The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-13

The Daniel Webster from San Juan de Nicara-
qua; and FL Dorado, from Aspinwall, with ten days
later news from California are DUE Tire Washing
ton may be expected at any moment, from South
ampton. The Canada, from Liverpool, will reach
Boston this forenoon. The Great Britain. if her
speed has not been lessened, is due to-day also from
Liverpool; and the Atlantic will probably arrive on
Sunday. The latter will bring four days later
news from Europe
Is Europe to be Cossnck or Republican,.
The celebrated prediction of Napoleon at st.
Helena, that Europe would become either republican
or Cossaek, has not received its fulilment, and
there is probability that, in the generally re-
ceived sense, it will be accomplished fact in the
present generation. Europe cannot become Cossack
and there is just little prospec. of its becoming
republican, according to the idea which Americans
attach to that word. Perhaps, however, Napoleon's
idea of a republic very different from ours, and
that, instead of the American model, he had the old
Roman military republic in his eye, with an elective
head, whether calleda consul, prator, a decemvir
a tribune, dictator or an emperor. Certain it is
that this was the kind Of republic over which he
presided himself as First Consul and afterwards rs
Emperor; and as the French people never had any
other description of republic, it is clear deduction
of reason that the Little Corporal never meant to
convey the idea that Europe would become Ameri-
canzed or adopt the repubcanism of the United
States. Yet we find many fmsy writer's for news
papers and flash orators ignorantly quoting the pro-
phecy in this sense, and making it text for much
idle, frotby defamation about the rcTolutionzing
of the nations of the old country into SO many
groups of United States-a thought that never en-
tered the brain Of the eagle, chained upon his lonely
! rock.
! The government that seems suited to the genius,
and wishes, and IDEAS Of the people of France, is
neither republic nor despotism, bat mixture
of both-not an hereditary, but an elective ruler
| no matter how arbitrary, extensive and COM
rlete his dominion may be. for the time, provided
only they have the satisfaction of appointing or ap
proving of him, by vote, themselves, or rather of
sanctionng his appointment after is made in Paris
or by the army. his mode fatters the vanity Of
the French people, while, at the time, it saves
them the trouble of deliberaton, and leaves the
thinking to be done by the intellect of the capital
Hereditary monarchy cut off with the head of
Louis XVI; and every form Of government that has
since prevailed in France has been elective, with
the exception OF the Bourbons, who were twice
forced upon the people by the allied powers of
Europe. In the of the Council Of Five Hun
drod, the Girondis, the Consular and the Imperial
forms. still the elective system obtained, and in
tellec popularity of some kind-not birth-right or
superstition about the divine right of kings and he
reditary succession-dictated who should be the
ruler of the hour, and planned and executed each
succeeding change.
The present dictatorship OF Louis Napoleon is not
an exception to the rule. 1t is, in fact, more
,latn nc H.
any previous regime. The central power in Paris
either the army or the mob-aehicves revolution
in three days, or coup Getat in one day, and the
act--after it il done--is submitted to the people,
and they declare it - all right" Thus, in point of
fact, the French people act first, and deliberate and
vote afterwards. This is the very reverse Ct the
American system. Ia the United States we deli
bcrate rs and, after long delibcraton, we act and
instead of few leading men in the capital think
ing for the nation, and the nation adopting their
decisions, the nation at large thinks for ITSELF aud
dictates its will to the leading men, as we'll as all
others and it is only left to the chief men to exc
cute and carry out the will Of the whole people.
Intelligence, like wealth, in the United States is
difused all over the country and among the entire
population. In France, the learning the genius
the intellect, and the power, if not the wealth, are
concentrated in Paris, and hence, whatever may be
he change or modification of government, 1t il
originated, carried out and centralized in the capt.
tall In other Words Paris rules France, and France
yields willing obedene6i
Now, we see from recent European news that this
system is just obnoxious to the Emperor of Rus
STA, under the rule Of Louis Napoleon, as it wa, I'M
der the government of Louis Philippe, or any ether
form whose executive is elected by the people.
France s equally hostile to the hereditary princi
pie Of Russian government, for its darling idea
is to change its rulers, like old garments Whenever
il becomes tired Of them. This idea is dangerous
to the existence of the autocracy Of the Gar and
be accordingly hates and fears France. These two
great leading powers Of the continent Of Europe
are therefore, antagonistc in their IDEAS and can
not have any cordial alliance or mutual understand
ing. AS might water and oil unite, notwth-
standing all that kossuth has talked about the
league Of dcspots. Europe is therefore, now pre-
scented 70 us in q new phase and it is very sgnif-
cant fact considering how much the press Russia is
under the control Of the government, that the Rus
sian Almanac Of this year says the heir apparent
Of France is Henry W thus ignoring Louis Napc-
Leon who is never mentioned at all, any more than
If he did not exist. To him and to the French army
this must be deeply Notifying, and win tend, with
other causes to stir no the latent erbers Of hos.
tty between France and Russia. The fire was not
dead-it only slept beneath the ashes till some ex
citing cause should awake it into activity.
II lie with Russia therefore, and not with Eng
land, that there 10 probability of mortal col
lision. England need not be alarmed about France,
for France has nothing to fear from Eng and; Russia
is the proper Antagonist II France. and France on