The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-23
The News from Europc-ProbableA Accession
OF Spain To the Anglo-Frcnch Alliance.

of Spain to the AnglO-Frcnch Alliance.
The most salient feature in the news brought
| by the Pacific is the statement, contained in
| the Madrid journals Of the Sd, that al coun-
Gil of Minister'S, held on the previous day, it
had been decided that Spain should enter into
treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive
with England and France. It will be seen by
the letter of our Madrid correspondent, pub
lshed in another part of our paper, that the
announcement has been received with great
dissatisfaction by the people of that capital,
and the Lpoca anticipates that the project will
encounter strong opposition in the Cortcs. We
believe, nevertheless, that it will be carried
through that body, for SO cunningly has the
policy of Louis Napoleon involved The presen;
liberal government Of Spain in its tolls that
no alternative seems to be left to it but that Of
yielding submissively to such conditions as the
Allies choose to impose on it.
What the nature of those conditions will be,
it is not very difficult to ioreshadow. The OBJ
iect Of the alliance is ostensibly 10 strengthen
the arms Of the Western Powers in their strug-
gle with Russia; but poor, feeble, impotont
Spain. can only represent the inert force Of the
confederation, which even now has enough of
that element in its Turkish adxiliaries. It is
not with any views of this sort that the French
Emperor has been steadily cultivat;ug such
close relations with Espartaro and tho party Of
the progrcssistas. lis designs have a deeper
and wider range.
The subtle and mastery manner in which
this modern Machiayel approaches his objects
viii form an instructive study for the future
historian. He waits upon events rather than
forces them, prcferring 10 abide his opportt,ni-
ties sooner than rur any unnecessary risk in
creating thcm. Eut no man who hes ever occu-
pied hs elevated position has shown more .a-
Gacity aud promptltude IN shaping aud adapt
ting them 20 the fGrtEerarce Of his schemes,
OF IN drawing from them the largest atiyan.
tages possible. Such was his course from the
moment when IN unexpected and fortunate
conjunction OF circumstances placed him
in The Presidential chair, until the same
readiness 10 proGt BY the chances presented to
him, Ivy the mistakes Of his enemies enabled
him to grasp the Imperial purple. The more
firmly does his power become consolidated The
less inclined does he seem to depart from no
Icy to which he owes - much; unlike politi-
cal men in general who are proycrbial for
their disposition to kick away the ladder by
which they have mounted to cmiuencc His
whole conduct, since The breaking out Of The
last troubles in Spain aud the ccssion 10
power Of Espartero, hes been in perfect coaso.
nance with this policy. With but too many
causes for mutual distrust between him and The
Spanish liberals, he has strenuously sought 10
win their confidence, and, such Is the strange
fascination that he exercises over all whom he
wishes 10 draw within the sphere of his nflu-
ence, lie has found no difficulty in succeeding.
Espartcro and his colleagues have fallen blind
y and hclplcssly into his power, aud unless the
Spanish people refuse 10 ratify the foolish com
ract into which they Lave entered with him.
their independence as a nation is forever sa-
crifced
It'll only the anxious and apparently critical
nature Of the circumstances in which the Span
ish cabinet finds itself placed that could have
rendered II insensiblc to the dangers with
which this project is frspght Espartero aud