The Shasta courier., 1855-01-13
English View of the SOuIe Question.

In the course Of long article upon the Soule
difficulty. which we find reprinted in the Wash
ington Union, the London Leoder of November
makes the following very sensible observa-
tions:
His Majesty of France appears to be expert
encing the bad influence of sudden and su
preme success; he is committing blunders The
English. who were getting into a notion of his
lnfalilbllty, have, OF late, been rather shocked
by his ant-distllation decree, by his loose letter
to the widow OF st. Arnaud, and by his restless.
petty prosecutions of the unhappy press-the
press of all countries-for he allows none but
the courteous tocross his frontier. The impress
sion he was thus producing was not rendering
the nation very eager for his proposed visit to
Windsor; and if only for that reason his weak
nesses were greatly to be regretted But not
satisfied with outraging public opinion, he has
included the whole Anglo-Saxon race in his
cantempluous Indifference and by refusing
Mr. Soule PERMISSION to pass through France,
he deliberately dared to affront the United
States.
Even the English will think that this was
great folly and it is gratifying to hear that Lord
Clarendon had the courage and common sense
at once to ultimate what could only be received
practical condemnation of the proceeding.
Lord Clarendon, we understand unawed by the
fearful necessity of conciliating our great ally.
expressed his total want of sympathy with the
conduct of the French Government, and said
that whatever the matter might lead to as be-
tween the Government of Louis Napoleon and
the Government of the United States. England
could not possibly take any part in the contro-
yersy.
The article. then. after mentioning the unex-
pectedly bold demeanor of MIR. Mason, con-
tinues thus:
Louis Napoleon is perfectly aware that there
is still something of the republican element in
France, and foresaw, we may assume that il
would scarcely be judcious to invite the hostili.
ty OF the republican States. In fact. we have
every reason to believe that Mr. Soule. a pecn-
liariy cautious man, has committed no indiscre-
ton whatever; that the Emperor allowed birr-
self to be misled by stupid libels and that he
was tempted into the blunder by purely per-
sonal inclination
Public opinion in the United
States in reference to Louis Napoleon is precise.
ly where English public opinion was in refer
ence to the Same person about eighteen months
ago. He is condemned as a military despot;
and he is distrusted because it is fully believed
that his individual feelings are not favorable to
the great Republic. The relations between the
| two Governments have not been friendly the
Dillon affair" indicates bad blood and it is
not surprising that Messrs. Soule Buchanan.
and Ma,on, acting at once in the full security
that they were sure of being backed by their
Government and their country should have re-
ceived the insult to the one of the propriety of
whose line of conduct they were assured. as N
deliberate affront to the United States. There
was challenge, and it was accepted but does
the subsequent demeanor of the challenger sup.
gest confidence in the issuel Louis Napoleon
is man OF genius; with great fleet; with a
grand notion OF a servile war in the United
States; and doubtless, with Spain and Mrs
Stowe for his allies, might do great deal We.
if England would not be his ally in the West in
return ior his alliance with England in the East.
then he knows, well as most men, that the
States could bring the Napoeonic system about
hls ears III less than six months,