the american republic-第71章
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gainst。 They start from narrow； sectarian； or infidel premises； and seek not freedom of worship； but freedom of denial。 They suppress the freedom of religion as the means of securing what they call religious libertyimagine that they secure freedom of thought by extinguishing the light without which no thought is possible； and advance civilization by undermining its foundation。 The condemnation of their views and movements by the Holy Father in the Encyclical； which has excited so much hostility； may seem to superficial and unthinking Americans even； as a condemnation of our American systemindeed； as the condemnation of modern science； intelligence； and civilization itself； but whoever looks below the surface； has some insight into the course of events； understands the propositions and movements censured； and the sense in which they are censured； is well assured that the Holy Father has simply exercised his pastoral and teaching authority to save religion； society； science； and civilization from utter corruption or destruction。 The opinions； tendencies； and movements； directly or by implication censured； are the effect of narrow and superficial think… 432 ing； of partial and one…sided views； and are sectarian； sophistical； and hostile to all real progress； and tend； as far as they go； to throw society back into the barbarism from which； after centuries of toil and struggle； it is just beginning to emerge。 The Holy Father has condemned nothing that real philosophy； real science does not also condemn； nothing； in fact； that is not at war with the American system itself。 For the mass of the people； it were desirable that fuller explanations should be given of the sense in which the various propositions censured are condemned； for some of them are not； in every sense； false； but the explanations needed were expected by the Holy Father to be given by the bishops and prelates； to whom； not to the people； save through them； the Encyclical was addressed。 Little is to be hoped； and much is to be feared； for liberty； science； and civilization from European Liberalism； which has no real affinity with American territorial democracy and real civil and religious freedom。 But God and reality are present in the Old World as； well as in the New； and it will never do to restrict their power or freedom。
Whether the American people will prove faithful to their mission； and realize their destiny； or not； is known only to Him from whom 433 nothing is hidden。 Providence is free； and leaves always a space for human free…will。 The American people can fail； and will fail if they neglect the appointed means and conditions of success； but there is nothing in their present state or in their past history to render their failure probable。 They have in their internal constitution what Rome wanted； and they are in no danger of being crushed by exterior barbarism。 Their success as feeble colonies of Great Britain in achieving their national independence； and especially in maintaining； unaided； and against the real hostility of Great Britain and France； their national unity and integrity against a rebellion which； probably； no other people could have survived； gives reasonable assurance for their future。 The leaders of the rebellion； than whom none better knew or more nicely calculated the strength and resources of the Union； counted with certainty on success； and the ablest； the most experienced； and best informed statesmen of the Old World felt sure that the Republic was gone； and spoke of it as the late United States。 Not a few； even in the loyal States； who had no sympathy with the rebellion； believed it idle to think of suppressing it by force； and advised peace on the best terms that could be obtained。 But Ilium fuit 434 was chanted too soon； the American people were equal to the emergency； and falsified the calculations and predictions of their enemies； and surpassed the expectations of their friends。
The attitude of the real American people during the fearful struggle affords additional confidence in their destiny。 With larger armies on foot than Napoleon ever commanded； with their line of battle stretching from ocean to ocean； across the whole breadth of the continent； they never； during four long years of alternate victories and defeatsand both unprecedentedly bloodyfor a moment lost their equanimity； or appeared less calm； collected； tranquil； than in the ordinary times of peace。 They not for a moment interrupted their ordinary routine of business or pleasure； or seemed conscious of being engaged in any serious struggle which required an effort。 There was no hurry； no bustle； no excitement； no fear； no misgiving。 They seemed to regard the war as a mere bagatelle； not worth being in earnest about。 The on…looker was almost angry with their apparent indifference； apparent insensibility； and doubted if they moved at all； Yet move they did： guided by an unerring instinct； they moved quietly on with an elemental force； in spite of a timid and hesitating administration； in spite of inexpe… 435 rienced； over…cautious； incompetent； or blundering military commanders； whom they gently brushed aside； and desisted not till their object was gained； and they saw the flag of the Union floating anew in the breeze from the capitol of every State that dared secede。 No man could contemplate them without feeling that there was in them a latent power vastly superior to any which they judged it necessary to put forth。 Their success proves to all that what； prior to the war； was treated as American arrogance or self…conceit； was only the outspoken confidence in their destiny as a Providential people； conscious that to them is reserved the hegemony of the world。
Count de Maistre predicted early in the century the failure of the United States； because they have no proper name； but his prediction assumed what is not the fact。 The United States have a proper name by which all the world knows and calls them。 The proper name of the country is America： that of the people is Americans。 Speak of Americans simply； and nobody understands you to mean the people of Canada； Mexico； Brazil； Peru； Chile； Paraguay； but everybody understands you to mean the people of the United States。 The fact is significant； and foretells for the people of the United States a 436 continental destiny； as is also foreshadowed in the so…called 〃Monroe doctrine；〃 which France； during our domestic troubles； was permitted； on condition of not intervening in our civil war in favor of the rebellion； to violate。
There was no statesmanship in proclaiming the 〃Monroe doctrine；〃 for the statesman keeps always； as far as possible； his government free to act according to the exigencies of the case when it comes up； unembarrassed by previous declarations of principles。 Yet the doctrine only expresses the destiny of the American people； and which nothing but their own fault can prevent them from realizing in its own good time。 Napoleon will not succeed in his Mexican policy； and Mexico will add some fifteen or twenty new States to the American Union as soon as it is clearly for the interests of all parties that it should be done； and it can be done by mutual consent； without war or violence。 The Union will fight to maintain the integrity of her domain and the supremacy of her laws within it； but she can never； consistently with her principles or her interests； enter upon a career of war and conquest。 Her system is violated； endangered； not extended； by subjugating her neighbors； for subjugation and liberty go not together。 Annexation； when it 437 takes place； must be on terms of perfect equality and by the free act of the state annexed。 The Union can admit of no inequality of rights and franchises between the States of which it is composed。 The Canadian Provinces and the Mexican and Central American States； when annexed； must be as free as the original States of the Union； sharing alike in the power and the protection of the Repu
