The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-06

nof, that have done neither himself nor his
valiant father any personal wrongs, still it
would certainly be very unjust to charge him
with indifference to the many injuries offered
by the Cars to Sweden. But. being very little
ambitious, as it would appear, of military glory,
and rather animated by the praiseworthy desire
of promoting, by peaceful means, the welfare
of the nations over whose affairs he presides, he
has been anxious to maintain neutrality, and
thus preserve Sweden and Norway from the
calamities of war. Convinced, however, as he
now appears to be, of the general desire among
the Swedes to participate in the present great
struggle, we may rest assured that he will act
agreeably to this impulse, as soon as he shall
be offered guarantees which might, from po-
litical point of view, Justify such step.
The treaty of the 2lst of November, between
Sweden and the Western Powers, though, on
the whole, quite superfuous, might, however,
be hailed as an advance in the right direction,
and as showing Oscars firm resolution to pur-
sue henceforth holder and more national
policy with regard to Russia Indeed, the neu-
trality had become intolerable to the Swedes,
and the King could not hope to maintain it
without losing altogether the esteem of the
nation.
The London Examiner, and journals like it,
may underrate the aid of the Scandinavian
kingdoms; but well-informed and unpreiudiced
persons will not hesitate in admitting that their
cooperation with the Western Powers would
according to all probability, result in the de-
cisive defeat and humiliation of Russia. In.
deed, the fear of an approaching alliance, of
fensive and defensive, between Scandinavia and
France and England, has impeled Austria and
Prussia to new attempts at re-establishing peace
between the belligerent parties
1t is to be observed that, though the Norwe
gians and Danes might prefer the maintenance
OF the neutrality, it might, however, be taken
for granted that they will not; as, indeed, the
former cannot, without breaking the union with
Sweden, refuse to cooperate with the Swedes
in war against Russia.
Let, next spring, landing be effected in
Finland, or somewhere else in the Baltic pos
sessions of Russia, by one hundred thousand
French and twenty thousand English soldiers
under the command of the Emperor of France
in person, or of General Canrobert, and b,
eighty thousand Scandinavians headed by the
Crown Prince of Sweden: and let a naval ar
mament, on the plan and under the Leadership
OF Sir Charles Napier, or some other expert
enced admiral, be collected in the Baltic, to CO
operate with the aforementioned land forces
and let, moreover, an allied reserve corps of al
least fifty thousand men be stationed on the
isle of Gothland-and there can be but very
little doubt that, before the next winter sets in
the fortresses of Sweaborg and Cronstadt shall
have been reduced, the Russian feet in the
Baltic have ceased to exist, and the whole OF
Finland be in the possession of the allies These
hopes may appear extravagant, but / dare,
nevertheless, to assert that there is every prob
ability that they viii be realized, if pusillani.
nous counsels do not get the better of energy
and ability.
There might be persons who will insist upon
the impossibility of the Scandinavian countries
raising so numerous force as eighty thousand
soldiers; but such persons must either be igno-
rant of the real state of affairs in Scandinavia,
or entertain an unjust opinion of the abilities
of the personages that direct the affairs of the
Scandinavian kingdoms.
1t has been stated in some of the German
papers, evidently welded to the interests OF
Russia that the inhabitants of Finland are very
much attached to the Russian rule; but though
this statement may be true with regard to the
office-holders and some of those engaged in
commercial pursuits, it is altogether false as to
the great majority of the Finnish nation, who
no doubt, would with the utmost Joy hail the
sight of the beloved colors of Sweden, and
soon hasten to arms, in order to give an efectual
aid in avenging the stealthy manner in which
their native country, more than forty four years
ago, became the booty of Russia.
AS no person puts the least confidence in the
rumors of peace that are circulating, all Europe
expects that, during the ensuing summer, great
things will be performed in the Baltic; and so
they will, unless the Governments of France and
England are not, though from very different
reasons, both equally averse to inhict fatal
blow upon Russia in that quarter. The reason
now alluded to, deem prudent at present not
to explain, but will certainly do so, should the
Western Powers send, at the beginning of the
spring, nothing but naval armament to the
Baltic. DIoGENEs.
Scandinavia, Jan. l6, 1856.