AMERICA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 34, 31 May 1845, Page 4

AMERICA.

Election of President. — To the astonishment of thousands on the other side of the Atlantic, and many persons in this country, Mr. Polk, the democratic candidate for the Presidency, and the advocate of commercial freedom, and a union with Texas, has received the unanimous vote of the three great States. For some time -it had been predicted that Mr. Clay;wquld be the successful candidate, but from a union of the native- American or anti-Irish party with the Whigs, his character sunk so rapidly, that Mr. Polk's success was certain. In one respect, we rejoice in the defeat of Mr. Clay ; though we believe his intentions are honest and well-meant. He has latterly shown a disposition to support monopoly ; he is a firm upholder of the exploded fallacies of the " protective" system. The election of the democratic candidate, is therefore a great triumph for sound commercial principles. Every^one knows that the great mass of the people of America are in favour of free" trade ; and therefore by this election, another obstacle, is removed in the, way of a repeal of the Sottish Corn Law. MX Polk's support of the annotation of Texas, we look at In a different UghjL* , What will be the effect, should the ngfeasi^e^be.carried ? Why, Tcxian independencjfewll£beTat£ once annihilated ; negro slavery will -be^psrpetuated, and that, too, without strengthening; -tliej.;Uja(!'on. This result is especially important'at 'the present crisis. — France is a well-managed' hotbed of Toryism, and the age of the King, who is the author, inventor, and supporter of the Tory school, makes it absolutely certain that he will soon depart hence, and then the sjceptre will be transferred to an infant, and the' philosophic, as well as the fiery spirits, of France, will burst out into a revolution. The pacific policy of M. Guizot will come to its natural death, and in the approaching revolutions of -France no coalesced powers will dare. to enter -the territory. But the policy of M. Thiers might better achieve the object at which he pretends to aim, and give the military spirit of France some space for exertion, and quietude may l)e preserved at home. The American election will have a great effect on French parties, for although this great republic never seeks or enters into a war, unless the quarrel be imposed upon her, her moral influence is almost beyond calculation. Spain is disturbed between the democratic and aristocratic parties, whilst the triumph of thorough democracy in America will give a considerable countenance to the Liberals in Spain, though suppressed, we fear, for a short time. As to Portugal, in spite of some millions that we have sacrificed to maintain her royalty and aristocracy, the paltry nook of Europe must fall a prey to surrounding revolutionists. The commerce of America, however, is considerable with Portugal, and commerce implies a dissemination of liberal ideas, and then all will be in favour of America. — Weekly Dim.