The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-10-05 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

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correspondents.

THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE OR WAR
WITH FRANCE.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Peace, in the broad acceptation of the word,
reigns on the continent of Europe, and has done so since
the fate of Napoleon the First, now some thirty-seven(
years since. But do we not live in eventful times? Is
there nothing striking in them to the mind of him who
studies the political horizon ? Our great warrior and
statesman, the Duke, who vanquished Napoleon the First'
is now lying lifeless and cold within the walls of his fa-
vourite retreat—Walmer-castle, and within sight of the
French coast; and it is not only probable, but certain, that
Louis Napoleon, the present president of France, will
cause himself to be elected L'Empereur Napoleon the
Second, before the Duke's remains are interred. Of this
there can bo but little doubt. as the ball is at his feet. He
has merely to pick it up, or decree his own elevation. But
this is a coincidence, and worthy of the serious attention
of our Government. Louis Napoleon has been heard to
say, at a moment when he was off his guard, that, if
ever he had the chance, he would avenge Waterloo •
Now what could he mean bya'aveneing Waterloo, but by
making war on this country, and doing her grievous
injury ? And what so likely to inspire him with the
thought, as the loss to Great Britain of the only man whose
military genius sufficed to overthrow the first Emperor of
France ? Are we, then, to hail with open arms, as sug-
gested by the men of Peace Conventions—men who have
told us they can see nothing degrading or injurious in this
country becoming a province of France—or be prepared,
as of old, to meet this ambitious fatalist ? We may de-
pend upon it, nothing will be too daring for him. His
uncle is his star ; and wheresoever he went, or whatever
he did, his unprincipled relative is prepared to go or do.
It is well known that Louis Napoleon believes that he has
a great end to accomplish ; and we should be prepared to
hear of any folly, however extravagant, attempted by him.
An invasion of this country is quite within probability.
He might be forced to it, though against his own judg-
ment. His present position is merely that of a puppet of
the army and the priests, who find it convenient to sup-
port him, and when he accepts or grasps the Emperor-
ship, he will find it impossible to stop. On the one side
he will find an overwhelming body of soldiery, eager for
glory and plunder, and who are at present eating the re-
sources of France ; and on the other an intolerant priest-
hood, prepared for war to the knife with their Protestant
neighbours. Have we not already proof of this ? Is not
the King of the Belgians (closely connected with our
Royal family,) at this moment menaced by France ? .That
country has struck a heavy blow at Belgium, both com-
mercially and on religious grounds. She has put on a
prohibitory duty on coal imported from Belgium ; and,
through the power of her priesthood, has overthrown the
Ministry. Belgium has a Protestant King, its land has been
the battle-field of Europe, as in the case of Waterloo ; and
probably it may be the next on that continent. Belgium,
speaking in a European point of view, is the outpost of
England. Were Belgium to fall by the hand of France,
England would be the next place of attack. But this
must not be. We must watch closely events, and support
Belgium in case of need, at all hazards. France is not
reducing her army, but rather augmenting it, and in-
creasing her navy. It is not many days since they tried
how many men the steam man-of-war Napoleon, lately
launched, would carry. The number was Ave thousand