Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-29
Warlike Preparatfonsi I'm France what
does Ii all Mean.
[Frorn De London 7in.es.

w aElIke TcpafaI1On Ms HI r rance WIFE,
does IL all Mean.
l. From the London 7intes)
For what purpose, or in what quorrel,
against whomOr for whom, we know not, France
is undoubtedly arming scale, with a me-
thod; a system and deliberation, truly for
midable to all her neighbors whether, like
ourselves, they have the good fortune to be
| sheltered from the impending storm under
| the outrageous branches of an entente cordiaLe
| whether; like Belgium, Piedmont and Spain,
in the consciousness of their inability to resist
| they listen with no unreasonable trepidation
| for the first howl of the coming tempest. or
like Austria. they know not how soon they
| may be compelled to fight for their dOminions
| against brave and we'll disciplined enemy.
| France is certainly armng, and arming both
| by land and sea. Her army, already large, is
undergoing considerable increase. She is
just on the point of completing a railway
which connects all her military stations with
the Qualifications of Cherbourg, a post con-
structed at enormous pains and at a vast ex-
| pense, and possessing every facility that skill
can devise for the Simultaneous embarkation
| OF very large bodies of troops France Is, be-
sides, busily engaged in the construction of a
| great steam feet, armed and propelled on the
very best aud newest principles at present de-
| veloped by the art of war; she is gathering
| up her colossal strength, and would appear to
be on the eve of some vast enterprise, in the
prosecution of which that strength is to be
put forth to the utmost. Not only is the mi
litary element studiously strengthened and in
creased but it is beginning to assert FREEDOM
nance over civilians which shows itself
more and more every day, and naturally
makes us anxious about our relations with a
country in which the balance is so complete
ly pressed down by the superior weight of
the military class.
1t If in vain that we seek for ANYTHING in
the present condition of France which can ac-
count for the remarkable proceedings to which
we most unwillingly allude. The finances of
the country are in state that must render
any naval or military expenditure not absO-
lntely called for by necessity or honor pecu-
liarly inexpedient. The people of England
have no wish nearer their hearts than to
| main on the very best terms with their formid-
able and warlike neighbor, and we are sure
that there is no country in Europe which would
regard a rupture with France with any other
feelings than those of the most genuine alb
| horrence and dismay. We can not believe
for moment that the enormous preparations
which France is making are intended for de-
fensive warfare, for there is not the slightest
symptom of wish in any quarter to attack
her. Her form of government agrees entire
~ with the notions entertained 10y the Gov
ernments of the greater part of Europe, and
we in England have long learned to renounce
the QuiXotic notion of forcing our own ideas
upon other nations. If France is happy we
are content she should be so in her own way,
aud desire nothing but to see her great, peace
full, and prosperous. Why, then, is France
| arming.
| 1t may be that the peculiar form of gov
! eminent in which France has seen fit to in
| dulge necessitates some increase of the army
| for purposes of domestic repression, and we
would much rather believe it is so than sup
| pose she is marsh alling her forces for some
| foreign war; but, if we grant that the army
| is increased for the purpose OF insuring dOmes-
| tic tranquility, on what ground are we to
account for the corresponding and contem-
poraneOus augmentation of her feet? The
| navy has always been favOrite force in Eng
| land because, among other reasons it is
force which cannot readily be used for the
purpose of coercing the people. In France
the same principle must apply, and We are at
| a loss to know for what pacific purpose a
| large steam navy is being prepared. France
| has but few colonies, and those of inconsidcr-
| able extent. She has no large foreign com
| merce to protect, no refractory India to re-
| conquer and rcOrganiZe. She has nothing TO
| fear from descent on her coasts from any
| foreign Power. Why, then, is France aIming
and augmenting her navy?
We have right to ask the question; for,
whatever be the enemy against whom the
thundorbolt is forged, there is no doubt that
these warlke preparations in time of pro-
found peace tend to infiict upon us, in com
mon with the rest of our neighbOrs, many of
the calamities and miseries OF war. If France
will insist on increasing her armies and her
navies, she forces us, her neighbors and her
allies, to do the same. We hare 10 much at stake
1cit tbs little island Of 10 be content too e1tst
Jy The permission and on the suferGnce Of dny dlly
hOceUer Jaahful-of any foreign Prince. hOareUer
nadgr,dntD,Ous. History warns us against in
curing the fate of those nations who have
trusted the power Of the sword in other hands
than those in which they were content to
trust their freedom. If France is determined
to arm we must either be content to lie at her
mercy or prepare to arm to- If she increases
her regular army we can hardly do less than
call out and embody our militia. If she in
ssts upon increasing her navy, she forces us
most unwillingly. from the barest considera-
tiOns of prudence, to undergo the expense of
a channel fleet We would. then, take the
liberty respectfully to submit to the Emperor
Napoleon that il is the sincere wish of this
country to be his good friend and true ally;
that to this end we have made many sacrifices,
and are prepared 10 make many more; but he
asks too much of us if he expects that he is at
once to enjoy whatever power, support, or in
fucnce his alliance with England may give
him, and at the same time to inict upon us
by his vast military and naval preparations
a war expenditure which we are most unwil-
ling to incur, and which casts upon US many
of the evils Of IA state of actual hOstilities.
In politics many things apparently discordant
may be made compatible, but il Is impossible
that two powerful and ncighbOring nations
can at the same time he arming against each
o h,r al d united cl Sc alliance and cordi ii