The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-12

Imo An8AOrTIemc0 A1110nces
The split which has Just occurred between the
press Of London and the newspaper organ Of the
French Emperor is certain to be construed as q
forerunner of disruption Of the Anglo French
alliance. We may be sure that for some weeks
to come we shall by every mail hear that Lord
Palmerston and the Emperor have been on the
point of rupture, and that the French are agi-
tated at the prospect Of new war. When the
Congress meets, and the delicate questions Of
Naples, the Belgian press, Greece, arise, and are
warmly discussed no doubt some foundation for
similar rumors viii be afforded; and that founda-
ton will be exaggerated in proportion to the eff
forts made by the French authorities to keep
matters secret.
At bottom, there is a curious analogy between
he Anglo French alliance and the confederacy
between the Northern and Southern States of
America. The French and English have COM
pact between them, which is the treaty Of ALI
ance; the Northern and Southern States also
have compact between them, which is the con-
stitution. Both compacts impose obligations and
confer rights upon each party to them. Both en-
deavor, as far as possible, to remove causes of
dssension, and to assimilate the interests of the
contracting parties. Both are regarded by con-
servaties with respect as compacts not by
any means to be broken on trivial reasons.
But strong as they are, and much as
they are valued by sensible people,
neither Of these compacts has succeeded in wholly
assimilating the two contracting parties, or even
removing what mutual Jealousy and reciprocal
prejudice existed between them before they were
formed. The French, as allies of the English
speak of them more disparagingly than they did
in the time of the elder Napoleon; the politicians
and editors Of the Southern States use language
in reference to the North which they would not
venture to use if the two were separated.
Neither in the one case nor in the other has the
compact interfered with social and domestic in
situations. The British, as allies of the French,
beg to be excused from approving the course by
which the Emperor gained his throne, or the
principles on which his government is based;
Northern men, such as Senator Douglas voting
for the Union, wish to be distinctly understood
as having no liking for slavery The alliance in
the one case, like the confederacy in the other is
finite and specific; it cannot be used for any
other purposes than those for which it was origi-
nally formed. The English must be careful not
to trouble themselves about French finance, OF
the revenue system, OF the Emperor, for these are
matters which the treaty does not embrace; and
Northern philanthropists must have care lest
they feel emotion at the burning of negro; for
the constitution does not provide for any such
outburst of feeling.
The comparison can be carried good
deal farther. England, with its free press,
is yoked to France, where freedom of the press
does not exist; and in like manner, the Northern
States, where every man may say what he pleases,
are bound to the Southern States, where no man
may say nything but what the ruling politicians
please. But speech is one Of those uncommonly
subtle essences which tyrants can never bind or
crush. Free speech rising into British air perme-
ates the Channel and all the barriers Of custom
houses police, gems darmes post Office spies and the
other appliances Of despotism cannot keep it out
Of France, which for the matter Of imperial Sc
curity might as well have q free press Of its
own. At this, the master exclaims threatens
tries to bully; and convulses the mercantile CON-
munity OF England. Just so our Northern jour
mails, not having the fear Of the Southern politi
clans before their eyes, write freely on public
matters, and say at times, things which are not
pleasant to the ear Of the chivalry at Columbia or
Mhledgeyille; and thus freighted with mischief,
they find their way into the South in spite, there
too, Of safety committees, dishonest pos.masters,
furious demagogues and lynch law. Whereat, as
before, the master-here nondescript asscmblage
Of ranting politicians exclams in his wrath;
threatens-the only thing he can-dislnion:
busters: deals with the North, in short, precise
ly as Louis Napoleon deals with the English Tor
the like offence.
The most curious part Of the whole Of this
curious analogy will he TO watch its last results.
Here, as this last election Of ours has taught US,
the threats Of the Southern Master, though
empty enough and windy enough to experienced
ears, were so terrible sound to the merchant
and the trader Of the middle States, that the
knees Of these worthy citizens smote together,
their backbone yielded, and they bent Ia humble
supplication before their lord in the South.
Will II be 20 in England? Once before, Louis
Napoleon contrived, by well timed remon-
STRANGE to frighten the trading class, aDl
through them operated on the Tines. He may
very possibly repeat the manGuvre. Our
traders are said to have as much backbone as
the English; we sec how easily they we're bul-
lied and made to lick the dirt; no doubt the
English will do the same, and before long the
TINES may have changed its tone.
Az INSIDE VIEW or NEw York POLITICIANS
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