Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
October 10, 1811
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
An editorial criticizes Democratic editors' war cries against Britain, questions the administration's inaction if grievances are valid, urges genuine preparation for war if needed, and warns against being manipulated into a ruinous conflict.
Merged-components note: Continuation of the same editorial piece signed 'Washingtonian.'
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
"THE CUP IS FULL!"
"MY VOICE IS STILL FOR PEACE!"
"The Tomahawk is Up!"
Such are the war whoops of our democratic
editors throughout the Union. But why is
all this cry for "War! War! War!"
Why not strike?—The war whoop will soon
cease to frighten our foes, unless we raise
the tomahawk and prepare to strike.
If Britain, or any other nation "has done
us an essential injury," why has not the go-
vernment vindicated our cause? Why have
they not punished the aggressor? If the com-
plaints of our Frenchified editors, against
England are just if she is the aggressor, the
tyrant, the pirate, they represent, then are
our RULERS a set of dastardly, pusillanimous
wretches, and dare not avenge our wrongs:
or they are a stupid unfeeling set, as regard-
less of their own duties as of our rights sleep-
ing at their posts! I say, if the complaints
of our democratic editors are well founded.
then is our administration no longer fit to be
trusted!—They ought, instead of listening
to the war whoop of hireling editors, and issu-
ing proclamations from a bomb-mortar, they
ought to have assumed an attitude seriously
hostile; they ought to have prepared for
war; in the still small voice of injured jus-
tice, which will not brook insult, and knows
how to right itself, they ought to have de-
manded reparation; and, if refused, they
ought to have declared war. They ought to
commence it openly, and as Bonaparte re-
quires. "by their own acts." Such a war,
necessary to our national interest and national
honor, openly and manfully commenced,
would meet the approbation and support of an
injured people. No sacrifice, no suffering,
would induce them to shrink from the dread-
ful tug of war; and our rulers would deserve
and command the applause of the nation.
But if we are to be tricked into a war by
the intrigues either of our own or of a foreign
government, or kicked and cuffed and war-
whooped into it, by seditious foreigners and
democratic editors—then, indeed will it be a
baleful and ruinous war—it will be confusion
to its fomenters, downfall to our rulers, and
ruin to the nation!
Washingtonian.
"MY VOICE IS STILL FOR PEACE!"
"The Tomahawk is Up!"
Such are the war whoops of our democratic
editors throughout the Union. But why is
all this cry for "War! War! War!"
Why not strike?—The war whoop will soon
cease to frighten our foes, unless we raise
the tomahawk and prepare to strike.
If Britain, or any other nation "has done
us an essential injury," why has not the go-
vernment vindicated our cause? Why have
they not punished the aggressor? If the com-
plaints of our Frenchified editors, against
England are just if she is the aggressor, the
tyrant, the pirate, they represent, then are
our RULERS a set of dastardly, pusillanimous
wretches, and dare not avenge our wrongs:
or they are a stupid unfeeling set, as regard-
less of their own duties as of our rights sleep-
ing at their posts! I say, if the complaints
of our democratic editors are well founded.
then is our administration no longer fit to be
trusted!—They ought, instead of listening
to the war whoop of hireling editors, and issu-
ing proclamations from a bomb-mortar, they
ought to have assumed an attitude seriously
hostile; they ought to have prepared for
war; in the still small voice of injured jus-
tice, which will not brook insult, and knows
how to right itself, they ought to have de-
manded reparation; and, if refused, they
ought to have declared war. They ought to
commence it openly, and as Bonaparte re-
quires. "by their own acts." Such a war,
necessary to our national interest and national
honor, openly and manfully commenced,
would meet the approbation and support of an
injured people. No sacrifice, no suffering,
would induce them to shrink from the dread-
ful tug of war; and our rulers would deserve
and command the applause of the nation.
But if we are to be tricked into a war by
the intrigues either of our own or of a foreign
government, or kicked and cuffed and war-
whooped into it, by seditious foreigners and
democratic editors—then, indeed will it be a
baleful and ruinous war—it will be confusion
to its fomenters, downfall to our rulers, and
ruin to the nation!
Washingtonian.
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Foreign Affairs
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
War Whoop
Democratic Editors
Britain Aggression
National Honor
Administration Inaction
What entities or persons were involved?
Democratic Editors
Britain
Administration
Bonaparte
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of War Agitation Against Britain
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Democratic Editors And Administration Inaction
Key Figures
Democratic Editors
Britain
Administration
Bonaparte
Key Arguments
Democratic Editors' War Cries Against Britain Are Empty Without Action
If Britain Injured The Us, The Government Should Have Punished The Aggressor
Administration Is Either Cowardly Or Negligent If Complaints Are Valid
Rulers Should Demand Reparation And Declare War Openly If Needed
Tricked Or Manipulated War Would Be Ruinous To The Nation