The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-14
ENGLISH IGNORANCE AND PREJUDICE IN
REGARD TO FRANCE


Hthe public IN England are to form their owl
opinions on continental politics by the assertions
| certain Journals which pretend to instruct them
| they Will be continually deceived. That many dC
form their opinions about France from what the,
read in the journals in question: is obvious from th
| language of Englishmen one meets in Paris TIL
| other day encountered a gentleman who ex
claimed "Wen, suppose this fellow can't las
| long meaning the Emperor. )-"sure to kick n,
row whilst he is in Italy. And then he'll get nc
| money for the war. War? Why the war never car
be popular in France; and for the Italians the,
must hate the - despot." Now, where is all thi
information obtained? The gentleman who re
| tailed 1t to me is man of ordinary reasoning DOW
| ers and observation, and employs two or three
hours every day ofhis life in reading English news
papers. He is a militia man, riheman, and de
putty lieutenant and in every sense of the word
| ''iOlly good fellow" He cOnlesses to hating tn,
French sincerely, partly because they eat frogs
but more particularly because he "don't know ex
| acty why"
Mitiamen, have observed, generally know NOR,
! about soldering than those who have made it a
| profession; so my friend Captain Hawsbury ius
now is more amusing than usual. We dined last
night at the ''Trois Freres," when he favored me
with the ideas of Londoners about the Emperor OF
| the French, and the expected union of Russia and
| France to invade England. If this gentleman rep
resents the Cockney politics of the dav correctly
there is wonderful amount of contradiction aaoat
| amongst the 100000 of London. Although the
| Emperor of the French "can't last" although
TIduCe De country, StlIl IL appears N a.
poeon ILL.,, unpopular at home, and the French ma
tion beggared, is to invade England Is it the ex
cellent pale ale of England that produces this mud
| die? Then how are exies from native land tC
| understand Englishmen at home when they speak
about national defences? Hawksbury last nigh
| had scarcely got through his bottle of sherr,
! (''nOne of your French red rot for me, Mr. NJ"
! when he pictured one of the most noble and numer
Gus British armies ever got together. Hawksbur,
! called coastguard the Heavy C, and
variety OF militia regiments ''the finest troops in
| the world, SIR" then magnificent feet was ami
mating the Channel, and an army of 100 900 reg
| ular troops waiting for the enemy, which he be
| lleved the rifle corps alone would dispose of Thi
was very cheerful, and we parted, congratulatine
each other on the safety of Old England Hawks
| bury whstling a snatch of "Run britannia" a,
he proceeded toward Meurice's.
This morning my friend makes his appearance
and with a downcast expression says "The French
army is in better condition than ours, everythinp
in England is neglected-Rorse Guards-bad !
| Upon my honor, think the French would lick us
You know modern warfare has changsd everything
my dear tellOw-science, more than pluck will wiz
| the day. Then as to our heet-can't get men-bad
| ly managed-French ships very fine-Cherbourg-
upon my soul. | don't know how we should gel
out of it." Hawksbury then few into rage, and
! again abused the Emperor Napoleon Ill, who ap
peared to be the cause of our asserted deficiencies
! by land and sea- and every evil under the sum- |.
this illustration of England at home? Certainly
one sees something like it in the London papers
inconsistency, IreluOlce ana Ill humOr
| England seems to be chafng in a cage of wounded
! pride, and determined to quarrel with France
! How much better it would be if we did more auc
| said less. Surely, whilst all Europe is nothing bu
| big garrison ought to have strong fleets anC
large armies always ready, no matter whether Ma
I poeon or any other sovereign reigns in France
Better to be always prepared with efficient reg
ular army and strong fleet than to talk nonsensC
about invasion, and rihemen and militia
| assure you we look supremely ridiculous in tht
eyes of our neghbors during these periods of panic
which are always followed by the most reckless in
difference. Returning to the determination of some
Englishmen not to learn the truth about France
and insisting on being duped, / find few will re-
member that Napoleon III. is indebted for his
throne to the will of the people He is there be
cause universal suffrage voted him Emperor of the
French. The feelings towards his Majesty can be
seen on all public occasions strongly demonstrated
whether 10 Paris or the Provinces. He is ALWAYS
received with enthusiasm very remarkable for
Frenchmen. OF this we had marked example when
he left Paris the other day for Italy, and all along
the road up to Marseilles. "Bankrupt France" has
just subscribed two milliards three hundred millions
for war loan, whilst only five hundred millions
was asked for; and yet some Engishmen insist on
saying the war is not popular, and that the ma
tion has no faith in the Government. Then it is
said Napoleon wants to keep Italy. If so, why
does he publicly proclaim to the contrary, and why
did the Imperial Government communicate quite
the contrary to all the great powers when France
declared war? Surely if Napoleon III. intended to
avail himself of an inch of the Peninsula neither
he Ior his Government need have gone out of the
way to make a solemn declaration to the contrary.
Beyond the assurances France has given to the
world on this subject, believe am correct in say
ing France has pledged Piedmont that Italy shall
belong to the Italians, and that France will take
advantages whatever of her victories. Time will
correct the errors of those who reason with preiu-
dice, rather than reflect, with the material for ar
irving at reasonable conclusions. Since | have
5een in Paris during the last four years. the fol
lowing startling intelligence has appeared in
some London journals:
l. The Emperor of the French is fast losing his
mind.
2. He never stirs out without being surrounded
by a strong body-guard.
3. The Imperial Prince is blind
a. The Imperial Prince is dumb
3. The Empress is paralyzed.
6. The Emperor's politics entirely dictated by
Bourse speculations.
Z. Periodically the Emperor ia assassinated.
8. He intends to invade England (about every
sx months)
9. France is bankrupt.
10. "The present state of things can't last
IL. Everything that takes place is ''the begin
ming of the end.''
l2. Orleanist plots or Legitimist plots always 60
ing on, which will soon upset the present dynasty
Such are few of the newspaper reports which
have graced certain London journals, but only
worth remembering guide for those who care
to know the truth for the future, by estimating the
real value of malignant falsehoods still daily propa
gated.
&C II o.,