The republic., 1852-01-06
European Iitics-MOvements against
England.

Many Of our contemporaries are earnestly
discussing the chances and probable conse-
quences of war betw cen European absolutsm
and England, arising out of the attitude which
the latter power has assumed in regard TO con-
tinental affairs. The assumption that such
war is neither unlikely nor unexpected rests
upon that portion Of the intelligence brought by
the Africa which attributes TO the Frankfort
Diet the adoption of diplomatic note protest
testing against the shelter of political refugees
by England; and which further reports the in
tention of Austria to endeavor to unite the chief
continental countries in a prohibitive system,
with the view of striking heavy blow al Eng
lish manufactures and commerce.
That the governments Of Austria, Prussia,
Russia, Italy. and even France, would take
any ordinary measure to disperse and drive TO
safer distance the crowd Of sgitators and con
spirators and revolutionary leaders who nestle
in safety at their very doors, and that the gov
ernments in question would be delighted to sink
inio deepest ocean the little island which affords
them protection and the means Of living, are
points admitting Of no doubt and there is there
fore nothing surprising in the rumored move
ment of the Germanic Diet. But its accompa-
nying measures, and its results, are much more
equivocal. The action Of England in this
regard is not new OF exceptional, and there is
perhaps no portion Of her policy to which she
would cling with greater pertinaeity. 1t ena-
bles her to keep up sembsnce Of unbounded
toleraton and liberality at a very small cost,
and is too closely interviewer with her most
cherished traditions TO be- abandoned without
cause much more formidable than the protest of
body whose brief existence has been distin-
guished by little except violent internal jealou-
sizes and strife. We cannot believe, then, that
this circumstance can justly be considered
symptomatic Of war. unless, indeed, the Cabi-
nets Of Germany be in possession Of informa-
lon in reference to the refugees of a much more
important character than any with which the
public is yet familiar.
! A war upon the industry and commerce Of
| England is vastly more practicable, and in
every point Of view vastly more probable.
Simply as measure Of selfdefence, the es-
adjustment Of rigid prohibiiive system
l
has many considerations TO recommend il, and
would, after all, be nothing more than an ex
tension Of what was begun under the Zolve-
rein. Look at it in broader light, and in its
certain effects upon the basis Of all the real
/ power Of England, and such a prohibilive
scheme may be converted into a means Of at
tack, easier, cheaper quicker, and more eff
cacious than any warfare that can be- conceived.
! Ofsuch a method Of assault, England would have
no right 20 complain, while her opportunities
| for retaliation would be comparatively few and
! nconsderabe Through her commerce, she is
| vulnerable on oil sides; and whether the mo
| tive which prompts an attack be one Of finance
or one that originates in political aggression,
the end will be pretty nearly the same. Ia
/ either case, we have no cause Of apprehension,
| nor can we conceive that the world will suffer
/ from aby system which tends to reduce the
trading operations of England TO their fair pro
! portions, and TO wean a people from depend
encc upon foreign enterprise aud industry.
! Whether Austria has the sagacity to dis
| tinguish between the exclusion Of English pro-
ducts through the discriminating protection Of
home industry, and that rude and wholesale
I prohibition which relies solely on a Gordon Of
custom houses, is question suggestive Of few
hopeful antcipations. Her craftsmanship is
too clumsy and arbitrary to be governed by
considerations Of sound political economy. She
may try to prohibit English manufactures as
she prohibits English newspapers by DEGREES
and bayonets; but the experience Of continen-
ial Europe, during the reign Of the first Napo-
| Icon, furnishes inc1ntestible evidence of the
1 inulilty Of such a procedure, Judged per Sc.
Yet another point remains TO be noticed, and
! thatin some respects the most pregnant with