The Sun.
London, England, 1823-03-07 00:00:00

FRANCE AND SPAIN.

MR. EDITOR,--The line of conduct which the

Cabinet of the Tuileries seems inclined to adopt,
is one which is no less injurious to the peace of

Europe and dangerous to itself, than it is opposed
to every possible notion of either political justice or
national independence. A state of warfare, under
almost any circumstances whatever, is pregnant
with danger to a Government whose existence is

not founded on the firm basis of popularity ; but
this critical situation is increased tenfold when
the war is one in which the welfare of the nation
at large cannot be interested, or one which is
directed against principles which it may consider
as justifiable in the extresne. That such is the
view which the majority of the French people
will take of any attack upon Spain, can scarcely
be for a moment doubted. An open opposition
to the establishment of a Constitutional Govern-
ment in that country, will be considered as indi-
cative of a lurking spirit of hostility to the form
of Government at present existing in France.
It will appear evident that the Spanish nation is
now following the example of the'French people,
and seeking to establish its present happiness,
and its future prosperity, upon the principles of

a Constitutional Government. In this attempt on
the part of a noble-minded people to new model

the form of its Government, the liberal of every
class will see only the exercise of a power which
was most assuredly once possessed by the people,
and the assertion of which has been, on more
occasions than one, represented as highly praise-
worthy in itself. Actuated by such feelings, the
French people, instead of sentiments of hostility,

will feel nothing but sympathy for their neigl
bours, and will present the singular spectacle o
a nation deprecating the eventual, success of its
armies. Such a state of things is so very unna-
tural, it is so pregnant with danger to the ruling
powers, that its bare possibility should make
them pause ere they draw the sword, and expose
their own political existence to such imminent
danger. True it is that the-blindness and in-
fatuation of Governments, is very frequently no
less singular than incomprehensible : yet, in the
present instance, the advantages to be obtained,
even by the most unlooked-for success,' are of so
trifling a nature, and the possibility of a most
fatal and irremediable catastrophe is so evident,
that it ought to strike the most shallow politi-
cian, and awaken some sentiments of alarm even
in the most undaunted breast.
It is not, however, from the feelings of the
French nation alone that the Cabinet of the Tui-
leries has to fear for its existence : it should dread
still more the probable sentiments of the army. If
thetir, fellow citiaowyrsprobate the. cause which
if4y are called to support, upon principles of
general policy, the soldiery will view it with aver-
aim from the remembrance of the hardships they
formerly experienced when the mad ambition of
their Monarch sent so many. of them to perish
on the plains of the Peninsula. The idea
of a Spanish war must be associated in the Mind.
of the French soldiery with those of fatigue, 'of
hardships, and of destruction, without even the
hope of plUnder to cast o cheering gleam upon
the gloomy prospect. The very first steps they
advance upon the Spanish soil, will bring to their
view spots celebrated by the disasters of former
invaders, and the first objects that meet their
eyes will be the bleaching bones of their coun-
trymen, who fell the victims of a former unjusti-
fiable invasion. TO the reflections such scenes are
likely to awaken, will be added the still more
painful idea,, that their fellow-citizens, even
while
,they may mourn for their death, cannot
breath a prayer for their success. Under cir-
cumstances, such as those just described, the as-
sembling of any large body of troops, is assured-
ly, in itself I.: dangerous measure. What may be
the feelings of the French army towards the pre-
sent dynasty, cannot be known with any degree
of certainty ; what sentiments they entertained
for their former leader, is a matter of -public no-
toriety. That extraordinary. man, who, owed his
stupendous fo'iltine to his troops, knew well how
to procure their affection, and lo awaken in their
minds the eethusiasm,of the, most extraordinary
devotion. Though eventually overwhelmed by-the
united forces of Europe, with his name is con
netted 'the remonstrance of those deeds of arms,
which during severallenrs illustrated the French
army, whilst with that of the Bourbons, no other
recollection can be associated, save that of dis-
asters, and of foreign conquest. Whilst this re-
flection tends to indispose the troops against
the reigeing dynasty,,, other motives, are not
wanting to render it still more unpopular
amongst them ; and the 'names, hitherto un-
known, that now appear, in the list of Staff
Officers, and of Commanders, is not one of
the least among the causes of discontent.—Under
all these circumstances, ere the Bourbons blindly
follow the suggestions of their Holy Alliesi let
them recollect, that if Napoleon is dead, he has
left a son,--that this son, now fast approaching,
to manhood, is innocent of4thepalitical crimes of
his father ; that many .recollections and ideas,
pleasing to the ..French army, and perhaps not
very disagreeable to a large portion of the na.
tion itself, are connected with this. youth; and
that, of all ideas, that which' ought to alarm them
most, he is nearly related 'to one of the leading
Members of the Holy Alliance. In short, how-
ever warlike and menacing the,attitade assumed
.by France may be, the sword is 'still in the
ecahhard, and most fervently must every philan
thropic mind hope that, -when the violence of
political prejudice shall permit the. French Cabi-
net to take a more moderate view of the subject,
it will abandon a line of conduct pregnant w
moch :danger to its existence,
Midhurst, March 2.

A. P.