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

obstinate opponent of the Emperor must al'!"
him to have maintained the honour and
fiuence of his country with remarkable juclgtn°:
and inflexible resolution. This has been the PT":
minent feature in the foreign policy of the Eailin
and the secret of its success. There has been ileZerti
sitation. in the conduct of French diplomacy.
speaking hastily, France has never spoken in teal'
that admitted of misinterpretation. She may bsce:,
been slow to act, but, having once determined s".
action, there has been no looking back. She 137
counted the cost of her words before they were :
tered, and her moral force has been sustained by her
material resources. But such a policy must reposs
upon a solid foundation. It must represent word
than the ultimatum of the master of a hundte'
legions. Its conditions are obvious, and whetller
exhibited in the celebration of an anniversary, 0q;
the everyday contentment and satisfaction of t.
great body of the people, their presence is indis
putable. It is not in name only that Napoleei!
reigns by the national will, and while his throuel'
upheld, us it is, by the expression of public opini°l3;
no matter in what form, the Imperial Governmea
.
can have nothing to fear from the turbulence of Para
ties, the intrigues of factions, and the ill-coneeslta
hatred of the despotic Powers on the Continerl;
Men may differ about theories of government, erl",
we all think our own theory the best ; but it is s:,
possible for any reasonable and unprejudiced aiso,%,
come and go in France without arriving at the ea
vic t ion that the country is, upon the whole, well 91:0
fairly governed ; and, looking at results, there can
be no question as to the general expediency
system which, like any other system, may be cribs
w i eed n detail. The affairs of a nation shoal"
administered with an ever present sense of resPso:
sibility, and with a practical end in view, and, „b.
experimentally, to test crotchets, or to carry
street principles. France has vast interests to Pd'er
serve—interests for the maintenance of which sr de.
and tranquillity are indispensable. Her progres, co
pends upon the authority which controls its devl,
ment, and her industry and interest demand. silte
stantial guarantees. Opposition may be( legitilla,
and serviceable, or it may be reactionary or rec°„b.
tionary. The French have had enough of BePlace
lice, and they are about the last people on the hat
of the earth to tolerate clerical usurpation. "",be
the intervention in Italy would exasperate l'eir
Ultramontane party was to be expected, an, thole
activity at present may be accounted for by are
supposition they entertain that political eventsnof
marching to their aid. It is, however, abuil6s:ere
clear that the Government of the Empire anst,"oie,
to the wishes and the wants of the nation as a.wuue:
and, that being so, all attempts to disturb it T.cs,
be regarded with suspicion. European comp in.
dons make us desire before all else a close 0," e
timate alliance with France ; but, quite in °llea
dent of all that, which may in one sense be eseo
an interested consideration, we believe we etreated
pressing the opinion of this country in coagrooa
lating the French people on the unanimill ed,
periotiam they have again conspicuously dispno
None can forecast the future. Between this rind
and the return of the Imperial fete lies a Per for
during which much that is presently
rea rnag.geod in
speculation may be brought out andreal
action ; and France may be called to takelsrities.
part in the adjustment of Continental di/ale e not
On every side we observe indications which sr bat
to be misapprehended. Not Powers 00,110'otro
principles, are drifting into antagonism. .'woud
versies are widening and passing, as it dottbg
appear, to the final arbitration. EverywileFes have
and uncertainty prevails. Public securitie e beeo
been destroyed ; international obligations Ila/pg that
repudiated ; and Europe, amazed at the sc r,°.te to it
has been permitted, and awakening too " Napo'
perception of the consequences, looks i°t, of the
leon 111., and to the influence and Vvieeesures of
Second Empire, to avert, by timely veto be ire'
precaution, the catastrophe which seems
pending.