Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-11-13

produced good efFec.s and what pro
duce d bad Consequences In affairs q
busiBesss, and the rule is easily fixet
by adheflng tothe actions productive
of benefit: Nations, being made ug
of meas ought to pur.ue the sam,
courTes for sound politics in govern.
ment are nothing more tl.an what pru.
1dence is in private life. They both
consist in an application ofthe kno~l.
edge of events that have .happened to
those which are to happen.
We all say, in. common paflahce,
that the circumstances OF 4 ufope have
been wonderfully changed within
these last seventeen years. This, how
ever means very little more than that
the Kingdoms of that quarter of the
globe are materially altered with re.
sPect TO each others fer with regard
to the U. States, the actual change
an European policy is NOT so extraor.
dinary as most people imagine. Let
us consider Europe as a chess board,
and the only difference as to this coun-
try IS, that France moves the kings,
bishops, and pawns, in 1910, that Eng
land moved in 1898.
7, On the 25th of March, 1898, Great
Britaia entered into convention with
Russia on the 25th of May follow
ing with SPAN; on the 14,h oil July
succeeding with Prussia; and on the
3oih OF August, 1898, she concluded
a similar convention with Austria.
All these conventions contained stipu-
laticns "nott to permit the expectation,
in any case, from the said ports for
France, of any military or naval stores,
or corn, grain, salt meat or other pro-
visions 5" and 6 to unite all their ef.
forts to prevent other powers, not i'm
Plicated in the war, from giving any
protection whatever, directly or indi.
rectly, in consequence of their neu-
trality, 70 the commerce or property oil
the French, on the sea or in the ports
Of France. "# Thus was Russia, Eng
Land, Austria, Spain, and Prussia, all
united in preventing neutral trade with
France. This operated, in a grea,
measure, as an intcrdict TO American
ronlnnei &c with the cohtinen, OF Europe
generally because, If those powers
would not suffer provisions to be car
ried FROM their own ports to France,
and otstrucscd neutral nations from
sending cargoes there from country
not engaged 10 the y ar, it wns such
an interruption of the fair trade of the
United States as put down the enter.
prise of our citizens, which could only
find lucrative employment In going
from one port of Europe to another,
a cording to the laws OF nations. Aud
to prevent all mistakes, MS Britannia
majesty issued, On the 9th day of June,
1898, TO the Commanders of his ships
OF war and priyateers, additional iu-
structions " 10 stop and detain all yes
sells laden WHOLLY or in part with corn.
-four, or meal, bound 10 any port in
France, or any port occupied by the
armies of France"
The same powers that entered into
conventions with England against
France In 1895, are, in 1910, consbi-
|ned with France against England
| This is a sad change for Great Britain
because British merchandise caDno
now End admission in those kingdom.
to whose monarchs British council.
lonce dictated measures. But hon
does the alteration affect the Unitet
States? Precisely with little aggrs,
Ivation) as the English combination die
id 1898: American trade is nearly
excluded from the continent and
strange as 10 may appear the mea-
lsures Of Russia, Austria, Prussia AM
Spain, under the control IF Napoleon
have contributed to produce the San,
effect, as the measures of Russia, Aus
tria, Prussia and Spain did under Tx
cohtrot of the English, viz. The de
struction Of American neutral con
nerce. Great Britain is still true e
her original system; and acts the sam,
part at present, without her allies, al
she acted at the outset la conjunciior
with them.
France, however, now felinqnishe
her commercial ioierdiciions5 fnd, j
Great Britain does not follow the ex
ample, il will be necessary f9r US {,
-.1.r.. - 4.