Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AVID GOSSIP

! WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
l. Caucus.-To-lnorrow Tuesday evening, at
the Capitol, there will be caucus of Demo
cratic House members to nominate a House
printer.
The Entente Cordiale between England
and France, announced in Lord Clarendon s
recent speech, so far as it threatens our rela-
tons with those Governments, is still matter
Of convers 'tional speculation in political cir
cles here. 1t will be recollected that in Gui-
cots day, England essayed to use him then
Louis Philippe's prime minister,) after the
same fashion, to prevent the annexation of
Texas Those governments then made an
s1tiente coraiate, designed to prevent the con-
summation Of that policy of this Government.
The United States snapped their fingers at the
united efforts of England and France on that
occasion; knowing that they could not afford a
war against us in furtherance of simple design
to NEEDLE in our affairs, with the view to re-
press our national growth. Our statesmen, too,
then placed strong reliance on the correct hope
that Louis Philippe had not the least idea of
acting with England in that affair, further than
to lend her purpose the sanction of his name.
so long as serious difficulty with us might not
appear likely to eventuate from that policy on
| his part
Now, however, we find public men in Wash
ington regarding the attitude of England and
| France towards US las foreshadowed in Claren-
don's speech,) as really requiring grave atten-
ton. AS, if the Eastern question be settled
| peaceably, those allies will be in a military
| condition to dictate terms concerning Cuba to
us for time. There is no Disgusting the fact,
that in case they may not require to use their
vast military preparations against Russia, they
| may, at will, compel US to submit to whatever
Spain may do with Cuba, under penalty of
| terrible temporary disasters from war with
| them. 1t will be recollected that we are
| wholly unprepared for fighting them on the
| ocean, while we have commerce afloat which
would be utterly sacrificed were we to resist
| their demands. These are plain truths, which
public men among US are now looking straight
in the face. Hence grows a very strong desire
for the settlement Of all questions really in
| dispute between Mexico and this Government.
| AS, unless so settled in the event of war with
! reference to Cuba, our nsighbor, as an ally of
| France, England and Spain, sheltering their
| troops aiming to operate against California,
| might give us infinite trouble Up to this time,
it seems to us that the policy of Congress has
been to ignore the possibility of another wal
with an European power or powers. Yet, year
by year, and day by day. we have gone on ex-
banding and increasing in every way likely
to bring us into collision with other powers
| with whose interests we are thus commencin to
ir'srfere. In the East, our commerce has in.
creased within the last ten years in ratio near.
ly loo fold faster than Englands has ever
progressed there; until she sees in us rival fol-
tt, trade of that quarter of the universe, who
is not long hence to throw her into the back
ground.
| Our South American and Pacific islands trade
threatens her commercial supremacy in those
quarters quite as seriously, while at the same
time its increase comes home to the immediate
commercial interest of France, now governed
bv q monarch whose policy with reference tc
war is directly the reverse of that of Louis Phil
Iippe, who was as proverbial for his disinclina.
ton to it under any circumstances. England
and France realize that the policy of the United
States points with unerring certainty to the
eventual acquisition Of Cuba and more of Mex.
leo. That is by parchase-honest, fair and
square purchase, if possible; but at any rate te
such eventual acquisitions In them, they see
too, additional elements to enable us the more
surely and speedily to outstrip them in the
commercial race now in progress. While We
have no idea that the United States would OBJ
serve an hour longer than absolutely necessary
any convention that England and France Nigh
force from our necessities and condition of wan
of preparation for war, we are prepared in thu
event of peaceable settlement Of the Eastern
question, to see them essaying to carry out i,
this quarter, the intention of regulating /" tn
balance of power on the American continent
foreshadowed in Clarendon's speech. AS il
they fail to check us at this time, they ma,
never again hope to be able SO to do.
Tbs self evident corollary of all this is, tn
vital importance of prompt action in the Hous
upon the Senate six steamer bill. As who'll
insufficient as tfat will be to enable US to cop
successfully with those Powers on the ocean
the ships to be built under it, may, neverthe
less, save G. American property hundre'
times their cost to the National Treasury, in til
course of single year after such inter nations
trouble may commence.
Society in Washington, &o.-A letter
the Washington correspondent Of Philade
phia paper, dated February 23d, instant RI
minds us of the fact that that writer has, fo
years past exhibited a passion for cryin
down those among whom he has now SO lor
resided As he intimates in this letter TIL
they look to the pens of such individuals
himself, welded in distant newspapers, Fl
> guides for their opinions and acts, it may nj
be amiss to show, briefly: how silly his MOTTO
in this connection really is. Thus, while
D letter, on which we comment, is little MOI
' than tissue of unfounded assertions concerl
ing the Washington press and Washington e.
) ciety he so delights in maligning, the mass
the reliable information relative to what
, going on here, in the same journal, is copie
0 from the Star and other Washington new
: papers. If there be an undue share of tim