The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-06

its political relations 1t became evident that
the contest must Cor the future lie between
popular principles and despotism, and that
England and France, as the representatives of
the former, must eventually be drawn together
by the bonds Of mutual sympathy. Although
traditional prejudices, and the political COM
binatons to which the Unsuitable ambition of
the first Napoleon gave rise, contributed for q
time to postpone this result, the two nations
have been gradually approximating to it tor
the last quarter Of a century. Under Louis
Philippe considerable advance was made to-
wards a close and cordial alliance between the
two countries, and but for the unfortunate pro-
jects of dynastic ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which inter-
rupted the good understanding that existed
between them, the evils that at present menace
the peace of Europe would in all probability
have been averted. The seriousness Of the
existing crisis has, however, consummated a
result which The folly or the ambition Of the
rulers of France had SO long retarded.
In the uncertainty that prevails respecting
the policy and Interior designs Of the French
Emperor. it is thought by some that the present
alliance between the two countries holds out no
prospect of stability We are of different
opinion. The principles that unite them are Of
vital and permanent character whilst the
empire is but an accident imposed upon the
French people by temporary circumstances
like martial law in state of anarchy-to be
removed when the pressure of the necessity
that called it into existence has passed away.
Iu the many changes and shiftings whichsthe
history of politics presents to us, we do not
know a more singular revolution of opinions
than this. In the time of the Stuarts we find
the popular feeling of England acting in close
unison with the then liberal tendencies of the
German powers, whilst the sympathies and
family alliances of the court inclined it to favor
the interests Of despotic and Catholic France.
In our own days we behold the strange spectacle
of cordial union in political sentiment be-
tween the people of England and France, and
OF a Protestant sovereign intriguing with these
same Protestant powers to further the cause
of Russian despotism. What can be expected
from a line of policy which thus exasperates and
arrays the people against their rulers, but the
most fatal and disastrous results.
In all these fluctuations of opinions and par
ties, the English people alone have played a
consistent part The character Of their institu-
tions, approximating as closely to our own as
IN monarchy is possible, has kept them
steadily attached to those great principles,
which, throughout all these political changes,
have preserved their liberties intact. 1t is not,
therefore, to be supposed that they will now
more than at any former period Of their history,
IN hny fhair foa1ionc friHo5
with, or their interests poised in the balance
with those of a petty German principality. AS
soon as Parliament meets there is no doubt
that both the Prince Consort and Lord Aber-
deem will be called to severe account and
unless the former can give satisfactory reply
to the grave charges that have been advancing
against him, we may yet witness in the fall o.
another dynasty o parallel to the fate of the
Stuarts.
DEPARTURE OF BEDNL-The readers of Sun
days HERALD will have learnt how Monsiguor
Bedini left this city on Saturday, having en-
barksd on board the steamer by stratagem in
order to avoid any such popular disturbance as
was anticipated. Whatever opinions may be
entertained respecting the character and ante
cedents of Monsignor Bedini. we think few I'M
BIASED men can look back upon his visit to
this country without a shade of regret. he
came here. en- PEASANT, on his way to Brazil
where he was to act as resident minister from
the Papal States Formally accredited to the
President by letter from his master, the Pope
he was, according to the law Of nations, enti-
tied to the same protection at the hands of our
government as any foreign minister resident at
Washington. His functions here, it is true,
were not those of an ambassador. He was only
instructed to arbitrate between the bishops and |
trustees Of certain Catholic churches at Buffalo |
and elsewhere respecting church property; and |
the refusal of the latter to be bound by his de-
cision naturally terminated his official career.
Still, the law of nations makes but little dis |
tincfion between an envoy accredited specially |
as minister resident to foreign government, and |
an ambassador passing through foreign country |
to whose rulersAe is formally introduced as
the representative Of a temporal sovereign and |
with all the light which the publcists afford us,
we cannot discriminate between the position of |
Mr. Champion and that of Monsignor Bedini.
1t is very clear that il the former were threat
ened with personal violence, if the newspapers
teemed with inGammatory attacks upon him,
and if organized bands of men openly ayowed |
an intention of molesting him, it would be the
duty of the government to afford him ample |
protection and to secure his safety by every
means in their power. Itwould be an indellible
disgrace to any civilized nation to suffer the
passions of the populace to compel foreign
minister to escape from its shores by stealth.
This the American government has done in
the case of Monsignor Bedini lie was obliged
to stink away like malefactor; and this clearly |
and obviously through the want of moral
courage in cur government to protect him
Mr.. Marcy may have been right in refusing him
passport; but formalities apart, 1t is very
clear that The administration were deterrpl hr