The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-19 00:00:00

EUROPEAN OPINIOSS.

The changes that are now taking place in Euro-
pean opinions with regard to the United States are
certainly extraordinary. Our cousin-germans in
Upper Germany have the honour to be among the
first of the passing epoch to prove their confidence
in the stability and integrity of that country. They
show their faith by their works in the shape of a
large loan, on a long lease and fair terms. Ame-
ricans have always had the sympathy of the Repub-
licans of Germany, from the higher to the lower
lands and waters of that rich nation ; but the capi-
talists there have generally stood and gazed at
them coldly, afar off. Now, however, the scene is
changed. German gold finds its safest and
most profitable investments in the coffers of the
American Union ; and the speculators of other
parts of Europe have the satisfaction of looking on
at the boards, as their G-ertnau neighbours pile
away their honest profits. It is a tribute to the
good sense, as well as liberality of the Teuton,
that will not soon be forgotten in European
circles.

We cannot fail to see that a marked change has
come over the spirit of the dream of the EMPEROR
-OF FRANCE. All know he is au adept at concealing
his real thoughts ; but that actions speak louder
than words will apply to his case as well as to that
of any other man. lie may conceal his thoughts
by words, but he cannot conceal his actions. They
are patent to the world. It is evident that he is
expecting to browbeat the United States. He
thinks he is giving them a terrible scowl by the act
of sending forward a portion of his African contin-
gent
from Algiers to Mexico. He may find, how-
ever, to his cost, that they are quite as much needed
to maintain French usurpations in the former coun-
try as in the latter. The EMPEROR OF FRANCE had
just as much right to take forcible possession of
Algiers as he had of Mexico, and no more. Our
readers will agree with us that the right is
hardly perceptible to the naked eye. Nothing short
of the largest monarchical telescope can see it in
that light.
We are gravely told by the nominal French
authorities (we say nominal, for it is perfectly
clear to all the candid world that the majority of the
Government of France is but the mere puppet of
the EMPEROR) that the presence of the French flag
on the continent of America was once regarded by
Americans as a favour. If this is not adding insult
to injury we know not what is. It must be a dull
vision, indeed, that does not perceive it. Yet it is
one of those silly and fallacious flings that it is
better to laugh at than resent. We have only to
look a moment at the reasoning of these French
political philosophers to see its absurdity and
impotence. They gravely tell us that the
French were America's allies in the Revolution of
Seventy-six. Very well. Americans thanked
them for it at the time ; they have thanked
them for it many times since. They have lavished
their gratitude and their public lands on the
Frenchmen and their descendants who aided in
the war of American independence. Some of them
have been made millionaires. What then? Does
not all the world know that one of the chief mo-
tives that influenced the Frenchmen of that period
was quite as much hatred to England as it was love
for America ? Does not the history of the Revolu-
tion teach us that, though the struggle might have
been prolonged, America would eventually have
conquered without the aid of the French ? _

During some portions of that eventful War
there were quite as many quasi French fighting
against America as there were for her, including
those who were in the pay of the monarchical party
ie
of France, representing other states of Europe.
How absurd, then, are these utterances of the hired
mouth-pieces of Louis NAPOLEON, which seek to
justify French outrages committedlo:;lo;oribebayyn
pleading the paid services of French contingents
in the American Revolution ! With equal pro-
might
priety, the course of EnglasidrzLnia the East
be justified by her abolition of slavery in
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