Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-28
1879 then adjourned.
EUROPE.
Great britain, France, and their ReIa-
fiOns,


mons. All the leading members participated il
it, and many interesting statements were made
1t was opened by Mr.. D'Israei, who was 9
prominent member of the late Ministry, in very
elaborate speech. He desired, he said. to call
the attention of the House to the re lations of the
Government of Great Britain with that of France.
| This, he said, was one of the most important
subjects in modern politics. For forty years the
two nations had enjoyed the blessings of peace
with each other, and during that period, the social
relations of the two countries had become vari-
GUS and multiplied Their commercial TRANSACT
lions had regularly and considerably increased.
and no doubt under favorable circumstances and
enlightened legislation, these transactions Would
be still further multiplied. There were, he said,
| no two countries-frSt class Powers-between
whom all questions of high policy were so iden-
| tical; and it was somewhat strange, when they
had so many guarantees of good understand
ing, that an idea should seem to have entered al
most every mans brain. that Great Britain was
| on the eve of rupture with that country. He
| said:
'Now, sir, know there are persons in both
countries-who have been born and bred, DO
| baby, during the last great struggle-who are of
opinion that there is natural hostility between
the French and English nations. They are per-
sons who are properly to be cassed in the cate
CORY of those individuals who used TO think that
five per cent was the natural rate of interest;
and yet they are persons, in many instances in
both countries, whose feelings are patriotic, and
whose opinions, although they may be invete-
rate prejudices, are rot to be despised at a juno
ture like the present. think that it is quite in
vain to appeal to persons who influenced by
such conviction-by any of those economical
considerations which are often mentioned in the
present day. know that it is in vain to impress
them that in age favorable to industry an an
Gent and highly civilized people diverted from
the thought of war. know, sir, that it is in vain
to appeal to the higher impulses of that philan-
thropy, which many OF us believe to exist in
such communicate societies under such con
ditions of great antiquity The advancement of
civilization is mitigating the hearts of nations.-
(Hear, hear.) But sir, | think have right to
appeal to stern facts which cannot be dispnted--to
the past conduct of men, which, according to the
theories ofthose individuals is the best test of what
their future behaviour is likely to be. must say
do not think that the history of the past ustifes
| the too prevalent opinion that between England
and France there is any natural rivalry. Hear
know well, sir, if you 60 back to the ancient
history of the two countries, you may appeal to
Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt and believe that
| there has always beena struggle between the two
| countries, and that that struggle has always re-
bounded to the glory of England. Bu6 these were
not wars between France aud England so much as
between the monarchs ofFrance and of England
the latter being then fighting for his provinces of
Guienne Picardy and Acquitaine, and that, in fact
| 1t was not struggle between the two nations.-
| (Hear, hear.) take it for granted that, in consd
erng this point ofour history, we need not 90 back
to more distant period than to that happy hour
| when the keys of Calais were fortunately deliv.
| cred forever into the care of the French monarch
(hear) -nnd it we take that, which is the real
point of our modern history we shall observe that
the most sagacious of sovereigns and the most
eminent statesmen of England, almost without an
exception, have held that the French alliance,
or a cordial understanding with the French ma
ton should be the corner stone of our diplomat.
tic system, and the key note of our foreign policy
No one can deny that both Queen Elizabeth and
the Lord Protector looked to that alliance as the
basis OF their foreign connections. No one can
deny That there was one point upon which the
brilliant Bongbroke and the sagacious Walpoe
agreed; and that was on the importance of an ALI.
ancs and good understanding with France. Well,
at u later date, the eminent statesmen of this
century-Mr. Pitt-formed his system on this
principle, and entered public life to establish a
and with commercial objects, mainly depended
on an ALLIANCE and good unde rstandng with the
French nation; and therefore, Sir, it is not true
that there has been at all times-or Mt most times
this want of sympathy between the French
and the English peoples but on the contrary, the
reverse is the truth, and the alliance and good
understanding that have prevailed between us,
have been source, in my opinion, of great ndvan-
tage to both countries, and has advanced the civil
zation of Europe"
The French, he continued, had on several i'm
portant occasions, cordially co-operuted with
England for the mantanance of peace aud the
general tranquility of the world; and in his judg
ment, 1t was most unwise and indiscreet on the
part of the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the
President of the Board of Control to describe the
Emperor of the French us tyrant and his
subjects as slaves; and TO employ language res
pecting the press ofBegium, which implied TINT
the accomplished Prince who governed that
country was unable to vindicate his indepen
dence. The right honorable gentleman then
alluded to the conduct OF Sir G., Wood and Sir |
James Graham in the comments they had in |
dulsed in as to the conduct of the Government |
OF France, and after remarking Mt considerable |
length on the engmatical statements made by |
Lord Aberdeen as to the foreign policy of the
Government, contended that he had laid sufficient
grounds for the Information he sought.
One OF the present Mnsters-Lord John |
Russo n-ventured reply, and he intimated that
Mr.. D'lsiaeli merely desired to create dissen-
sions belwean the two countries now at peace |
by referring to speeches made by two of his col
leagues, which were delivered under circuln-
stances that might easily palliate any harshness
thus contained.
He Q.ord John Russell) avowed few nights
since In his place in that house. that this coun-
try was on terms OF the greatest aisity with the
Eranch md tbnt no &C a..
country had nothing whatever to do with The in
ternal concerns of France. If that principle |
had been noted on in 1898, what torrents of
blood would have been saved, and what fearful