Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-02
THE FRENCH AND THE ENGLISH
THEIR ALLIANCE.

and immutable laws, but according to the con-
their passions and their desires Their acts,
good or bad, form what is called the intellec-
tual and moral laws Of the life Of people; and
as the people act, SO the nation moves. Ma
tons are free beings; and masters of their
destiny, they shape it to their wishes"
When that illustrious man pronounced this
sentiment, or something like it, (for we do not
exactly record his words,) he had under his
eyes the deep changes introduced into the rela-
tons of several people of the continent, during
nearly forty years of peace, and the effect pro-
duced by those changes in their external and
internal relations. He was fully aware that
ancient feuds, ealousies, and rivalries, were fast
disappearing between the French and the Eng
fish; that both people were indispensable the
one to the other; that England needed the
fruits, the wines, the arts, the workmen, of
France; that France needed the enterprising
spirit, and the coal and iron of England and
that their agriculture commerce, and industry
were dependant one on the other, and could
flourish only on condition that they would lend
to each other mutual assistance.
Such was the sentiment which actuated the
policy Of the government of Louis Philippe,
under Guizot; and even Theirs, notwithstand-
ing his warlike diversions in 1910 towards the
English cabinet, was Of opinion that there was
no prosperity for either country nay for Eu-
rope, without close alliance between France
and England. That sentiment had already
been expressed on the other side of the chan
mel by Pitt, Canning, Nesselrode, and Palmer
ston, and the efforts Of the statesmen Of both
countries were leaning on the side of closer
and yet closer alliance. All the corn league
men-Cobbet at their head-were urging it with
all their strength. The latter, by publishing a
history of the shameful conduct of the English
Cabinet in the first French revolution, brought
the blush to the cheek Of the traditional policy
Of England; and increased the inclination of
the masses towards an intimate friendship with
the French people.
When the Republic of ls4s sprang into ex-
istence, both nations 1--WE do not speak of the
English and French Governmental had then
been prepared by an intercourse in trade and
through mutual exchange Of views and SEN
timents to see that alliance become closer
still Deputations of national guards and work
men were sent from various points of France
to London, Manchester, and Birmingham and
Toasted there with the greatest cordiality. That
friendship was particularly remarkable at the
time Of the London Fair English and French
Populations were mutually sent to the capitals
of both England and France, and were received
and entertained with the warmest sentiments
Of sympathy which ever a people bestowed
upon another.
The result of that forty years peace policy Of
these visits and fraternal demonstrations has
been to create new commercial relations be-
tween the English and the French, to overthrow
the ancient traditions Of diplomacy, and to com
pose by their mutual efforts a consolidated
policy for the maintenance and expansion OF
liberal principles all over Europe. This, though
paradox at first sight, win become as clear
as daylight to those who study the politics OF
the Old World. To speak of commercial rela-
tions alone, it is known that England has re.
duced the rate Of duty upon many goods and
products of French origin and a project is now
liquors free Of duty. France, on her side, has
unlocked the door Of her restrictive tariff to
many goods Of English export and production,
hitherto prohibited, and reduced, in 1854, the
duty on English coal and iron. A vast num-
Der Of French workmen are employed by Eng.
lish manufacturers, whose own workmen cannot
produce the objects Of luxury manufactured in
France, and many English manufacturers have
carried their spirit Of enterprise which is greatly
wanted by the French, in the heart Of their
country, and especially in Algeria. That in
tercourse extends even father and higher. We
are told that since the coup detat, and even
before, the London Times had in its editorial
corps many Frenchmen, mostly selected from
among the liberal thinkers Of their country,
whose duty ii is covertly to advocate the prin-
ciples Of Democracy in France and Europe and
the necessity for the French people, to establish
in their midst moderate republic.
linus, lne Worus Vi VI. uulzot tnat people
make their own destiny, have been fully con-
frmed BY the facts we have just quoted, and
which are, as it were, the prelude to the ALI
ance we have just seen concluded on the sub
iect OF the war against the Car. During
forty years both nations had the leizure TO see
that policy of selfshness and isolation was
not calculated to bring about any Of the great
results which build up the happiness Of nations
and the solidity of Empires. They have COM
municated one with the other, not only in
a material point Of view, but in sentiment and
ideas. Their working classes have come into
close contact; they have learned to appreciate
each other; the English have taken theis DE.
mocratic ideas OF equality from the French,