The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-27

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The Senator from Michigan is determined to
convince the Senate that he is not quite such
an old fogy as his detractors pretend. While
Mr. Marcy is prescribing the cut Of coattails
and the color Of breeches, Mr. Cass is resolutely
buckling to the practical questions of our
foreign policy, and cutting Gordian knots by the
score. He was the first Senator to insist ON
Monsignor Bedini's right to protection at the
hands of our governments and though his mo-
tives on that occasion were transparent enough
and his account of the Nuncios hardships some
what exaggerated, what he said was still sensi-
BILE, judicious, and to the point. Equally worthy
of him are his present exertions to secure for
American citizens travelling abroad the right
Of Christian burial according to the rites Of the
church to which they belong. We are glad,
too, to see that he has drawn the attention of
the Senate to the position occupied by Great
Britain and France towards this country, ~
gathered from the recent speech of Lord Claren-
don The assumption by these two Pow
ers of right to interfere in the affairs of this
continent-for Lord Clarendon's remark implies
as much as this-ought not to be allowed to
pass without a full and explicit explanation.
If the pretensions advanced some months ago
by the Western Powers of Europe, in regard to
the balance Of power on this Continent, are to be
renewed, the consequence will simply be that
our sy mpathies in the European quarrel will be
shifted from the side Of England and France 70
that of Russia. So long as the policy of the
Western Powers in that dispute can be in
terpreted as polite desire to protect the
weak from the strong, and to curb the az
gressioDs Of the ambitious Gar, they will
be sure Of the sympathies of the American
people. But should it appear that their course
is merely dictated by jealous fear of seeing
any rival nation surpass them in wealth or
power, then we should have no less to expect than
Russia from the adoption OF such policy on
their part, and it would become our imperative
duty to take the earliest opportunity OF COM
polling them to abandon it. That we could do
with the greatest ease in the event of a Euro
pean war. The navy Of Russia. however unable
to cope singly with those of England and
and reinforced with American clippers and
American steamers, hold its grou..I against
the fleets of the maritime Powers. one
knows this better than the British Ministers
and the French Emperor. Evidences of their
lest we should lend any aid of
this description to Russia are already before
US Nothing short Of sheer insanity could prompt
the adoption Of any other policy on their part
than one of frank Cancellation and open friend
ship towards the United States.
We must have the allusion in Lord Claren-
dons speech cleared away by thorough
explanation Of the intentions of the Western
Powers of Europe. No better time than
the present for a demand for such explains
ton is likely to offer. Had our foreign re-
lations been in the keeping of some one of
the distinguished men who have from time
to time SO nobly INDICATED our national
honor, we could have safely relied on such
demand being made without delay. With Mr..
Marcy as Secretary of State, we are sure of
nothing beyond the style of dress to be adopted
by our foreign Ministers.
FASHIONABLE FoIL1Es.-If it be true that
unwonted extravaganza and luxury in pri-
vate life betoken the approach Of fnan.
cial crisis and ruinous storms. we in New
York had better look to our safety. 1t is
questionable whether at any time the fashion.
able classes of any metropolitan city ever re-
yelled in such absolute prodigality as we now
see around us. Neither London nor Paris
ever saw the like. Rome, in her most corrupt
days, never witnessed such wanton squander-
ing Of money. At the feast which Petronius
describes as the summit of Roman extrava-
gance, the master is reused from his slumbers
by the breaking of valuable dish, and some
are reused among the guests lest
the offending slave should be crucined for
his carelessness in the houses of our wealthy
men whole sets of Sevres might be smashed
without bringing flush to the cheek of the
master or contracting the brows of the impassi-
BILE mistress Money is the last thing thou ght
Of in the drawing room. 1t is enough that Old
Potphar should reach his Office by nine, and
scheme and plot to get up fancy stocks or sen
railways and stock in order to supply
he family exchequer with an inexhaustible
ountain Of wealth. Mrs. Pot and her friends
~ h0s OoAS w uiNC lHtO uut uysJeTleS OF the
Arctic Undermining Company or the Patago-
han Exploding Association, or to speculate on
he chances Of the stocks remaining marketa-
de, SO long as their purses are constantly re-
'lenished with gold and dollars. They are
'orn to spend. That is their vocation, and to
10 them justice it must be admitted that they
pend freely.
Countless instances of the reckless extrava-
yance Of " our best society" might readily be
Idduced. We will take the single article of
lress. We are given to understand by those
amiliar with the subject that lady's dress
ace and jewelry included-such as are worn at
'ur balls, is thought quite common unless it
lost thousand dollars That is to say, the
air wearer, whose total stock in life in the way
and physical requirements woul,,