The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-02

lAc Freigbts steady about 100 bales of cotton
taken at $500. 3l6d to Liverpool, with other
ticles noticed in another column.
Europe Drifting Into Another Wharf.-The
Secondary Position OF England In Euro
pean Politics.
Every one who will examine recent events
and the present condition of political affairs in
Europe by the light of past experience will be
convinced that it is drifting into another war OF
a similar character to that of 1S54'55.
When Louis Napoleon gave the coup detat in
December, 1851, and established the Empire in
France, the relative positions of the several
States were very different from what they now
are In Western Europe, England predominant
ed. The influence of France, which had so long
disputed political sway with her among the
minor States, had disappeared under the folly Of
Louis Phillippe's scheme of the Spanish mar
rages and the inanity of the republic Russia
doomed up in the East, under the sway of an iron
will, in the person of Nicholas L., who had de-
termined to carry out the policy of his prede-
cessors with Jacksonian vigor, and secure his
seat Of empire on the Bosphorus Austria, Prus-
STA and the other States were too busy recover
ing from the shaking that 1s4s had given
them, and securing their own thrones,
to think of interfering with the external
schemes of the two great Powers Nicholas
in Russia, and the Coburgs in England, had set
tied the partition of "the sick mans" effects to
| their own satisfaction, but without saying Tur-
| key once to France.
/ D,,t hoJ md tod octov xrhO
had laid his hands upon the map of Europe
Nicholas even went so far as to refuse to admit
the Legitimacy of his new cousin in the family Of
emperors. With him rulers who held their claim
to thrones "by divine right" were recognized,
and he held the old policy of ignoring govern
ments de tacto. Louis Napoleon marked out his
own course, and pursued it with consummate
skill He knew that he could do little without
the support of England, and that he determined
to have English politics and English prejudices
were as we'll, if not better, understood by him
than by the tory ministry that then ruled Great
Britain. He began by pandering to the English
popular sentiment assuming the defence Of the
liberal idea Turkey was prey to the despot-
ism of Russia; every free impulse in the bosoms
of men dictated that her freedom should not be
destroyed: the free Powers of Western Europe
should fight their own battle in fighting that Of
the Russo-oppressed Sultan. England was soon
convinced-and even in this country the i'm
preston gained ground-that the cause ofliberty
required that Russia should be stopped
| in her despotic career Lord Aberdeen
was overthrow in England, and Palmerston
came into power. The popular sentiment
was stimulated by the publication Of Sir Hamil-
ton Seymour's confidential dispatches from St.
Petersburg; but the secret arrangements with
the English Coburgs which led to these confden-
tial expressions by Nicholas were kept back.
Then came the Anglo-French alliance, with
| Lord Clarendons celebrated announcement that
the policy of the allied cabinets would rule the
policy of every government in both hemispheres.
This had its expected effect in tickling the pride
Of John Bull, but it curdled at once every
American sympathy that had grown up in favor
of the asserted liberalism Of the Western
Powers
During all this time Louis Napoleon played
his cards with great skill and an unerring know
ledge of the British people. Now came war
speech, and then peace one--now storm, and
then o lull but all this time Europe drifted
towards war. Finally it came. England broke
openly with her old friend Russia, and her fleets
and armies followed Louis Napoleon's bidding,
and went into the Crimea- There she proved
her ignorance of the art Of war, half atoned for
Waterloo by exhibiting her military incompe-
tency to every French soldier, and came away
when it suited Louis Napoleon, proving to the
world that she was only the second Power in
Western Europe The iron will of Nicholas wa.
broken by the new man who controlled
Europe, and he died. Alexander succeeded him,
recognized bis new imperial cousin, and changed
the policy that ruled Russia. As his fathers
policy had been Jacksonian, he adopted one
that is the counterpart Of the policy of our old
wing party. He has turned his attention to in
ternal improvements, and Russia is at this
moment working under the high pressure Of a
stock jobbing fever in railroads, canals and
steam navigation, which will no doubt construct
immense works and end in financial revulsion
just as the railroad manias Of America and Eng
land have ended.
Such were the course and results Of the last
war in Europe, which ended with the Congress
Of Paris and the acknowledged position of Louis
Napoleon as the arbiter Of its destiny. Suddenly
trip occurred, and Palmerston was topped
from power by the simultaneous explosion OF
Orsinis bombs in Paris and public opinion in
England. The Coburg interest at the British
Court came into power again, and to-day we
find Lord Derby using the same palliative assur-
ances in hebalf of Austria that Lord Aberdeen
had used in behalf of Nicholas But Louis
Napoleon has stocked the political cards again
and is playing the same game in the Italian qucs