The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07

| and with whatever secrfirg composure the result
Of her present anomaous pbsilion and the Develop
ment of her future policy may awaited il is in-
possible but that the most csNous ind fearless
Statesman Of the times mustc expect them with some
/ soliclude II is true. ihis second Napoleon may
be suddenly cf. II is true. thfre may he re-
yulson of public sentiment so universal as 10 drive
him from powef. In either of these events, France
| may become once tJiore the prey OF hction, and
levc the apprt hensions Of her neighbors and Of
la leySdins ey her Own n sa hos Lu
| Napoleon shall survive the perils which ,at!eno
| him in the initiative operations Of his govern
nent, then, say, France will become aggressive.
| II there was nothing in the sing ular spirit, and
to me mystical genius of that daring man, who has
| teifed into bis own hands the construction of
go,erniS."t iot great people, leading to the con.
elusion that he wculd become aggressive and
plunge his country info war, he s still under po-
liticai necessity to make war Il is true, that in
doing 30 he may but rush upon bis fate. Be u 80
| lie cannot pause in his career He must give en-
! ploy ment to his four hundred thousand sodiers,
or they will vide and assnate with the iactiunS
fraterDise WITH the republicans. At oil evcnts,
| TO prevent these disscnsionb in his army, he must
have the control hf large means, and they only
| be acquired by Ievyng contributions upon tho re-
sources OF his neighbof lie wsn.ss too, the pres
fge OF military rcnnwn to still lurthcr conciiiate
and consolidate the esteem and affections Of Frencb-
men. {F
This remarkable man has hitherto, in his policy,
his tact and strategy In civil affairs. evincet many
kindred qualities and trod wth striking fidelity n
the footsteps OF his iIustrious relative Dsubtlrss,
like him, he considers himself the child Of dcstny
born to carry out all thar projected by tIia
| great Napoleon: imperial power attnined; the
boundaries Of France nlarged to the Rhine; the
| kingdom of Italy reconstructed aud rrstured the
pride Of England humbied, Or her power b.okcnj
and barrier thtcr posed the ambition Of Russia.
or Close league with that great pow er 70 equal
partition of The empire of The world
The great Julius fell by The daggers Of domestic
! conspifators; and his nephew, Octavius, strip
ling. unknown to fame after sanguinary -trug
gle with the leaders Of opposing factions, with the
aid OF the distractions Of the timcs, aud adrot
| coalition with Antony, succeeded 10 the power of
his iilustrlous uncle. The great Napoleon fell by
a combination Of all Europe against him; and his
nephew, Louis Napoleon after longer interval OF
| changing dynDsties and contending factions. has
| gu, ceeded 10 his power; man who seems to com
bine all those qualities Of profound dissnuai ion
and strategy IN civil affairs, with the additional
advantage OF personal courage, which enabled his
prototypes, Octavius, TO succeed in what at f st
| regarded desperate and hopeless enterprise
| In all history can there be found many etrik-
| ing condolences in the lending fcatures in
| cinents, and fortunes Of two great families;
| in the circum.tances of two great poIi icai re-
voiutions- one Of which changed the destiny
OF ancient civilization and the other it may be, is
destined 10 change that Of modern Europe. The
parallel fails in the persons Of Nicholas md An,o
| ny. Nicholas 10 very different personagc from
the pleasure loving Antony but still he may not
disdain an alliance with the only power that can
| curb his ambition in the west Of Europe; and he
may choose TO share equally, II he cannot win uni
vcrsal dominion. On the continent OF Europe there
are now. in truth. but two great powers France
and Russa-or at most three, II Prussia be 20 con-
| sidered. Austria lies PROSTATE and paralyz by
| the variety and impIacable anupathies Of tie
races which occupy the provinces and dependen-
4 cics of ber empire. Prussia must be more less
fe,tered by the jcaiousies the petty in
her neighborhood, and the democratic spirit which
may still infect her subjects but the great German
nationality. including Prussia may be conciliaicd
| by tripsrtitc partition. The provinces of the
| lower Danube, and all Turkey, with the proapcct
offurthcr acquisitions in Asia, may suffice Russia.
| England may be intimidatcd, or her power broken,
by revivng the continental policy OF the great Ma
poleon.
