The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-09
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
Ispss.l cssrs.poaasas. d .as va.AI..ss.p ralaal

Euope at this moment Is in transition state Every
one able Of looking into the future perceive that the
artificial status quo cannot last that present alliances are
moi based on permanent foundation and that crash
coming om some quarter without precisely ndicar
ting the direction in which the blow is to be struck One
thing is very clearto wit that the Gallo British ai
ance has lost all ID had of what might have been be-
lieyed formidable since the conclusion OF peace with Rus
sia Not only have the relations between France aud
Russia since that period undergone an official change but
very friendly feeling has sprung up between the two
countries embracing not only the sovereigns but also
the people The Russian minister here never fails to be
at the Emperors private parties to which, grieved
to say other ministers only rarely invited and the
press of the two countries which in neither of them is
free nevertheless reflects in its semiocal columns the
kindly feelings of the two governments lie Nord the
Russian organ at Brussels is ocous in its account
(and as ludatory) Of the Emperors journey the Mni
ur itself while the British press since the great
salute at Cherbourg, which momentarily raised the
price Of cotton flor the ears, has been growing at
tho aggressive power of France, and urging the ne
cessy of constructing additional harbos and forth
fcations to correspond to those of the new naval
depot of France On the other hand, a mass OF
pamphlets has left the French press full of the NEST
violent antagonsm to England, threatening vengeance
for past INJURIES and oyeoying in the idea that now
England that latter power whose whole history is
of injustice and usurpaton bound to find her level
and must be the and scouge Of the world
This the burden of all those pamphlets, whose object
can be no other than to keep up the hatred between the
French and English people only increased, not diminish
ed by the gories the battle-iields. While
the ocous press content with stating its hope that the
forfcatons Of Cherbourg will serve to preserve the
peace of Europe which, as explained in my previous
letters has no other meaning than that they will
To put England of the notion of contracting alliances
against Francethe pamphleeers furnish the
that text, showing what England may expect when
France elects to be angry with her None of those pam
phels have been able to earn have yet been
seized by the police, of the pampheteers have been
warned or made to before judicial tribunal The
government OF the Emperor, therefore, has no objection
either TO the writer's readers Of those anti English pam
phets which must the people of England that it
is nothing but the superior skill Of the Emperor which
keeps up the alliance and that in Of rupture
with England would he the most popular thing in
France. &A t2 ti
A French popular has terrors even to the most
martial people; for France has shown during the
of her revolution how much she sacrifice to idea,
and what gigantic material force she develop and
ganize for that purpose The military organization of
France at this period is probably better than it
at the most brilliant period of her history and her
naval armament is far in advance of the old monarchy,
the republic the empire France has probably at this
time the most efficient steam navy In the world No
such screwsteam ne-of battle ship the Nupoeon
lists the opposite Of the channel and such immense
materials for bnildng have been accumulated in any
other country If France, from her inferior merchant
marine, has not the number Of sailors, if her
sailors are inferior to those Of England she has no dis
naval force and may thus turn her whole disposabe
navy to single object Her thirty ships the
line and forty frigates may, for a short voyage, be
armed with inferior sailors for in struggle with Eng
land France will not carry protracted war and
fgateeng naval engagements in distant parts Of the
world The naval battle will be fought in the channel
If fought at ALL and will only to afford the natural
power of France, which is military, opportunity
of being speedily brought into action If this is not
the thought of the Emperor, why has he given
orders for building twenty new transports, each
capable Of carrying $500 men, $50 horses and 200
tons of provisions When that fleet Of transports shall
be readythe first, the Cayados has just been launched
at Lorientthere will be fleet of transports capable of
transporting $4,000 men, 5000 horses, and carrying
"a 600 tons of provisionsa military power quite su
cient to alarm the rural or commercial population Of
any country We will hope that all these immense prep
Or the Emperors words ''to prevent the me-
cessy of fighting another battle of Wagnm " but there
is more than Interpretation both to the Emperors
speech and to his preparations for ware enterprises If
the Emperor of the French really acts on the Roman
maxim Isl us pacen pcrd Jeln he may also make the
preparation for Roman purposes. 3A t'lAt
It can nevertheless be hardly denied that the rela-
tons between France and Germany are far from being
cordAft1Ad battle of Wagram is not altogether impos-
sble Between France and Austria no cordiaty has ex
ed since the opening of the conferences regard to the
Danubian principalities Neither Baron Hubner here,
nor Baron dc Bourlueney in Vienna is holding very
Siable position. Austria, it Is well known, is fully pre-
pared for any contingency by large standing army
which the deficit of AZ million forms s21 600 O00) will
not admit of but by such efficient corps of officers and
means of forming army within the short
est notice will place her in position to defend her
self, II need be- against France and Russia both
But Austria alone is no match for two such pow
ers as France and Russia, and hence the rcnun-
oation of the old policy of Metternch which consisted
N isolation and the development of Austria in
dependent European power and the constant cndcavor of
The present statesmen in Vienna to gain for Austria po
'on in Germany, that attack upon her shall
'ha the whole Germanc confederation into the field
Tho great antagonist Of this policy, up to this point has
been Prussia, and it is shrewdIy suspected by some
'f the older dos here that the journey of the Queen
England TO Berlin may not have been undertaken
ar as the alyice Of ministers went without the object of
onciiating the two rival powers of Germany and de-
aching Prussia from Russa. The King of Prussia, it is
low pretty well ascertined will not abdicto aud thus
ne Prince Of Prussia will only be made the Regent Of