The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-01

utut 10 tobaiy unaltcu ioi Bhcos anu
powerful nation. This objection has
been urged ever since the adoption Of
our constitution. Eminent statesmen,
at the commencement Of the present
century, both in this country and Eu-
rope, anticipated the downfall Of the
republic before one single generation
should pass away. Those men have
gone to their graves without witnessing
the fulfllment Of their predictions.
Three generations have lived and
died, but the American republic still
exists. Stronger, mere prosperous and
more powerful than ever, under its gov
eminent and laws, are living the fourth
generation, as ardently attached to the
principles of constitutional liberty, as
were there revolutionary ancestors.
Our government las endured for rear
ly a hundred years, during which time
It has met impediments to overcome
them; it has encountered dangers to
subdue them; it has engaged in a death
struggle for existence, and emerged tri-
umphantly from the contest, and now,
to-day, in all elements Of new-abiding
strength, 1t stands pre-eminent among
the governments of the civilized world.
This statement is substantiated by
comparing the United States to the
great nations of Europe, nearly all of
which are contending with elements Of
internal discomfort and weakness that
threaten their final overthrow. In the
great Russian Empire, the life Of the
car Is in continual peril from some
desperate apostle of nihilism whom the
knout of Siberian exile, OF Of death,
can not divert from his purpose. This
radical element appears to gain daily
in power, and seems likely to terminate
the present political institutions Of Rus
sia. Germany, ever since the French
war, has suffered from internal convul-
sions and financial difficulties, with an
enormous military force and with a
wonderful prestige, the empire is afiict-
ed with a malady, that at the death Of
Bismarck, is likely to cause its dismem-
berment. England, hitherto the
wealthiest, If not the most powerful
nation on the globe, seems sick unto
death. Her lahoring classes are dis
contented and s%ullen; her manufacture
eIs are threatened with ruin, and her
once unequalled commerce hard
pressed by the competition of the other
maratime states. OF the chief powers
of Europe, France alone enjoys peace
and prosperity. But the discordant
political parties in France forbid any
hope of perfect tranquility. The United
States possesses the wealth, and more
than the resourees of England. Com
pared with the states Of the western
continent, It is far more powerful than
Prussia, or the entire German empire;
aud should the future develop, as indi-
Gated by the past, our country will,
ere another generation passes, contain
a larger population than the great
Russian empire. All Of the essential
elements of success seem to be within
our grasp. A political policy distin-
guished by wisdom, is alone necessary
to insure to the United States the pre-
eminent place among the nations of
the globe.
We inbabit the great nation of one
entire continent, from the north to the
south pole. No state can compare with
our own in wealth, in resources, in
power, material or mineral. Nor can
all Of the political communities Of the
new world combined rival us in i'm
portance. The United States repre-.
sents a world. 1t is the only state in
that world whose opinion or conduct
has the least influence in Europe. 1t is
the only nation that occupies SO envia-
BILE u position. In the old world Ger
many is strong; England is wealthy;
France has great internal resources;
Russia has an immense military estab-
lishment, but each Of these nations has
a rival in the other. Each Is held in
check by its neighbor. Each Is obliged
before adopting any decided policy, to
consult with contiguous states and Sc
cure their approval, or else to form al
~liances, defensive or offensive, in order
to repel the attack of any interested
nation that may disapprove the said
policy.
No European power can ever acquire
a preponderance of power. As o o as
one nation gains undue prominence the
balance of the continent FERNS a coali-
ton for the purpose Of checking the
predominant state. The grand politi-
cal doctrine of Europe is, and for two
centuries has been, that the e%quilibri-
uni Of power must be maintained. Past
history illustrates this doctrine. Spain
In the sixteeth century became the most
powerful nation in ~Christendom. Eng
land, France, Holland and the nations
Of the north, alarmed at her threaten
ing attitude and her enormous resour-
ces, formed a confederation and de-
stroyed Spanish supremacy forever.
France, under Louis XIV, threatened
the liberties Of the nations Of Europe,
but those commercial nations humbled
the power Of France and destroyed the
gigantic empire established by the
Grand Monarque. The same nation,
under Napoleon l., met TIE anne fate,
and eho,1d PrueSio ~ tho prosapt f;ma