The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-12 00:00:00

THE FLAGS OF ENGLAND AND FAANCE. I

'' The flags of England and France combined
farm, in the European Heavens, the Rainbow of
Liberty." How full of thought I How simple and
grand in their truth, are these words, falling from
the lips of the man who accepted power with the
mission " to close the era of revolutious"_upon
whom empire was conferred, and who proclaimed
that it was "Peace"--and whose first act, upon
accession to an almost despotic throne, was to seek
the alliance of the freest people of Europe.
With what patriotic dignity he has fulfilled his
duties, with what honesty kept to his engagements,
we all know ; and of all the Potentates of Europe
none owns a loftier or a more popular fame than
the present Monarch of France. The power con-
ferred on him by the will of the French people was,
we have just said, almost despotic. But Napoleon
was not the man to become. a despot. If he ac-
cepted power, it was not for the idle and infamous
purpose of ruling, robbing,- and ruining a great
people, but rather to heal the wounds of repeated
domestic conflicts, to crush license and extinguish
faction, that he might raise anew the political
edifice, " to be crowned," as he has declared, with
"Liberty."
Of his sincerity what proof more convinciug than
that ho refused the territorial aggrandisement
which he might have purchased
.when, had he
joined the despotic alliance of Russia, and by con-
niving at her designs in. the East, and delivering
Eastern Europe into the power of the Autocrat, he
might have seized upon and secured the West as
his own. But Louis Napoleon is no despot. He
is the first of Frenchmen—the living embodiment
of the will of the French people, with whom, on all
occasions, he identifies himself. He is the repre-
sentative of the nation which has shed so much
blood, and suffered so repeatedly for " Liberty,"
and, in accordance with the national spirit, he has
spurned theft and the temptations of Nicholas, and
has refused to betray the French people and the
liberties of Europe. Instead of this, he has allied
himself closely with us in the cause of right, repu-
diating conquest and self-aggrandisement—drawing
the sword in defence of the weak, for the re-
storation of the balance of power, and the perma-
nent freedom of Europe.
In the great struggle which we have undertaken,
with God's blessing, we shall succeed ; but when
we have triumphed—when we have hurled back
the legions of Russia—when we have annihilated
. her power in the Black Sea and the Baltic, to what
great results may we not look. Well may Louis
Napoleon call our alliance " the Rainbow of
• Liberty," full of promise to Europe. How great a
thing will it not be for Italy—for Austria—for all
Germany, when they are freed from the deadening
influences of Russia. Well may Napoleon foretell
the "destruction of despotism," when it has been
struck to the heart in its great stronghold. Austria
must then adopt a more liberal policy. No Russian
hosts will again crush Hungary. The intrigues of
despotism against Sardiuia must come to au end ;
that State which owes its existence at this moment
to France and England need then no longer
dread the suppression of its free institutions.
Naples and Tuscany, Bavaria and Saxony, with all
the petty Potentates of Bamberg, will be freed
from the influence which has instigated them to ill,
and which has supported them in it. The Rainbow
of Liberty is in the skies, and the nations of Europe
will accept with avidity and gratitude the blessed
boon given to them, and guaranteed by the two
Great Western Powers.
Whilst making these reflections, it is impossible
for us not to recall, with just pride, that, from the
first, we saw and understood the character and
policy of Louis Napoleon, and we may be excused
if we indulge the expression of our heartfelt satis-
faction at the great and cordial alliance which is at
this moment the admiration of the world—an
alliance which we have uniformly used our strong-
est endeavours and the whole of our humble influ-
ence to promote. We do not wish to recall the
faults or follies of others. But we are proud in
the reflection that, as in other matters, so in the
matter of foreign policy, and more especially with
regard to France and the French Emperor, this
journal has maintained, through good report and
through evil report, a steady, a consistent, and an
English course.—Morning Post.