The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-22
European correspondence.


DeaA-Iottering State Of the Peel Ministry and
Corn La,os-Lord John RusssPs famous Letter
Lord MoryeM-Oregon Qtestion--Protabiiiy Of
War-Music and the Drama.
In the midst of the serenity of an apparently uni
versal peace, the elements of dscord are, neverthe-
less. in active fermentation, beneath this superficial
tranquility. The diffusion OF knowledge; the gene
raj prevalence of education; the cultivation of the
fine and useful arts; but, above all, the free and
constant inter-communlcaton of nation with nation,
and people with people, which has prevailed in a
manner so remarkable, since the general peace of
1915; and the simultaneous establishment of steam
navigation, and subsequent Improvement and sxten-
sion Of railways, have conspired TO transform the
functions OF the stoord to the pen Battles are
fought, not on fields, but on paper-protocos take
the place of artillery, and the plenpotentary shelves
the General Still, dscord asserts her sway, though
she is compelled to change her weapons, and to
clothe her unctionaries In new characters
Wherever direct our view over human socie.
~, we find she manliests her presence in an une-
quivocal manner. France 10 convulsed by number
OF antagonist parties, which make themselves felt
and heard in the chambers and through the press
Critics on the American government have found
matter for ildicule In the multiplicity Of political
sections into which the republic Is resolved and the
facility each section finds in establishing lis proper
organ in the shape of a journal. What must be
thought OF France, in this respect, which numbers
shades OF party and tnS OF journalism with which
nothing short OF a seven years apprenticeship can
render foreigner familiar These multifarious
parties, many OF which are so nearly equal in nu-
merical and political strength that none could ac-
quire any. permanent preponderance, are kept in
check only by the master spirit OF Louis Philippe,
unquestonably the greatest sovereign OF this age
But the course OF nature places narrow limits the
arfti nrnh ,l,. en- H.
desnies Of France and the state OF Europe will as
sumo position which must fill The minds OF the
most profound statesmen with painful apprehension.
Along mnorlty-a regency-a temporary sovereign,
not endowed with any commanding abiii,ies-must
assume the regal Office to rule the most turbulent
people Of the Old World. Al present the hereditary
principle is lost sight Of Louis Philippe reigns by
popular choice. The elder Bourbons were forced
upon the nation tor brief interval by foreign
power. Napoleon held his power by popular cleo
ZION, and IN the various forms of government which
preceded him. the people alone were at least noml-
nally predominant. Thus it may be said, that the
hereditary principle OF national sovereignty has not
been Practically tested in France since the death of
Louis XIV. II will be tested, then, the demise of
LOUIS Philippe, tor the first time among the present
generation of men, Who can foresee its reception?
AT this moment the popular will controls the
crown to a greater extent than foreigners can i'm
agine. 1t is well known that the sovereign and his
advisers feel that Algeria IS an incubus the
country; that 1t is vast cenetry, into which
ally thousands OF brave Frenchmen are cast--a
colony without products, sustained by the blood
and treasure of The mother cOuntry-a pest house.
fatal to the physical temperament of Europeans
an arena tor chronic war with barbarlans, over
whom victory brings no glory and before whom de-
feat IS ntamy-a country where conquest is synony
| nous with determination where the enemy COM
bines the characters OF the savage aud the fanatic;
and where the contest 10 unfortunately prolonged BY
acquiring the spirit OF holy war. 1t is well known
that the cabinet would if they dared, relnquish this
unfruittul strife; but neither the present nor any
| other cabinet now possible could attempt such
measure, without the certainty OF selt-destructlon
II the tranquility OF France hangs upon the lite OF
an old man, other parts OF the European continent
are not ingreater social or political quiet Italy
the of civil broils. Germany is the theatre 81
new reformation. Switzerland is convulsed on
the question OF the Jesuitso The crown and the
people at variance questions of religious doc
trine and practice In Prussia In England, The es-
| tablished church Is split by the most alarming
| schism which has arisen since the Reformation
The aristocracy are raised against the democracy,
on the question OF the corn monopoly. In Iceland,
1 The repeal agitation Is not queed even by the i'm
nlnence OF famine; and the astonishing fact is ma
infested OF voluntary tribute OF twenty thousand
| pounds rendered by iamlshlng people TO him who
has acquired the position of their leader! 1t ia diff
hcult 10 say whether the feeling OF asonlshment
this proceeding on the part ofhe starving people,
disgust at Its acceptance at such epoch, pledo
| inlnant in ones mind.
The eyes OF Europe are steadfasty directed to the
British cabinet, the move ment or rather equilibrium
of which, appears to the uninitlated inconprrhensi
| Ole. Meeting after meeting continues to be held,
and the court newsman, from week to week,
nounces cabinet councils for five hours I!
yet nothing Is done, except to send commission OF
philosophers TO reland to institute course OF
jyticochernico phy1co philosophical experiments on
the attributes OF potatoes
Parturunt Nascitur ridiculus mus.
| This trfng is pursued amidst the unparalleled
public anxiety, the ardent circumstances OF almost
the entire press, and the omnous silence of several
even OF the semi-official ministerial organs Par
Lament IL prOrOgued, not usual to the first week
Of February, for the despatch OF business, but almost
| from week To week. IL Is now appointed TO assem-
Die on the 10Th proximo In the midst OF this general
alarm, we hear every side the persuasion express
ed, that 1t IL the lmIerlous duty OF the ministry to
cure subsistence for the people AT all hazards and,
The only means OF doing SO. to suspend II not totally
| repeal, the odIous monopoly OF corn The most OBJ
stlnae supporters OF the landed interests were lately
giving way before this overung necessity, and the
| immediate friends OF Sir Robert Peel did not con-
ceal their opinion, that the time had arrived when
some Important modification IN these restrictive
| laws had become inevitable The inactivity of the
\ cabinet, In such circumstances, has led some to
conclude that the danger Is found TO be not so I'M
Inlnent as was supposed, and journals are found TO
dispute altogether the supposed risk OF scarcity, and
TO treat the panic OF the nation with rdcule Ii 49,
however, not easy 10 admit that vague and ground
less tears should shake the commercial body OF the
city to It's centre, and produce so portentious IT,
oancial Crisis. Others, again, contend that the cab
not only waits to ascertain by actual inquiries, the
real condition OF the harvest, and that, according to
the information they receive they will assemble or
prorogue Parliament
These discussions have introduced into the cabinet
contentious which have seriously threatened it's dis
solution. SIR Robert Peel long since foresaw the
approaching fall OF the system of the corn laws He
sought to temporize and pass not suddenly, but gra-
duay, TO that system of free trade which ultimately
must prevail. Meanwhile came the bad harvest and
crisis. Hence necessity tor immediate action
Action, accordingly, the premier proposed, but found
himself suddenly opposed by the invlncble resis.
lance OF the Duke of Wellington, Lord Stanley,
Mr. Sydney Herbert, and other members of the ca
binet,who acknowledgement against any change,
at least until famine was glanngy apparent They
denounced every attempt at timely provision
against future contingency, however awful, as
direct surrender OF the rights OF the landed aristo-
cracy. They argued, moreover that the suspension
OF the corn laws would be useless, since other
tons had already shut their ports against the expor.
tation Of food.