Text: C. F. Briggs (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), February 1, 1845, vol. 1, no. 5, p. ??

“ ‘War,’ said the great captain of his age, war is the trade of barbarians. The whole art consists in assembling a force superior to your adversary. This can be accomplished by a great naval power, which is thus enabled to seize, much to her own detriment, on various small isolated portions of the world, and on extensive kingdoms which have not yet arrived at their full power, or which have become imbecile and weak from age.

“Happy therefore would it be for every nation, if the ocean would rise with storm and with tempest against ships of war, and tranquil seas and favouring gales were reserved for honest merchant ships and gaily painted yachts. Then when the land was infested by war, each one who was peaceably inclined might advance to the shore and embark in his yacht, with a plentiful store of provisions and wine, sail about on the tranquil surface of the ocean, and return to the land when the war was over. Less tyranny would be practised, and the independence of nations would be much promoted.”

“In Upper Lusatia, in Germany, is a tribe of people called Wends, descended from the good Saxons who resisted with such true valour the armies of Charlemagne. They dress in the skins of sheep, and dwell in tents. They are perfectly happy, for they lead a pastoral life, and cordially pity those unfortunate people who are compelled to reside in towns. Towns! where Mother Earth is carefully hidden from view by a heavy pavement of brick or of stone; where the air is polluted by a thousand vitious exhalations, and where sleep, silence and solitude are unknown.

“In the midst of Christian Europe they retain a solemn Pagan rite, and a grove of majestic oak trees, near the centre of their territory, is their object of religious adoration. They were formerly under the government of the Elector of Saxony, who allowed them to pursue their own course without interference, having perceived the folly of any at+ tempt to control them. In the exchange of territory which took place in Europe during the year It.,15, they were transferred, along with some other Saxon subjects, to the jurisdiction of Prussia. The monarch of that country, when informed of the circumstance, issued an immediate order that they should pay a tax and contribution, and attend Chris• tian worship. An officer was appointed to execute the decree.

“It was soon discovered that, unless they were caught and chained to the benches, it was impossible to procure their attendance in the cathedral of Luchaw. Two companies of infantry were then detached to cut down the sacred grove; but the tribe threatened destruction to all who engaged in the attempt. The commissioner of Prussia, wishing to avoid bloodshed in a newly acquired territory, desisted from this part of the enterprise.

“The project of converting them forcibly to Christianity having failed, it was thought highly desirable that they should pay tribute, and a large sum was demanded. The chiefs of the tribe replied, that money was totally unknown among them; that flocks of sheep and herds of cattle were the only things they possessed, and they could not, with any convenience to themselves, part with any of them. They said that if the King was hungry, and came that way, they would kill a lamb and roast it for his dinner; but they resolutely re. fused to pay any tax, and immediately assembled in arms to defend their property. The Prussian officer finding he could do nothing with this inexorable race, was obliged to leave them in possession of their ancient freedom.

“Like this tribe, the people of every country have certain habits, customs, feelings, opinions, and prejudices, by which they are distinguished from other nations. These customs are so powerful, that it is impossible to eradicate them; nor would it be desirable.

“As medals are more valuedfor the variety of their impressions, so nations present a more pleasing aspect from the variety of their customs, the difference of their opinions, and the distinct character of their political institutions.

“The shuddering tenant of the Frigid Zone Boldly proclaims the happiest spot his own; Extols the treasures of his stormy seas, And his long nights of revelry and ease. The nakedNegro, panting at the Line, Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine; Basks in the glare, or stems the tel.ici wave, And thanks his gods for all the wealth they gave. Such is the patriot's boast, where’er he roam, His first, best country, ever is, at home.’

“This circumstance contributes much to the comfort and happiness of the human race; each nation considers its own law, custom, and institution — soil, climate, and provision — habit, manner, and government, as far superior to all others. There is one thing which every nation adores, and that is itself; each nation believes itself the most free, the most wise, the most brave, the most every thing.

