The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-18 00:00:00

obstinate opponent of the Emperor must allow*
him to have maintained the honour and in-
, flounce of his country with remarkable judgment.
, and inflexible resolution. This has been the pros
, minent feature in the foreign policy of the Empire,
, and the secret of its success. There has been no hes
sitation in the conduct of French diplomacy. Not
speaking hastily, France has never spoken in terms
that admitted of misinterpretation. She may have
been slow to act, but, having once determined on
action, there has been no looking back. She has
counted the cost of her words before they were ut-
tered, and her moral force has been sustained by her
material resources. But such a policy must repose
upon a solid foundation. It must represent more
than the ultimatum of the master of a hundred
legions. Its conditions are obvious, and whether
exhibited in the celebration of an anniversary, or in
the everyday contentment and satisfaction of the
great body of the people, their presence is indite.
putable. It is not in name only that
Napoleon
reigns by the national will, and while his throne is
upheld, as it is, by the expression of public opinion,
no matter in what form, the Imperial Government
can have nothing to fear from the turbulence of par:
ties, the intrigues of factions, and the ill-concealed
hatred of the despotic Powers on the Continent.
Men may differ about theories of government, and
we all think our own theory the best ; but it is iln4
possible for any reasonable and unprejudiced man to
come and go in France without arriving at the cow;
viction that the country is, upon the whole, well and
fairly governed ; and, looking at results, there can
sbyesnt
eom questionwhich,like any other system,
a s to the general
may be criti-
cised in detail. The affairs of a nation should be
administered with an ever present sense of respell'
sibility, and with a practical end in view, and not
experimentally, to test crotchets, or to carry out ab-
stract principles. France has vast interests to pre-
serve—interests for the maintenance of whieh order
and tranquillity are indispensable. Her progress de-
pends upon the authority which controls its develop,.
meat, and her industry and interest demand sub-
stantial guarantees. Opposition may be legitimate
and serviceable, or it may be reactionary or revol"
tionary. The French have had enough of RePub:
lice, and they are about the last people on the
of the earth to to'..erate clerical usurpation. '
Thatface
the intervention in Italy would exasperate tl3°
Ultramontane party was to be expected, and their
activity at present may be accounted for by the
supposition they entertain that political events are
marching to their aid. It is, however, abundantly
clear that the Government of the Empire ansors
to the wishes and the wants of the nation as a Whole,
and, that being so, all attempts to disturb it must
be regarded with suspicion. European coroplie,a-
tions make us desire before all else a close and 'll4
timate alliance with France ; but, quite indepen-
dent of all that, which may in one sense be cancel
an interested consideration, we believe we are ex"
pressing the opinion of this country in congrattiall
lating the French people on the unanimity an,
patriotism they have again conspicuously displayed.
None can forecast the future. Between this del
and the return of the Imperial fete lies a period_
during which much that is presently matter for
speculation may be brought out and realised in
action ; and France may be called to take a great
part in the adjustment of Continental diffienitie
On every side we observe indications which are notto be misapprehended. Not Powers only, but
principles, are drifting into antagonism. cContro-
versies are widening and passing, as it would
appear, to the final arbitration. Everywhere doubt
and uncertainty prevails. Public securities have
been destroyed ; international obligations
repudiated; and Europe, amazed at the wrong
has been permitted, and awakening too late to
perception of the consequences, leeks to Napo:
leon 111., and to the influence and power of tt f
Second Empire, to avert, by timely be
precaution, the catastrophe which seems to be
pending, have b‘_een,