But have not time to pursue these speculation,
as TO all the various combinations which may arise
out OF state OF war, or their consequences.
/ it may be asked why give such prominence 10
France IN holding the issucs Of peace and wars I,
che 50 powerful; is she formidable; or will she
have the audacity, under present circumstances
| 10 disturb the peace Of Europe? ! answer, TINT
| France, under fayorie chief has not only Tie
| courage 10 commence war. but the power TO be.
come formidable to her ncightors She is formid.
able not only from her thirty six millions VI inha-
bitants, and her compact territory, bot from the
gallant, excitab!c, and glory loving character of
| her popuatiou--thc French being now, they
have ways bee n, the most warllc OF Europe,
| or of the world Twice has France, in the earlier
periods Of her history, rolled back the tide OF con
guest which threatened TO change the destiny OF
Europe; twice has she, single handed, protected its
religion and is ciyiliz,tion-once the plains of
j Chalons, where she met and overthrew Atiila and
his host Of three hundred thousand warriors, col
der the lead OF the famous Charles Martell. whcn
shc checked the conquerng career Of the Moscm
power, in the ncighborhood Of TCuTs. Twice has
che been upon the point Of snbjcctng all Europe
to her dominion n--once under Louis the Fourteenth;
and again, at period recent that IL seems only
Of yesterday, under the auipices OF tho great Ma.
poleon. Twice. in her career, has she succumbed;
AMI tben only when world rose IN arms ngalnet
her. Such is France.
IfLIus Napoleon has the ssgacity and the amb-
ton which aitrbJtc TO him. he will neglect no ex.
Ala
bis fortunes. The French have become essentially
democratic IN their spirit and feeling; that ten
dency must be counterncted by counter iniiuences;
that spirit, strong is has yet, again and agan.
yielded 80 4 atrongcr pssson--ihe love of national
glory. CDder tue inioxication OF that passion,
twice have the French people surrendered their lib
4 crtiee; and there will not be waning stmuants or
occasions to rouse and keep alive tEat passion bc
pride oi all true Frenchmen was hutnbled on the
| fell OF Waterloo. That wound to her national
vanity remains 70 be sOothed or averaged. Louis
Napol'o may hidc hs time for that; hc ma fnd
some more feasible undertaking in which to- firsh
his maiden sword. II he does not find il among
his neigbbors, he may look to another continent.
Africa presents too barren field for splcndi
achievements lie may even be tempted 10 cast his
eyes upon America. he recollection of the hnuxhty
and Gcta;or;al menace yirlicd To by Louis PhiIpIo.
under which the last ins,auent of the French
indemnity was paid. still rankles in the bosom of
| Frcnchmen. But j beg pardon. l know how wild
the idea will be considered; but think IL is not
exiravagant TO suppose that, beckcd ny ieslousics
towards the United Siates. Jou's Napoleon per
cciving tho del, nc.lcss condt 81 our esfend' q
ocean frontier, aud counting his superior naval
forcc, iuay Geek 10 via renown by seizing and
lsyiEg under contributions rith and flourish.
lug cities upon the All aniic coast. Nay, ne rnny
! tie tempted st,ll further, aud seek TO indemnify
| France for the 10 Of cmpr re ~ America ~ tie
ccssiUn OF LOUISIANA, by attempting tue permanent
| conquct o. the Pacific coast Ircpeat, that am
\ awaie that THE usy be regarded as an ext, ava
| giant and Irrational con, cture; bus Who, at ths
day and after al the wond, II tho imcs, wi say
that II is incrediblt! Bot must cease these spco
| uliions upon this p'ol ic subject.
| senators may inquire: To what practical con.
| clasion design 70 sppy nii that haye said upon
this ranch oi the subject In the first place. IL
upon review cf tic Whole ground, the positiunl
have assumed, that at OIstabt day IN SIX, III
| twelve, or at most IN twenty .onr iDonths-a war
will be kindleG ia Europe upon sornc pretex, or Of
toInr character or other, be wrlt founded, then
| undertake 10 pr, dict that the United States will,
sooner or later, ho drawn within its vortex; Gnd IL
this hypothesis shall to be supported 6y pau-