The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-04
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, MAY A, 1858.

The declaration of Lord Palmerston to the French
authorities that it was next to impossible 10 obtain
in England a conviction for political o1ense
committed against a foreign State, has been veri-
fed by the result of the trial of DR.. Bernard The
conlplictv of this man with Orsini and his con-
f.derates was fully established by chain of cir
cumstantial evidence in which not a single link
was wanting. The crown lawyers exerted their
utmost ability to procure his condemnation; but
50 deeply rooted are the prejudices of English
jurors, and SO jealous are they of every attempt
which seems to affect long established principles
and privileges that it required but little effort on
the part of the counsel for the prisoner to obtain
verdict of acquittal.
Simultaneous with this announcement. we are
informed, that there is an extraordinary activity
visible in the French dock-yard and naval arsenas;
ihlt the French army has been increased to six
hundred thousand men, and that England IS
strengthening her coast defences and organizing an
imposing Channel Fleet Lest, however, the pub
lie should infer something ominous from these
hostile preparations it is at the same time gravely
announced that the Duke of Malakof-Pelisser-
the newly appointed Ambassador to England is a
staUnch friend that the entc7,te cordio{e will be
maintained aud that LOUIS Napoleon though he
does not regard the acquttal of Bernard with in
difference will admonish the French press to refrain
from the use of exciting language upon the subject
All this is doubtless quite consohng to Exeter Hall
and the peace party generally; but if there were
none other than verbal guarantees for the preserva-
ton Of the Anglo-French alliance, we should re-
pose but little faith in its continuance.
\ war between France and England could not
take place without drawing into its vortex the
whole Of Continental Europe. This, however is
not so much matter for consideration as the
graver fact that it would be the signal for revolu-
tonary outbreaks, not in France alone, but in
Spain, in Italy, in Hungary and Poland, and per-
hapS in Germany. Mazzni, and Kossuth. and Lee
dru Rollin, eager for just such an opportunity
TO illuminate their sprit-stirring appeals to 'the
oppressed natonalities. In Spain, the Democrat
ic programme has already been widely though
secretly circulated. In Germany, the Red Republic
cans, who fought and won the battles of 1S48, and
extorted conditions which were subsequently viola
ted, are still active watchful, and eager to renew
the conflict, whenever a fitting occasion summons
them again to arms.
1t was the consciousness of this danger which re-
strained Austria from taking more prominent
part in the Crimean war, and which compelled Prus-
STA to remain neutral spectator of conflict in the
result of which she was peculiarly interested.
But if the peril was great at that time, it has re-
Gently become of infinitely superior magnitude
a great war demands corresponding expenditure
of men and means. The men may be forthcoming:
but with the bankrupt exchequers of the Continent
the means are far more difficult to acquire: and
European potentates are haunted, as they now are.
by the gigantic spectre of democracy, restively
waiting the signal for revolt, they may well hest
tate to enter upon contest which would eopardise
the loss of their fairest provinces, and from which
more than one of them would in all probability,
come forth discrowned