The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-03


by British Ministers and leaders in Parliament,
published in yesterdays HERALD, are sufficient
to convince any rejecting man that British
statesmen and TammaDy Hall politicians stand
on pretty much the same level as regards CON-
prehensive ability, and that the views of the
British leaders and the New York sachen1s have
remarkable identity Of aim.
Lord Malmesbury, belonging to the just de-
feated ms, holds to the opinion that the world
was finished when he came into office, and that
any change in the statu quo is positively dsas-
trous. Lord Clarendon--one Of the hopeful
outs-thinks good thing has been done in trip
ping up the ms, and that now things should
stand just as they are until a general pow-wow
is held and the outs have chance of slipping in
quietly. Lord Derby belongs to the ms and so be
shakes his fist in Louis Napoleon face, and threat
ems him with terrible vengeance for disturbing
the finished state of the world and his lordship's
post al the head of it. Lord Palmerston being
out, is vastly tickled at the change in prospect,
and tells us how he could have kept things in
peaceful train had he only been at the head Of
affairs. And Lord John Russell--another of the
outs-is only hopeful that the present ms will
enter into no engagements till after election,
when perhaps the country may make him bell
wether. Not one Of the speakers takes really
comprehensive view OF the condition of Europe
and the relations Of its political status to the ag-
gregate intelligence Of the civilized world Only
one Of them lets out anything that the world did
not know before, and he only shows the tip Of
the ear OF the cat that is in the bag. But that
tip we recognise Lord Clarendon will not as,
sumo that the ms :" are pursuing secret policy
which they dare not openly avow." Yet he
knows they are pursuing such policy and that
it is the game of the Coburgsiynasty against the
game of the Napoleon dynasty which has rup.
tured the entente cord;ale between England and
France, and caused my Lord Derby to utter
such unseemly threats.
The policy of these old fogies would be avery
good one if the world did not unfortunately
for them, keep moving. But still it moves
Mutation is the mighty law of all things.
What was settled fifty years ago might have
been very good then, but it will not do now.
whether il be in religion, politics, trade, me-
kind Of cheating. Circumstances have altered
mems ideas have changed, society has developed
the world has progressed, and political schemes
and arrangements must adapt themselves to the
new order Of things. Some Powers have de-
cayed, others have increased i'll strength, and
few new ones have come into existence. Here
in the New World we meet these changes by
making political subordinate TO social necessities
The will of the majority ofthe people rules; and as
SOON as any change becomes the greatest good of
the greatest number, il is made. This progress is
continually at work among us aud progression
is not prejudicial because it is so minute and
equal in its steps, and is kept in constant check
by the conservative balance of each mans in
terest
But in Europe it is different. Kingcraft par
Gels out the territories and the peoples. These
advance with different degrees Of energy in ma.
terial and intellectual development, and change
not only becomes necessary, but this necessity
constantly accumulates in strength. Kingcraft
then brings its power of repression to BEAR
and this too must be constantly increased
until it can increase no more Then
the dikes and barriers are broken away, and the
food Of change comes, sweeping every thing be-
fore it until it is exhausted, when the tide of af
fairs subsidies into the new channels it has formed
for ITSELF At this moment Louis Napoleon is
the instrument for this mighty change. He may
think he is founding dynasty and building up
en- empire, but he is controlled 10y the circum-
stances that surround and press upon him. The
most absolute ruler in Europe, he is now the
pioneer of constitutional freedom. He is de-
Tending it in Italy, and fomenting it in Germany,
against the Cobmg intrigues, and may become
the victim of it in France Yet he must advance
He cannot stand still The force of circuu,-
stances has made him the arbiter of Europe and
he must 20 on in the path to war or to revolu-
ton. If he does not make war, revolution will
overturn him; and war will end in revolution.
This is what the English politicians do not see,
or will not contemplate. The treaties Of Vienna
must be revised; and act only they, but the go
vernments that made them. Europe the world
has outgrown both,
With this approaching conflict in the Old
World, it bchoves us to contemplate our own
position as Power IN the world. We are no
more the petty grain-selling nation that we
We're fifty years ago. Our commerce is ex-
tended to every sea- and our influence ia felt in
every land. But when the nations of Europe
become belligerents again, We as neutrals, must
demand and enforce what we before begged, and
were refused. Our neutral rights must be re-
spected, our commerce must be protected, and
to do this our navy must be increased and made
efficient This is the part that our government
will be called to perform in the conflict, and it
should be prepared for it,
How THE MONEY GoEs.--We publish in
another column a list of judgments obtained
against the city by certain street inspectors,