The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-30
THE ANGLO.FRENCH ALLIANCE.


IRON the London Times Paris Correspondent of March
The pamphlet to which alluded few days ago
will be published the day after tomorrow. II Is en-
titled LEmpereur Napoleon iii. ct pAnsleterre.
The greatest curiosity has been excited by the KNOW
ledge that such production was shortly to ap-
pear and, az you may suppose, this curiosity Is not
the less intense that though it is the work OF an
eminent publicst, member Of the Council OF State,
yet the inspiration has been derived from the very
highest source People are anxious to know what
will be said on the question which has agtated the
two countries since the l4th of January. am
enabled to anticipate its public appearance by day.
and give the following translation, which, hurried
as it is, will enable you to judge Of the manner in
which recent important incidents are treated IN it.
Here il isl
We believe there is a duty to be fulfilled to wards
public opinion; it consists in making an impartia
and calm voice be heard amid the passions which
have been for moment unjustly excited ii England.
We are confident shall be understood on the other
side OF the Channel. We shall be sparng OF obser
vatons; above all, we shall recall facts.
When Louis Napoleon was elected President Of the
republic he only found about Rim, in the assembly
which was to share and often embarrass his govern
ment, parties Hostile Or unsympathetic to England
The Legitimsts perseverea religiously to our old
enemies the historical resentment of our ancient ma
tiona strtes. The republicans remembered Pitt
leagued with Coburg against the Revolution in order
to crush it, The Orleansts regretted the protection
which had bumiliated them, all the more on account
of the abandonment they had experienced before
their fall Finally the partisans of the Empire still
groaned under the most melancholy recollection of
colemporaneous history What was the heir of the
Emperor Napoleon L., become chief of France, going
to do? Was he about to yield to the rncor and the
prejudice of parties? Was he to foster by his exam
pie the international hatreds still alive at the reco
lection of Waterloo and St. Helena? Was Re about
to avenge, at least by his GOODNESS, his name
and character, outraged by the English press at
the moment Of his electionl No. Exile is
school of wisdom and Of maturity tor those whom
God destines to reign. At that school Louis Napo-
leon had learnt much and had forgotten much He
only remembered the hospitality which had soothed
the trials of his days of adversity-he only con-
sidered the great interests which drew France and
England together in the cause OF civilization.
In 1919 the Porte was menaced by Austria on &C
count OF the asylum it had afforded the Hungarian
refugees. The President of the Republic thought
that France was not uninterested in that affair,
which seemed to touch some grave European ques.
tons. He ordered the French feet to proceed
towards the Dardanelles at the same time as the
English fleet and he thus seized the first opportunity
for an active understanding between the two govern
meDts. There was, however, at that epoch such
susceptibility against England that the French Min
istry, of whom NJ. Odillon Barrot was then men,
Der placed one condition on the sending of the fleet;
namely, that it should not sail with tie English fleet,
and that its action should be distinct though the
aim was common. There was, doubtless in this re-
serve an excess of mistrust, but IL only the
sequence OF an excess of resentment maintained by
the double influence Of the tribune and the press.
Some time alter Lord Pamerston presented an
ultimatum to Greece which alarmed Europe. The
Legislative Assembly, which had inherited the SEN
timeDts of the Constituent Assembly against Eng
land, seized this occasion OF showing the hostility
which animated it. ltpre sed on the Ministry of the
President with all the weight of opinion fortified
by sort OF popularity; and our ambassador, NJ
Drouyn de L'Huys, was ordered to quit London.
When General de la Htte, then Minister for Foreign
Affairs announced the news a feeling OF incOnsder-
ate patriotism pervaded the entire Assembly The
same evening all the chiefs of parties went to the
Elysee TO congratulate the President. He received
them with much coldness, which proved that he did
not share THEN appreciation OF measure the affect
OF which might lie TO rouse tine antagonism OF The
two countries.
The I'd OF Deco mber came. II was an act relative
TO our internal situation, which concerned no one
abroad. Nevertheless, several English journals de-
nounced the,man who had just saved his country rcm
irghtiui anarchy, and, II may be- preserved Europe
from conyulsion. There was no sort of calumny
which was not invented, sud error which was not
spread. One London Journal went 50 far as TO give
sketch OF scelIe which represented the insurgents
in The act of being shot ia the Champ de Mars such
things were credited-things which our manners and
habits nevertheless rem ieTed unlikely a. they are
happily impossible. The truth is that not only was
there no one shot after the combat, but that the
whole affair was confined, in city OF 900 600 in
babitants, to the rising Of 500 demagogues, Of
whom 100 at most fell with arms in their hands
during the struggle. The truth was as easily TO be
ascertaned in England a. in France. Ii required to
be misrepTesented with so much audacity N order TO
excite aDimadyersion against al act which merited
u
Indifference was not possible in the face of such
Insults; but iOrbearance was commanded by patriot
ism and public interests. The Chief OF France" al
lowed this food of banefu passions, increased by
the scum Of civil cscord to float past him; he would
not even authorize reprisals on the part of the
French press, however easily they might have been
made. Great nations are not easily offended, but
when they are they very nearly come to blows. This
Is what happened after the treaty of Amiens soon
compromised by the violence OF the debates and Of
the journals opposed 10 the First Consul IL IL clear
that II in the hrst months Of 1862 we had not been
prudent enough 70 calm public opinion we should
have had return OF 1902, and rupture would have
been the inevitable consequence OF the irritation be-
TIVE the two countries.
Common sense more than time made the healthy
portion OF the English public take sensible view Of
odious calumnies had distorted. In England a. in
France, the conduct Of the Emperor has been
Judged a. il will be judged by history. Already, in
1852 at the time OF the most violent attacks OF the
English press, the city of London most energeti-
cally protested against controversy which was re-
voting 10 Its common sense and patriotism. Two
years afterwards, when the Emperor accompanied
by the Empress, visited as ally the Queen of the
Three Kingdoms, he met only with sympathy and
respect in that great country.
We now come TO another phase of contempora-
neOus events. The Eastern question occurs; war is
decided upon; an alliance IL concluded between
France and England. How has this alliance been
and practised by the two peopleg IL
must be said 10 the honor of the one OF the other
that if they had been united for centuries they could
not have acted with more loyalty, more mutual de-
votion, more OF confidence under the trials which
both had passed through. As for our part-and IL
may be permitted 10 us TO be proud Of il of part
1i our glory-we gave our cooperation under every
orm. There were not wanting persons then who |
ess perceived French than an English interest in
he war in the East. Unaffected by that opinion |
he Emperor sent to the Crimea double the number |
Df soldiers that the English did A good and |
'enect understanding was one OF the most |
ormal instructions which he gave 10 the General
n-Chief That inspiration OF the sovereign of |
France became the rule Of army in its rela- |
ions with the English army. Defending the same |
'ausey exposed to the same danger, both ar
mics had common duties and commsn interests: |
hey owed TO each other mutual assistance at every
moment Fer our part, we gave IL with an impulse |
nd good will OF which the example il rare in mill |
airy history between even the combatants OF the |
anne nation. At lnkermann we rushed at the lrgt |
all OF our allies TO share their dangers and 10 second
heir heroism under the terrible pressure OF the Rus
ians The trials Of n terrible winter the faties of