“The praise and the superiority of his native land is the pleasing theme of every orator in every country. He who assures his audience they are the best and most enlightened people on the lace of the earth, will always receive abundant applause. Were it otherwise, it would show a great want of proper feeling; for ingratitude is one of the worst vices that can be charged against individuals; but the man who is grateful for kindness conferred on him, possesses many other good qualities. An orator and his audience thus mutually delighted with each other, present a very pleasing spectacle.

“Frequently a community considers its own law, government and religion, so excellent, it desires to enforce them on other nations. Hence arises one cause of war.”

“The most important circumstance connected with the welfare of man, is the government which exercises a control over his actions and his thoughts; for, in every country where the human race have existed for some time under one species of power, his sentiments and his ideas become gradually assimilated to the government under which he is placed. A single glance at the countries that were formerly prosperous and flourishing under free institutions, and which are now rendered desolate and oppressed by despotic power, would confirm so irresistibly this view of the subject, and has been so often illustrated by various writers, that it is not worth while to cite any examples. They will readily occur to any one who is conversant with history.

“There is not any nation which desires to have a good government; that is, it is not the first and principal object which they desire. The first wish of all nations, and which they are unhappy if they do not attain, is to be governed according to their peculiar ideas and prejudices. There is no doubt they believe these to be founded in truth and justice; but how fur this is from being actually the case, the history of every country will elucidate. even if a nation should desire it, [page 69:] — as governments are carried on by human agents, and their power is exercised over human subjects, — how is it possible it should be per. feet? they of necessity partake of the general imperfection of all human things. Can we construct a temple which shall continue to attract for ages the admiration of mankind with diminutive bricks, or will you raise a pile of timber to last for ceuturies?

“Let us therefore make a few enquiries what the human race are. In the first place, in respect to their form, which has some relation to the subject, although it may appear a distant one; and in the next, with respect to their disposition or character, on which, in point of fact, governments depend for their development. Do we find perfection of form or character in any member of the human race with whom we have ever been acquainted? A French author has very truly observed, that we are surrounded by merely halves and quarters of men.

With reverence be it spoken, the reason why angels are not permitted to visit the earth, except at very distant intervals, is because they would be stared at as curiosities; and yet the accounts which are given to us of angelic natures is, that they merely exhibit all the good qualities of which man is capable, wrought to the highest degree of intensity. Who ever saw perfection in the human figure? and what lumps of men we see around us, and what a variety! Why is it that the statues of the Apollo di Belvidere and the Venus de Medici always excite in us such emotions of pleasure and delight? If we met Apollos walking in the street, and Venuses were our companions every moment of our leisure hours, we should pass by the statues without observation. It is because they are very beautiful and differ from angthing we see in common life, that they attract our notice.

“Monarchy, especially hereditary monarchy, is expensive; it is so of necessity. All people, all nations, connect ideas of dignity with expense and luxury. It is a false association of ideas, but so general, that it is adopted by every nation. It is therefore necessary that the monarch presiding over the destinies of a nation should excel all his subjects in luxury and expense, as much as he exceeds them in power. There have been but two monarchs since the commencement of time who were maintained at a very trifling cost to their subjects; and the nations over whom they ruled were so exasperated against them on that account, that they put one to death and were constantly conspiring against the other. The first was the beautiful white ox that reigned in Egypt, and of whom an account is given in the pages of Herodotus. He was one of the best monarchs the world ever saw; he never engaged in bloody wars to gratify an unreasonable ambition, or to extend his dominion; and while he chewed the cud, his subjects were peaceful and happy. It was under his reign that some of those beautiful temples were built, which have attested to a later age the power and magnificence of ancient Egypt, and which the modern degenerate nations of Europe make not even an attempt to imitate. A plentiful supply of grass, with a little corn and pure water, were all that he required; but at length his subjects were so indignant against him, because he would not spend more money, that they rose in rebellion, effected a revolution, and cruelly put him to death.”