The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-02
e Feeling between England and France.

of March We gather the annexed nom the news brought
by her.
The Feeling between England and France.
Correspondence Of the n Y. Commercial Adyeri=erl
LONDON March 10, 1858.
The events of the past week although not Of striking
Importance furnish additional indications of the storm
approaching in Europe.
The last mail took out the announcement of the so
called settlement the msconception between France
and England the refugee question copy OF threat
enng manifesto from France to Switzerland and the de-
cson of the Court of Cessation rejecting the appeal OF
the consprators, Orsni and Pier who accordingly
left for death,
In the subsequent interval the final despatch of Count
Walcws terminating the correspondence, which he had
commenced by deuouncng the liberty allowed to exles
in England, has been Published and although Mr. Dis
rae in the House of Commons behalf of the Derby
government, has thought proper to describe it most
satisfactory document, which brings the matter TO
point alike honorable both countries il In reality
offensive as any Of the productions by which it had been
preceded from the pen Count Walewski evidently
that unless he prepared to pretpltate the hos
tile designs of his imperial master, he must for the mo-
abandon the demands lately made since the people
of England would otherwise throw them back in his face
but his object TO make this retreat In manner which
should enable France, at convenient time to rccur to
the circumstances under which it has occurred, with
proclaim to the world the grievances she has en-
dnred rather than abruptly break the alliance.
Accordingly Count Walews merely states that he issor
ry that any expressions USED should have been regarded
intentional Insults to the English people that his only
intention to ask for certain remedies against the con
duct of the refugees in this country which he considered
the Emperor friendly ally entitled to claim that
he would to the mode of applying the remedy
and that with this ntimation the Emperor wished the
subject to drop
1t will thus be observed that instead Of Withdrawing
his demand for remedy against OUT refugee system,
he absolutely rceraes ii in the strongest way The only
alteration that whereas the Emperor lately notified that
if the measure was refused such refusal would cndanger
the alliance he leaves it to the people of England to
provide according to their discrcot After the lapse
of little while that is to say as he has com
petcd all the warlike preparations which are being has
tened he will perhaps remind Europe that although he
thus manifested the most generous forbcarance we have
failed requite by the requisite confessions and that
such conduct s intolerabc it Is England aud not
France that must bear the reproac Of having betrayed
the cause civilization and rendered the continuance Of
the alliance impossible TO quote the triumphant words
Of the Pays, in leading article published under the
sanction Of the French government this despatch Tex
plains everything and retracts nothing.
The whole scheme has been adroit, but in America
probably it will be entirely transparent Only in this
country and chiefly among the Exchange specula
tors who have always admired that sagacity the part
of the Emperor which in their eyes something better
than morality any great deusion likely to be created
by it, The spectators in question and certain set OF
tory politicians who always admire dcspot however
they may pretend to the contrary VIII doubtless ne
fooled to the last
The threats addressed by France 10 Switzerland have
been OF the most undsguiscd description, and that
public has found it expedent to attend to them BY send
ing all refugees to the interior In the Monaeur OF
teray 1t is pointed out that the demand for the removal
Of refugees from any frontier where they prove dan
gerous is strictly justified by international law The French
official oga however, fails to show that II y according
to precedent make such demands in tone Of naughty
| menace.
As provocative to the Emperor Is beginning t.
initiate the example of his uncle by complaining Of the
English newspapers by the nhabitanso OF free and
stitutional countries 1t will Of be that such
complaints from their wart of logic absolutely child
ish and that nothing but the wish for prcext would
cause them to be resorted to.
The press is free and the French government have
more right complain Of nything in English news
papers than of any remarks that might be uttered by
Mr. Smith or Mr.. Brown If any Journal exceeds thu
limit of fair statement it is open to prosecution io
libel and there be doubt the Emperor if he real,
had ground go npon would ut get verdict be
cause the public have sufficient indsposition against being
| dragged into a by ndiscreet or abusive editor
But our laws not sufficient for Louis Napoleon IL,
wants the newspapers to be warned and this
Piled with he would then want Smith and Brown, nm,
individuals who might chatter in the street and criticis
| his career to be subjected to a similar process
The fact is that general rule our newspapers have
been remarkably discreet throughout all recent discus
sions the only serious fault they have committed con
sisting in constant and nsincce illusions to the wisdom
and fithiuncss of the Emperor accompanied by assump
tons that most of the Objectionable policy now being
carried out is the work Of himself but Of the people
who surround him The real grievance lies IN their rim
pc narration historical facts and also of those Of hour,
| occurrence.
Thus a series of extracts lately given in the Times
from the published works Of the Emperor himself writ
ten in the days Of Louis Philippe dcnouncing all kinds
arbitrary government and every restriction on the free
dom of sreech and writing, has raised active mi
mostly at the Tuvrics than could have been excited b,
| any succession Of editorial diatiibes
The reproducpn also of the facts connected with The
Swiss defence Of the right of asylum, when in 1898 Lou
pbiIippe threatened them with for shccring tn,
present Emperor Napoleon, has contributed desperately Il
the same feeling especially French troops
then rs now concentrated the Swiss frontier and the
hostile demand was made by the Duke Of AIontebcllo
who was then most devoted servant TO the citizen King
and is now actually the minister of Louis Napoleon at the
| court of st Pctcrsburgh.
IL seems marvellous to me that under all these com
plications any doubt what il coming on chan
mel of twenty miles divides two countries every movement
in one Of which IL dramatically opposed to the policy
the other Liberty and despotsm are, in fact jostling
| each other and although liberty notwithstanding all
the charges against her, an mhodmcnt of discretion
| and would If she were allowed, gladly comport her
self 30 as to keep her elbows from the sides of he,
sensitive neighbour il is out Of the question for her
| do
If she IS quiet she is mcdtating plot if she show,
animation She intends IN insult She can neither look
| forward nor sideways nor stand nor sit lie down
without mourning charge Of reasonable dcmonstra
ton against her faithful ally, who for the sake Of Ecu
ropcan civilization values her friendship above every
thing Let the history of the world tell how long such
| uxtaposition has ever peaceaby continued.
Some people after studying that history disposed
in the present to allow about two monthsa period
to be slightly shortened extended in proportion the
avccs from India may render IL expedcnt for MS TO be