The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-10
Dying Struggles OF the AnglO-French Al.
fuIse,

|
Our latest files from Europe contain the an
rcuUcenent that the Emperor Napoleon is about
to abandon the great works of armament aud
fortifcatiou which were begun some time since
at Cterbourg for fear Of wounding the suscepti-
BILE feelings Of his ally John Bull We also
hear Of rumor that Queen Victoria, besides
her visit TO her daughter at Berlin, is to spend
| few days this summer in France, as the guest Of
The Emperor. Simultaneously With these au-
| aouncements we note the removal Of NJ Renee,
on-in law of M. Mocquart, the Emperors pri-
vate secretary, from his post as director Of the
Constitutional, in consequence of the offensive
article published in that journal on the verdict
Of the London jury in the case Of Bernard; the
enthusiastic reception Of the Duke of Malakoff
at Dover, and his warm welcome by the army
and navy Of England at the United Service
Club These are the signs Of the times
They indicate beyond question that the peoples
of England and trance are tired Of the alliance
and that the governments are struggling, might
Al main, to prevent rupture between the two
countries 1t is the old story Of the entente cor
dale Of Louis Phi!ippes time revived afresh.
Monsieur GuiZot's description Of the incessant
struggle that was waged, during his ministry
in France between himself and the British
government On the one side and the British
and French peoples on the other, the govern
ments Of both countries trying to keep the peace
between them, while the rank and file of the
two nations were frantic for war-this descrip
ton, old as ii is will answer admirably for the
contest now pending in Europe. These Euro
pean journals which believe or affect to believe
that the Emperor Napoleon meditates trcach-
irving the ruin Of the alliance, are evidently
in error; experience end common sense are alike
conclusive against such theory. The Empc-
ror, like the British government, desires peace
il is the masses in both countries which are
clamorous for war.
The reason is exceedingly simple In add
ton to the hereditary national prejudice which
inspires hatred between the two nations, there
are at this time great antagonistic principles
involved in the political institutions of the two
countries, and short o. is the distance between
them and rapid the transmission OF intelligence
from one to the other, so long as those princi-
Piles continue to lie antegonistic they will be
source of perpetual disturbance between them.
The French have their sg,arsvnf bonuu,, which is
glory; the English theirs, liberty. Each of
these is paramount in the minds of its respec-
tive adherents the Frsnchman will sacrifice
everything, even liberty, for glory; the English
man will yield even glory for liberty. a French
mans dearest wish il to I'll the world with the
noise Of his exploits, to .ramplc some foreign
people under foot, and to seize their lard
20 he achieves these ends, he will not
grumblc even though, or his return home, he
i've himself as badly enslaved as the foreigner
by common tyrant An Englishman, on the
contrary. sets his first thoughts to the work of
securing what he considers the practical evi-
press, right OF assembling, right Of suffrage
and political representation. When be has got
all these things, he may think OF glory and
conquest, too: but only subordinately and he
will not pursue them If they look a. though
they would endanger his liberty. More than
this, be cannot conceal his contempt for people
who 10 not share his idea Of aud love for liber-
~. When he sees the French submit to the
rule of a dcspot, and cheer him as he passes, he
dcspiscs and hates them in his heart; though
not moro heartily than they despise him for his
lack Of military enthusiasm. and his grovelling
tendency 10 trade and shopkccping.
II is this radical difference between the men,
tai characteristics of the two nations which,
superaddcd 10 hereditary antagonisIn. renders
il 80 monstrously difficult n thing TO keep the
peace between them. II the English would set
up n despotic Emperor, or The French would
honestly and soherly set about governing them
selves, the task Of maintaining the alliance
would he child's play; but 30 long as the ma.
tional currents Of thought run In such OF.
posite directions, John Bull will despi.e
Johnny Crapeau, and Johnny Crspcau
will long ~ strike bis sword or his bayonet into
John Full. The difference j. we'll illustrated by
81 glance at our own relations with England.
Between the people of the United States and the
people of Great Britain a decided national an
tpathy exists. In ordinary times. when reason
has full sway. this is kept under control and odt
of sight: though il can be brought out by events.
and made very violent. Blit whereas in this
case, to get up q war feeling against England
here, or against thu United States in England
il would be necessary to 60 about and agitatc
AMI infiamc and stir up The popular mind, and
would, in any event. be work Of labor aad
time, The difficulty between France and England
Is TO keep down not TO arousc-thc war feel
ing. The reason is that our public principles
arc. in the mair, analogou. TO those Of the Eng
lish while those Of The French are. as we showed,
Numerically OPPOSITE.
This tendency Of Tie Anglo Gallic mind
TO fight Its next ncighJor has been The
rock on which many governments both Of
France and England have split The people in
both countries are always ready to accuse their
,,nVoruutopt of t~ttcl-1;r,, a. ~ c......- II.