New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-14
A EUROPEAN CONGRESS.

If the rumor brought by the Arabia, that Russia
demands the conyOcatiOn Of general congress,
should prove true, then such declaration or move
ought to be considered as mastery act on the part
of the otherwise decrpit Russian diplomacy
This is simply check aimed at England as Louis
Bonaparte can have few if any, real objections to
such a decision. The Congress will of course
take place in Paris TO the great delight of French
amour propre. 1t will attract numbers Of diplo-
mats intermediates and travellers. BY this means
a current of gold from all parts of the world will
set toward Paris. The manufacturer and shop
keeper will find rich and easy booty and the working
classes ard day y-aborers additional rewards. The
central advantages will be diiiused over the country
and interpreted by the creatures Of the usurper
rebound to bis glory. AS we have before said, his
fame as leading the Peace Conferences or the ses-
siODs of European Congress, will be made to
suIpass that of his uncle. Everything, therefore,
can tend Only to Increase and strengthen the hold
of Louis Napoleon over majority of Frenchmen
&C all classes and partes and accordingly, he must
hail with pleasure Congress the probability of
which month ago he himself suggested.
Francis Joseph, too, cannot object TO participate
in such Congress- composed of European mon
archs or their attorneys and representatives, where
Louis Napoleon and Alexander H. will sustain the
prominent parts; where only kings will be per-
formers and where the word liberty will not be
breathed, except perhaps in connection with Brit
isb Free trade. The last hope Of the liberals and
of the natiODalties will be- stihed by its proceed
ipgs All this will aid the Hapsburgs, and, ID
word, the Congress will be as absolutist and con-
seryatiye as was the great one of Vienna or the
smaller of Verona.
Russia, demanding such Congress, and prOmis-
ing on her honor to abide by its decisions, probably
les not run any risk that it will turn against
her, Louis Napoleon, in his celebrated speech at
the Exposition of last year. appealed to the opinion
OF Europe; and by this-the opinion of France in
cluded in it being such as he permissible old
afiDities Of France and Russia will very likely be
confirmed. This is not at all improbable the more
SO as there exists near relationship between the
rephcws of Alexander H., through his sister, the
Grand Duchess of Leuchtenberg and Louis Napo-
leon. AT q Congress, Russia will find most of the
German as well as Italian sOyercigns friendly
disposed, and Of course her diplomats will not
propose anything in the least dstasteful to the
French Emperor.
1t is very likely that Russia may offer to disman-
tie NickOlsief, suggesting that the same be done
by England with respect to HeligOland. This
island, menacing the whole Of Germany, domineer-
ing over all her northern estuaries, was detached
from that country by the Treaty of Vienna, aud its
possession by England as an armed stronghold has
caused continual uneasiness to German sovereigns
as well as to German patriots. Who knows but
the Russian diplomats may 60 step further, and
suggest or claim, in the name of the equilibrium of
Eur, pc and of the security of the Mediterranean
States the dismantling of Gibraltar and Malta, to
all OF which France Spain, and the Italian States,
above all, Naples, will find no objection. England
has no friends among the Continental Powers, and
this last war has contributed nightly to lower the
prestige once exercised by hers while the offensive
language Of her press and her politicians has Gre
ated much irritation. Prussia and other German
powers. Denmark, Naples, Greece, Tuscany, Aus
tria and Spain. will seize the occasion of such a
Congress to repay England for old oaenses. En-
gland seems TO be aware that her position before
such body would be isolated, where she could
rely ouy on Portugal and Coburg, or in some
degree on Sardinis, since Sweden would probably
follow France The news BY the Arabia, there
fore, reports truly that the idea Of Congress has
aroused great uneasiness among English statesmen,
ard that Lord Cowley hurried from Paris TO Lon
don for new instructions.