the short
duration of power founded on such a basis, not receive an additional,
and even more memorable confirmation in ourselves! But one thing is
perfectly clear. This remark indicates the impossibility of
conciliating the adjoining and poorer states while our commercial
superiority continues, and thus strikes at the very foundation of the
reciprocity system, on which our whole commercial policy for the last
quarter of a century has been founded. That system proceeds on the
principle, that by opening to the adjoining states a fair
communication of advantages, it is in the power of a great commercial
state, not only to conciliate their good-will, but obtain with them a
great and mutually beneficial mercantile intercourse. Montesquieu's
observation points to the undying and universal jealousy by its
neighbours with which such a power is ever surrounded, and the
futility of all attempts, while its superiority exists, to avert their
mercantile hostility, or preserve with them any considerable
commercial traffic. Which is the better option, let the hedge of
hostile tariffs with which, after boundless concessions to purchase
commercial good-will, we are surrounded in every direction, give the
answer.

On the comparative value of infantry and cavalry in war, Montesquieu,
though no professional soldier, makes the following observation, on
which those who are so, would do well to ponder:--

"The Carthaginian cavalry was superior to that of the Romans, for
two reasons. One was, that the Numidian and Spanish horses were
better than those of Italy; the other, that the Roman cavalry was
ill armed; for Polybius tells us, that it was not till they had
carried on war in Greece, that they changed their manner of
equipping that limb of military strength. In the first Punic
war, Regulus was beat as soon as the Carthaginians made choice of
plains for combat, where their cavalry could act to advantage; in
the second, Hannibal owed to the Numidian horse his principal
victories. It was not till whole corps of them began to go over
to the Romans in Italy, that the latter began to breathe. Scipio
having conquered Spain, and contracted an alliance with
Masinissa, deprived the Carthaginians of that advantage. He did
more, he gained it for himself. It was the Numidian cavalry which
gained the battle of Zama, and terminated the war in favour of
the Romans."--C. 4.