Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-18
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

The IntetIigcneer says of the policy Of the
French Emperor:
''By the last arrival from Europe we received
from our Paris Correspondent copies OF the
Paris Moniteur of the Both of June and LIST
instant. The principal items OF news con-
tanned in these papers have already been CIV.
en- TO our readers. But both papers are nearly
filled with a very interested correspondence,
carried on in 1888, between the then head of
the French Cabinet, NJ. De Vergennes. and
the Baron De Bretuel, then Ambassador at
the Court of Vienna. These are both names
well known to those who are familiar with our
Revolutionary history. They were both states
men of the highest order and of the most hon
Orable principles; and the letters which passed
between them, had we time and space for their
translation and disqualification, would, We doubt
not, be read with great interest.
''These are introduced by the Moniteur for
the purpose of showing that Napoleon Ill, in
his present policy towards Russia, has been
aetusted by no new scheme of ambition, but
has merely sought to give reality to an idea
essentially French-One which Is to be found
at the bottom of all the measures of the Kings
of France from the first developments of Rus
sian power to the present day. While Louis
XVI, with all his dispOsable means, was aid
ing the United States in their struggle against
England, Catharine IL, relinquishing Prussia,
which since the division of Poland was of no
further use TO her. formed an alliance with
Austria for the purpose Of dividing European
Turkey between them. Austria derived 10
advantage from this alliance, but Russia prof
tied by it to seize possession of the Crimea
and of Couban, by means of which she Lot
only obtained dominion of the Black Sea, but
gained a position from which she could threaten
ConstantinOple. This is supposed to have
been, If not the sole reason, one of the princi-
pal reasons which induced France to make one
of Z ha rtra to h = e 40
with Great Britain. The preliminaries of this
peace were scarcely signed before the French
Government called the attention of the Cabi-
net OF ct. James TO the danger which threat
ened Europe, and particularly Turkey, by the
unOppOSed extension of the Russian power
But England did not at that moment partake
OF the fears OF France as TO the ultimate de-
signs OF Russia, and neither she nor Austria was
willing to unite in the views Of the Cabinet of
Versailles. The first design of Louis XVI, for
the execution Of which he desired to have the
support Ofthe Cabinets of London, Vienna Tu-
rin, and BerliI-that Of Spain he had already
secured-was simply by united, amieable, but
strong representations to dissuade Russia if
possible, from consummating her projects as to
the Crlmea and COuban. Failing in this desired
support of his views, Louis attempted it with
the Single Cooperation of Spain, but without
success: and he again sought the alliance of
England, at least 80 far as TO compel Russia TO
content herself with the possession of Couban.
But England once more repealed his PROPOSE
ton. After the Crimea and the Couban were
finally incorporated with the Russian Empire.
the King of France proposed 10 Joseph II. to
join him III 1HteTdtctihg to Russia the right
of BsGIntGtHt5tg u 1rar marine an tie Black
Sea. or ct least compelling her to eon6ne her
7lGr1l force there TO UesssIs not ereeeding
ttcenty guns. Thus it is seen that the Cabinet
Of Versailles entertained, more than three
fourths of a century ago, the idea of an ALI
ance with England for the very purpose which
the genius of Napoleon Ill. at length per-
suaded that power to adopt.
This is at least a curious fact In history.
which is abundantly corroborated by the cor.
resPondenee to which we have referred
The Union praises Senator Fitzpatrick, and
deprecates the idea of superceding him a,
Washington by any Know Nothing The same
paper argues deliberately, and with great
power and effect, to prove that Know Nothing.
ism is merely a new phase of the alien-and-
seditiOn-lawism Of $500, quoting very applica-
bic extracts from Duane's Aurora, of those
times, 70 make good that position.