The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-12
Mr.. BENNETTs LETTERS FROM EUROPE.

Mr.. BENEFITS LETTERS FROM EUROPE
PARIS, March 80, lS47.
American Anairs-The Mexican Wharf.-The PO
sitiOn OF tho United States abroad.
Nothing begins to astonish the people and tn,
press of Europe so much as the public cvent
constantly taking place in the United States
The war with Mexico-the proceedings of the
govemment-the debates and votes Of Congress-
puzzle and perplex them as much as the rapid
progress OF improvements, the industry and en-
terprise Of the people, the spread Of civilization,
the excitement of public spirit, and the national
benevolence recently exhibited towards Ireland.
On the arrival fevery few days later news from
New York, the leading London journals give
long editorial articles on these events, full of
abuse, criticism, surprise, prejudice, praise, can
dor, sarcasm and philosophy, mixed up in very
unequal proportions The London Times was
the first journal to adopt this settled system of
newspaper comment on American affairs. The
rest of the London papers, and many of the
French, have followed the example. The same
plan is beg inning to appear in the management of
the press in other parts of Europe-but of course
the press in London or Paris, alone give any
great marks of enterprise or independence in such
matters.
Whatever be the result of the Mexican war, it
has already produced one remarkable effect in
Europe. The attention of the two leading nations,
France and England, and of the whole continent,
has been directed to its singular developments,
fluctuations, hopes and purposes. The nations,
the press, nor the politicians of Europe, cannot
understand the United States. In this part of
the world, every country and every government
has received legacy Of historical ideas from
antiquity, which binds them in chains, and
which requires vast efforts to break up in order
TO profit by or adopt the inventions of the age
The United States are young people, with few
historical ideas of troublesome antiquity
standing between them and the improvements
discovered in either hem sphere. The rapid pro-
gress in steamboats,, railroads, the electric tele-
graph, the press, and now in the operations of
war, form the evidence that no shackles of anti
guilty weigh down new enterprise in North Anne
RIGA, will be found in Europe-with the excep-
ton, TO a certain extent, of England.
The Mexican war and the subscriptions for
the Irish, strike with equal force, and leave the
European mind in state of amazement. Many
are beginning to perceive that new and startling
elements at work in the United States, and
every arrival is watched for with the preliminary
exclamation--"I wonder what the devil the
Americans will do nextr' The truth is, that the
United States are beginning to exercise mighty
influence in Europe. From the height the repub-
he has now reached no one can tell the limits Of
her power, progress, or preponderance. One of
the leading London journals says, half in Joke,
half In earnest-if the Americans 60 on at this
rate, feeding hemisphere and fighting the
he mi T
will be project in Paris under the authority of
Mr.. President Polk, and Sir Robert Peel will
he happy to become the collector of the port of
London or Liverpool, under the like authority
The capacity, the versatility, the growing power
OF the American republic, for everything-for
war, commerce, navigation, agriculture, art
manufactures-seem to beget general astonish
ment and an Indispensable dread in all those
connected with the present governments in Franc
and England. new arrangement and modif
cation of the powers Of Europe seem to be o
the eve of development In fact, the Unite
States, as nation, is rapidly entering into tn
European system, and is actually disturbing thei
old visions of the balance of power.
Such are the natural effects of bringing tn
TWO continents within brief contact, by tn
establishment 'of steam; but in few monsf
II
week, and thed What then what ,hen
In this country, France, change is maturin
already in the commercial policy of the govern
ment, which will hereafter be more favorable
the trade of the United States. The protecty
policy here, unlike that of England is the systel
of the manufacturers and miners. In the latte
country, the landed interest forms the protectiv
party This difference in the two countrie
arises partly from the difference in the size c
estates and in the nature Of the tenures, an
partly from the comparative immaturty or wan
Of full growth in the manufacturing system G
France. The protective system, therefore, i
France, is upheld by the same classes as with us
the United States, and this policy is pro mpted b
mostly similar causes-thc multiplicity Of ande
tenures, and the immaturty and limited exter
of manufactures. But the French governmer
has given indications of desire to change thi
system, and to introduce a lower tariff, gradual
and slowly, with reference TO the financial an
other circumstances Of the country.
lev days ago, M. Guizot gave mystcriou
utterancc TO these views in the Chamber of Der
uues-and more recently, the organ of the gov
eminent, the Journal DIES Debats, came GU
boldly with more distinct propositions. affectin,
the freedom OF the imports of corn, and also IN,
suspension OF the navigation laws, in regard I,
such imports, for some time TO come I'm I,
July next, the imports OF corn, in ships of an,
nation, are free of duty in all the ports q
France The scarcity and high price of foo,
caused the government to suspend those old law
affecting corn and foreign shipping The con
tinued gloomy prospects for another year, wi
cause the sanc policy TO be prolonged up TO IN