The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-23
THE REFUGEE QUESTION IN FNGL,vn


Since the recent atrocious attempt upon the life
ol 'he Emperor OF the French, there has been much
excitement both IN France and England on the sub
ect OF the asylum afforded by the latter country to
refugees from the Continent. The subioined ax-
tracts-the one from the London Economist. and tbe
other from Scotch paper, sufficiently indicate.
however, the feeling with which the peonle and
press OF England would regard any demand on tho
part OF the French Government for the eytradition
OF expulsion OF suspected aliens Louis NAPOLEON
himself, for many years the recipent of British hos
pitality, and of the asylum afforded by EnoIisb law
probably understands the temper and nenius of tho
people and institutions of that country far battor
than his over-zealous adherents such as De Mornv
and Persigny, than the recent tone of his month
piece, the Aoaite"r, would lead one to suppose.
The Economist (January 23) savs:-
All Englishmen must rejoice heartily in the fail
ure OF the detestable plot to assassinae the Empe
r0r OF France. There is, perhaps no man livino
whose whose NE IS OF so much value to France and Eu-
rope, as that of the Emperor of the French Not
that we sympathise with his system. or greatly adj
mlre ms regtme; but because his is at least n firm
ana sensible government fixed centre of order
amla the nuctuatIng waves Of French political
oplmon-a strong and sagacious administrator
amidst much weakness and follv-a government in
short, that actually governs and knows its own
mind But Count de Morny is not content with ex-
Il
he would command the svmpathy NOT omI,- Of
France, but of Engand-he adds foolish and i'm
pertinent sarcasm on the policy of England becausa
she has mot the power to destroy these nests of
sasslnS, because she does not violate the claws of
hospitality in the of men who turn ont to hn
less men than 'wild beasts.' We do not believe
that this imprudent and impudent reflection on the
traditional poilcy OF England, have found any
approval IN the mind of the Emperor who retains
we doubt not, generous and cordial recollection Of
the time when the policy extended IFS shelter
to himself. And, indeed, the remark fell with liz
tie htness from the President of French Legisa-
tive Assembly, who ought to have still vividiy be-
fore his mind the multitudes of all political opnions
whom State persecution has driven within the last
seventy years to take refuge on the shores of Emo
handsome OF them Rovalists, and some of them
hepuohcans-some OF them partisans of constitu-
uonal assembly, some of them advocates of Social
lst anarchy Certainly France is not the nation to
complain of the refuge which England affords to no
htlcal eXlleS. Count de MOrnv must well know that
England cannot act in one way at one time and in
another way at another time. If she is to anprn
hend ON susplcon-to overhcar every word of con-
splracy-to track every thought of resistance to
established authority which is cherished On bor
soil-she must alter her policy towards Royalit and
Republican Legitimist and Anarchist alike She
cannot shelter the Napoleonist and imprison tba
Bourbon; she cannot set spies the leaders of the
Red Republicans unless she also set spics on tbn
leaders of the Orleanists-nay should the ImnoriaI
dynasty of France ever cease to be the one in pow
err unless she also set spies all its adherents who
may pe suspected OF organising a return. to power
upon our shores. Unless England is To cease to bo
what she has been to all the parties which have co
long divided France-Royaists and Girondists
and Bonapartists, and Oreansts, and Socialists-he
cannot undertake or attempt to destroy these nests
of assassins. Without shacking the liberty Of the
exile, there is no mode of either discovering or nra
venting secret conspiracy; and Count de M0rny
must well Know that it is impossible in England TO
apply one polcy to one set Of exies and another
policy to another. Yet if ever there were conn
try that as whole owes gratitude to the generous
traditions of English hospitality that country is
France: hlther came the Huguenots during the
time OF Louis the Fourteenth, and hither came the
priests In the time of the Revolution The old no
bes, whose chateaux were forfeited bv the Conven-
ton came to England to bide their time: the onint
lddle classes followed during the Reign of Terror
those VINO made themselves obnoxious to the first
emperor found refuge here; those who adhered to
his policy and dreaded his successors were eanoII,,
welcome; twice has French king recently found
hospitality in England: and French statesmen Of
every class have turned to England in thoir mood
Does Count de Morny suppose that if ENGLAND
adopted different policy, such Infamous rIets ~
these could be suppressed? Would not the United
States, or any spot on the globe however diston+
serve equally well for such macbinations9- -tbourI
they would surely not serve equally well for the
poor political refugee, flying from the sudden storm
Go S F[eRfn ar revolution. 1t is certain that the
mentary truth, that freedom of any kind imnles tbo
power to abuse freedom; and that for ENGLAND 70
protect France against 'wild beasts' is only posi-
bor,,,Io-, oos4.' - '9AiS shtiler llsO 10 the more
harmless harmless creatures whom wild beasts so often
pursue to their destruction 'eN
The North British Naa, (Glasgoag. J in a similar
spirit, says:
Against the seizure of British Journals in France.
we have nothing to say. The French Government
Is entitled as far the writers and printers of tbis
country are concerned to take what step it pleases
nf l ta respect just as it may prohibit the import
o Prsn IRON or silks, may it prohibit the import
OF British newspapers. The suppression even of a
lew French journals interests us but little. and at
she s utmost can only draw from political reec
OF such acts; and, viewed from anv no;nt hon,,d
the charmed circle of Imperialism, they are certain
" not complimentary to Napoleon Ill. and indicate
a, weak rather than strong sceptre in France. OF
,ns dooq question however, we are not the practical
Juuses' "n" II must De left to those whom it most