The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-09

LIS-O0mc
When will the opponents of despotism learn
that the cause of liberty was never yet ad-
vanced by the aid of the assassin! Each sue
cessive attempt to remove obstacles to the
propagandism of liberal ideas, by such cowardly
instruments, only helps to rivet more closely
the chains of the oppressed. Thusthe result of
the late dastardly conspiracy against the life of
Louis Napoleon, so far from helping the French
and Italian republicans, has only confirmed the
dlstrust with which their past conduct was
viewed. The success of the EmperOr's political
system has been entirely owing to the Ill use
which the revolutionary party made OF their
power in 1848. The excessive development of
the repressive features of that system were,
however, beginning to excite feeling of
general discomfort, and might, possibly, have
led to trouble, but for this abominable and III
timed scheme of Ledru Rollin and his con-
federates. Whatever dissatisfaction might
have existed in the public mind of France
against the Emperor's government pre-
vious to the explosion of this conspiracy,
it is evident that it has been swamped in the
sentiments of indignation and horror which it
has everywhere excited The repeated attempts
made on Louis Philippe's life only served to
confirm bis power; and were it not for his own
faulty and corrupt tendencies his family might
still be in the enjoyment Of the throne. With
ruler so astute and plant as Louis Napoleon,
however, the advantages thus obtained will not
, e lost. Both at home and abroad they will be
-. de to subserve the advancement of his policy
49, he consolidation of his dynasty. We see the
$50. IF it in the strong expressions of SYM
pothr hich this attempt has ELECTED, not
an,u f.o. II classes of his people, but from the
1891 hoo, Is of Europe and the whole of the
Thee can ,,e r.. greater proof of the general
estimation in which the Emperor's abilities are
held than n. far, that these fluctuations
have in almost every iI~. 'nce been accompanied
by assurances of the high, sense entertained of
his services in the cause of h r'pean peace ana
order. This language in thtN ''u'nS Vi rulers
like the Gear, the King of Pm Ssla ana the
Pope, means of course that Lou,s \ >apoieon Is
the incarnation of the despotic presc. pie, anu
that his life is Of the highest importsact 70 luz
and German press, it means something more.
1t shows the disrepute and disfavor into which
republican theories have fallen throughout
Europe through the misconduct OF Mazzini and
his associates. Thus the cause Of liberty on the
European continent has been arrested for an
indefinite period by the folly and recklessness
of few misguided individuals, whilst the
-c a., I'D b,g kaop
Gated, less from its own appositenees to che cx-
listing state OF things, than from the deplorsble
mistakes of the sclfconstitutsd apostles of free
dom.
But ii is not merely in the retardation cc their
progress that liberal ideas in Europe have sus-
tanned shock from this fasco of the Italian con-
spirators.
The abuse made Of their hospitality by the
Continental refugees may lead to considerable
modification in the opinions of the English peo-
pie as to the extent to which they are justified
in granting shelter to political conspirators and
assassins. Already We see from the articles in
the London journals that this question is being
seriously debated, and even the Morning Post,
the personal organ of the Premier, expresses
the opinion that If the government has not the
power under the extradition convention to de-
liver up persons no& in England who may be
proved to have been accomplices in this conspi-
racy, an act of Parliament should be passed to
enable them to do so. As Lord Palmerston de-
clared on recent occasion that under none Of
the existing laws could foreign refugees be ex-
PEELED the country, this opinion of the Post may
be regarded as feeler thrown out to ascertain
how such measure would be received. In this
his lordship is only anticipating the difficulty in
which he will soon be placed by the reclama-
tons Of the French and other Con-
tnental governments. From the language
used by the President of the French Senate and
the Minister of the Interior, il is evident that it
has been determined to use the recent abortive
attempt on the Emperors life as means of
compelling the English government to recede
from the position that ii has always maintained
in respect to foreign refugees. Louis Napoleon,
strong in the support of his fellow despots, will
probably be no longer contented with the con-
cession of his former demand for the expulsion
of French political offenders. He will, no
doubt, push bis demands to the delivery to the
French government of all refugees over whom
he can claim a national jurisdiction. The prac-
teal effect Of the concession of such claim
would N course be to cut on from the revolu-
tionary party In Europe their last place Of
shelter.
1t is hardly possible that the views thrown
out by the Morning Pos can be those of her
Majesty's government There Is no principle ON
which the English people have taken their stand
more firmly than that of their right to afford
refuge to the politically prescribed
of all countries. 1t is principle so closely
identified with the maintenance Of their own
liberties that they can never abandon IL. If,