The World's Crisis

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Excerpt: ... PART II. OUR TRUE POLICY. It Is not too late to retrieve our fortunes. But to do so, will require a prompt and signal change of policy. The disorganization of Southern labor by the demoralizing interference of the government must be remedied; and our entire financial system must be reversed. It should be the grand aim of our policy to deprive England of its centralization of manufactures and commerce. We should engage in a competition that would drive that country, not only from our own market, but from the markets of the world. As we have already seen, this is the only hope of securing our own prosperity, and of averting the dangers which menace the world, both from British centralization of wealth, and from the aggressions of Absolutism. In this competition, we may expect all the great resources of England to be arrayed against us. Our own natural advantages, however, are superior to hers, and a wise policy will assure our success. Yet the occasion demands the utmost skill and prudence. We cannot afford to carry weight. We must discipline and train our energies for the competition, as the athlete of old, for the prize of the Olympic games. We may consider our competition with England as an industrial battle, to be conducted in accordance with the scientific principles of military strategy. An army which has overwhelming advantages, in numbers, discipline, and resources, may enter upon an engagement without plan or precaution, and win a victory by simply pressing forward at all points. But a force inferior in all these particulars must observe every precaution prudence can suggest, and avail itself of every advantage skill can conceive. Victory, under such circumstances, is oftenest won by selecting the key to the adversary's position, and, remaining on the defensive at other point...