New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-29
PEACE.

RAYS OF peace, feeble though they be. seem to
pierce TIE bloody cloud oyerhsog'Dg the oil world.
Many who two years ego greeted The w.r with
Joy, who attached to it hopes OF the enfranchise-
ment and regeneration of Europe, are Row sadly
undeceiyed. All such expectations are biiled,
end still thu war notwithstanding It's short dura.
tor powerfully shocks Europe, and displa,es
mary Of the old rusty hinges on which ts d p.o-
uscy was wont TO turn. this ar has acted not
oub co the surface Of things but lis mscheyons
influence peDetrsies more deeply thai at first
sight MY be conceived.
It was repIesentedby the Western bell gereDts,
ard especially by the British journals, that the
war was to be waged in the interes' OF liberty,
ald to lesd Europe 70 better future. For our
part, we never for a moment shared such hopes
ard expectations. We arc SOW 70 admit that
general war csn carry 10 its folds freedom aud
civilization. but still less could We believe this to
be tie case where despots aud peTjurers Fl gh for
tier particular aims Our opinion Of the
matter has proved true. Ii the Eastern question
shall be patched up by toe pending negotiations
OF by Congress at Vienna, the result will not
profit the cause of nations, but VIII avail for that
OF tie Western desTots, without having in reality
crippled or curtaied the NoItkerr.
Epglsnd now as always, has made great dis
play of generosity, and has used hgh-sOuuding
words TO guide public opinion. But as ever, sic
hss dsbbled in principles, excited hopes, stirred
up enthusissm putting on them an extinguisher
ss SON as she perceiyes she can do as we'll with
on. them. She laughs nov the ltsllsns, H1oga-
risns Poles, and mikes game of the knot OF French
patriots ard refugees. But 10 fact AFTER all,
she is not the real winner Her commercial crisis,
albeit having its sourcs in other causes has
been aggravated BY the war. Her military organ
izatioD hiss proved itself beneath criticism. and
her real military power sctuallyes considerable
than was expected. After g sin. le effort sbe was
obliged to seek the miserable and shameful re-
source Of foreign enlistment. II turns OUT tha,
England cannot war singlehan1ed agsn.. welt
organized Continental power, even tsoust I.
should be of secondary order. The spell, there
fore. i, broken. The wooden walsshowed them
selves wholly Intellectual sgansl fortiicat,on',
end even against well served lsnd batteries.
Every where the VI cor luerAble fee. kept wisely
out Ct the way of the well-defended shores.
Morally, too, England has los< the confidence OF
those who work for the social eman ,iDa.iol Of
Europe Nobody will nov look 10 her for ea
couIagement or assistance. Better that Il is SO.
Future revolutionary men OF Europe VII gain
Lesson from this experience, and do tie work Of
self regeneration through seli-relsnce.
Frsnce is blessed with IN increase Of public
debt amounting to hundred an fiy millions OF
dollsrs. Should peace be concu led, the greater
part Of this money will very likely serve to form
S col soliated fund for Louis Napoleon and In
general for the whole tribe Of the Bonspartides.
1t may serve for all their eyentuslties-enaoing
them to secure other homes if BY uuacco1n,able
accident the palace Of the Tuilleries should be.
cone too hot for them. The war, indeed,
has enineDtly strengthened the French Do
pysius, and the French people are now more
enchaiIed TO his dsstiDy-welied to his
throne-and more acc stoned 10 do without
any freedom whatever, either polite Al or in
tellectual. They are, Assuredly, more degraded,
debssed, prostituted and joyfuly lick the feet OF
their master. The war has cemented the ali
snce Of the Western despets against the indie
pendence Of nationalities, and against the social
or political emancipation Of the people. Thus