The American mail brings us news on three points,—the House
of Representatives has refused to reduce the Tariff, so that hope is gone for the present ; the Texas affair is in state quo, the treaty still lying before the Senate without expectation of ever seeing the light again in the legitimate shape of a confirmed treaty; and Phi- ladelphia has been torn by riots. There is in the Union a rising, but apparently not very respectable party, called " the Native Americans," whose object seems to be to discourage Popery and the admission of foreigners to rights of citizenship. This party held a meeting at Kensington, a quarter of Philadelphia much in- habited by Irish settlers : some Irish foolishly disturbed the meeting with noises; they were beaten ; their fellows assembled and assailed the Native Americans, who resisted ; and for three days Philadelphia was a prey to battle, slaughter, and Ere. The best of the joke is some praise awarded to the au- thorities for promptitude and energy : they came out of their strongholds at nightfall, having let the rioter& alone each day ; and having issued forth on the second night, they looked on ; on the third evening, martial law was proclaimed or threatened at one post, while at another the soldiers charged the mob; and then, at both places, " the mob dispersed" : the tumult was quashed. People will be ready enough, as they always are, to charge this dis- order on " Republican institutions." They must first show how long it is since we saw disorders in Monarchical France, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Bavaria, England, Wales, Scotland, or Ireland : they must acquit COSTA CABRAL of weakness, the Manchester " authorities " of some suspicion of backwardness, Royalty itself in Bavaria from the charge of sanctioning concession of the very thing which the rioters asked. Rioting is not peculiar to Repub- lican countries, and it has nothing to do with Republican institu- tions. We see that as soon as the ruling power in Philadelphia effectually interposed, disorder ceased : but it is the ruling power of every country which chooses and stamps the form of government. The shortest road to tranquillity in every country is to ascertain which is the strongest power whatever it is, and to evoke its strength and opinions whatever they are. The ruling power in the United States is Republican ; and until a total change of public opinion shall have created a stronger influence, and revolution shall have transferred executive power to the new party, tranquillity must be sought for the Union from Republican authority. Much that is imputed to Republicanism in America is more justly charge- able upon the newness and colonial condition of the people, and even on the wild geographical character of the region.
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