle 1t was well to keep aloof from foreign
complications while we were young and weak:
but now that we have reached manhood we
must face the duties and bear the response
bilities of manhood ''We must be about our
Fathers business"
MIR. Carpenter will no doubt let us heal
more OF his aggressive policy during the
coming session of Congress, and we shall see
what the country thinks of it. Certainly the
American people are not ready to take up the
political propagandism of which he promises
to become a prophet, or to admit that the
Declaration of Independence can be shot from
Parott guns into the monarchical stronghold
of the Old World. War with England Would
be too dreadful an evil, both to us and tC
English republicanism, to be lightly threat
ened.
THE SUEZ CANAL AS AN AGENT OF
CIVILIZATION.
From the NJ Y. Herald