Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1849-09-27
From the Boston Duly Times
The French Difficulty.

succeeded ny MINISTER Wno, " - "oP'u, "'"J
be gifted with more discretion than his prede-
cessor The report IS, thai M. Pouss'n mas
been displaced for reasons not growing out OF
his nsOIent conduct towards our government,
and if this he true, we trust that the admins
ration will insis, on an apology being made be-
fore receiving the new minister. The insult
has been offered 10 the American government
aud nation the apology should come from the
French government aud nation. This course
will be the more necessary lit shall be made TO
appear that Nj. Poussn has been recalled tor
other causes than those afforded by his Insoenl
correspondence. lie may have offended his
own government, point with which we have
small concern but he hos olTeaded the Amer
lean public aud for lha! tho fullest atonemeh'
should be made. The people will sula'n the
government in the most extreme measures
that it may be necessary to adopt to BRING
the rulers Of France to sense of what IS due,
to the United States aud something OF the
kind would seem to be demanded, if that EN-
bodyment of ridiculous seIf.conceit, Nj. de Toe
qneve, has had The impotence TO write to Mr.
Rush concerning the course Of our government
De TucQueyll!e is Minister for Foreign affairs
under Louis Napoleon, and consequently IS the
chief too! in carrying out those measures OF the
dirty fellow who heads France, that have Tor
their object the overthrow Of the liberal party
throughout Europe. The measure OF his intel
Iect as statement may be Inferred from his
having recently spoken in support OF the asser-
ton that Russia is DISTINGUISHED power! lie has
gained great reputation in the political world
from having written a book OH this country,
which, partly because it was not filled with the
coarse abuse that most English travellers have
vented at onr expense, but more from It's aboun'
ding in anl,hctical and pompous no-meanlng
sentences has been regarded as miracle OF
wisdom. Yet be evidently knows less OF the
United Statos than the least of the English I'M
dersecre,aries for wha, really enlightened
French statesman would pursue course likely
10 involve his country in a war with us! why,
such contest would make France bankrupt ~
less than six months from It's commencement,
both financially and politically; financially, by
adding burthens to power already overloaded
aud which can even now only s,agger along, AT
the same time that lis sources Of revenue would
be materially lessened and politically, by
throwing into the ranks of worse than hal'starv-
ed operatives, all that large class OF workmen
who are connected with the interests involved
in the American trade particularly. and with
foreign commerce generally. Were NJ. de
TocqueyllIe really acquainted With popular SEN
timent in the United States, he would he aware
that there is no nation ON earth more impatient
Of insults than we are, that is the Americans OF
to-day. 1t was not always so, we are COMPEL
ed to admit, for the time was when we bore
with them to something beyond the verge oi alb
solu,c baseness and it is probable that he Is
governed more by his recollection of what has
been. than hv auv accurate knowledge Of what
is. |, would be well for both him and his mas
Ter to bear in mind the somewhat Illuminating
facts, tina, the Uniicd States of to-day are no
more the United States of Jelrrson'S time,
than is the France olthe Empire of the days OF
the Berlin aud Milan DEGREES, We lave chang
ed for The slronger-France has changed in the
opposite direction, and has Immensely declined,
intellectually, morally, and physically, beng al
this moment as much an object Of contempt as
she was in 1907 an Object 10 be dreaded The
exact sum of The difference between Napoleon
and Louis apoleon--certainIy, no very dIiil
cult matter, as that is as plain as the want OF re
sembance ia the Kentucky Giant to Tom
Thumb or the Living Skeleton. 1t took grea
while TO ascertain that we could fight, that II
was really not presumptnous in us TO suppose
that the men composing our armies were at
least the equals of he scum of England ano the
continent, but now that we have made sucl
progress in useful knowledge. we are ready t'
fight any body-or every body if il shall be-
come necessary so TO do. The Mexican war
taught US some pretty important facts, and gave
| III 81 10 nI nm al
Perhaps it created Sigh, desire for war, ;
sort of national Dony brook.Falr sentiment
and we are now growing rusty from the coutlnu
auce of pc ace. Speaking by card, we belev
that in almost any war would not eel at all alarm
ed were the country to get up u milling, ma'ch
with all Europe.
The conduc, of NJ. Ponssin is characteristic
of his race and calling. The insolence and i'm
pudence of French dipIomaists have passed IN
TO proverbs; and what adds to their unpleasant
ness, is the concou sness that they are never
used a, the expense of any nation supposed t'
be powerful. If you wish to know what France
thinks Of any particular country. observe now
her dplomisis bear themselves toward II. II
they are respectful France does not care to Of
fend it, because she thinks it strong; but, |
they are unciv, she not only thinks 1t weak
bu, is ready to get mp quarrel with IT, Scores
of facts could be quoted from history IN supper
of the position, and i, is notorious HAT French
arrogance has lost as much as French proves
has gained Gen Lamoriciere is engaged II
kissing the foot Of the Gear, the political pope
of Europe +; aud NJ. Poussln grossly insults the
people of the United States; aud why this differ
ence? |, is because the French know ant
fear the Russians, who have drubbed them oI
many field, AID who have twice occupied
their capitol, aud garrsoned their ior'resses
or us they know little, and they despise us with
all the presumption of ignoTence, One thing
only do they know about us, and that is. that
we haze very rich and extensive commerce
which war, they think, wonld enable them I,
po,hans IA yould he n well 10 urul