The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-21

correspondence Il he New York ADVERTISER
LYNDON, May 4, 1863 Although, perhaps there has
rarely been critical period IN the world history
thsn the present nothing exceed the quietne Of our
political condition Coz the The liberation Of
the Derby ministry is strained 10 the point No
expects the slightest act from them Ii felt that II
they were 10 act il would be only TO make bunders
dead pause Is therefore, what all parties striving
Hence there policy no boIlness OF opinion on any
side Only undgnied espionage Of each party upon
the other and waiting upon Providence for sad
den contingency that shall turn the scale in favor OF any
one OF them
Meanwhile in France whatever aims are contemplated
being steadily carried forward under one despotc will
Let the inference be what ii may the intention
the preparations In progress, there be doubt as
the unity of purpose with which they being pushed
forward Two days ago the announcement was made
that AS 900 young soldiers still available under the con
scnpton OF 1886, are TO be called Immediately into active
service The strength Of the army previously greater
than at any former period of the rule of Louis Napoleon
and whether this addition Is to he considered to possess
any significance may be left to individual opinion 1t
can scarcely be to keep down the people since the idea
OF any general outbreak In France nowhere entertain
ed and the utmost danger to be apprehended is that
which arises from republican minority, still cordially
detesed by all other parties and therefore capable Of be-
ing coerced by very moderate number of regular troops
Neither can IL be to dazzle the public by pleasing page
antry, since impression ia obviously gaining ground
TINT the military and other expenses of the State
Stunning unpleasant proportions.
Nor is it consistent with any assumption that II is the
Wish OF the Emperor to preserve peace. Those who
fuse to believe that he is nourishng long meating
design of foreign aggression argue that he has difficult
part to play to concate the soiery and that such at
tacks al he seemingly encourages England Austria
Belgium, &C. are intended to keep them amused that
he himself earnestly desires to avoid rupture and that
the only danger is lest he should be forced into 1t by
those around him. But if this be the case If his per-
pextes consist in keeping the military from mischief
why does he add To their number If it il difficult to
caole 500 600 into conented performance Of the
part of policemen what the prospect with $50 000f
1t is curious fact that from the various sections of
society who refuse to believe that there any ground
apprehension in England respecting the designs OF Louis
Napoleon not single rational attempt has yet been
made to explain what is going The gigantic and
paraeled preparations in the ports and the pressure
upon the population the fleet and supply recruits
for the army should at least be accompanied by the
ory to show that they not purposelcss As the fleet
cannot be wanted to attend to the republicans whose
necessities can be fully met by few transport
vessels to the island of Cayenne, there would in the
absence of novel suggestion, be no alternative
but to consider it intended either for aggression or de-
fence If all idea of the former is repuelated against
whom is it necessary to raise bulwarks Is England
likely to attack France just for episode while
settling affairs in the East Or is Austria
which power has hardly great ship ahoat, supposed
entertain deep designs of bombarding Cherbourg Tou
Ion Those who disturbed by present prospects
would be thoroughly happy to be convinced that they
are wrong The people who entertain the strongest
conviction that danger is imminent belong mostly to the
class OF quiet and independent observers whom
would bring nothing but loss. In the army and navy
it is the policy for the moment to ridicuIe the idea
Toasts to the French Emperor and the alliance still
the order Of the day and among political pcrsonages
In quarter therefore, where fear expressed is the
wish father to the Thought Any other solution of the
symptoms that presented would be eagerly caught
None however, IL offered.