The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-11


En~t or the Pr~sis~ns's Message In Eu-
rope-Cub~ the KSystone 70 Our American
PeIicy.
An intense excitement has been caused in
Europe by the Presidents Message, and all the
journals treat it at much greater length aud with
more passion than have ever before been the case
with similar document We had expected this.
II has long been a taunt against us, among the
Statesmen of Europe, that we have no foreign
policy; and now that the President proposes to
adopt one they get mad ut it. Did they expect
US to construct policy which would jump with
all their selfish schemes.
The sensation which has been caused in Europe
by Mr.. Buchanan's recommendation to Congress
to lay the foundations Of our American policy,
great il is, is not destined to subside. 1t has
produced, of sudden, some curious changes par
ticularly among British statesmen and pbllan-
thropists but in the manner in which it is treated
by the organs of the several political parties
and cliquee, there are plain indications of the
coming contest in Europe. The men from
whom political leadership is passing away
speak of the Message savagely and
eardonically; the coming men comment upon IL
with caution and reserve, as though timidity still
held them from the fight. This fight is the dis
cussion before the people, of the comparative
benefits of democratic and monarchical institu-
tious, and in it the United States of America are
to be the great example for attack and defence
On both sides. The germs of this contest are
constantly springing into view in Europe; and it
is with this great fact before US that we should
consider the reception given to the Presidents
recent Message by the press of England and
France.
Most voluminous, and therefore first, stand
the defenders of the past and their organs. The
London Herald (ministerial) opens with the
comforting assurance that "the President of the
United States generally says more than he
really means" and then asks Mr.. Bright what he
thinks of the rapid increase Of our public debt,
and thinks that the last American mails have
not afforded him much consolation. 1t does not
like the way Mr.. Buchanan receives England's
proposition to establish police Of the ocean;
thinks that the absorption OF Cuba by us would
be greater evil than the perpetuation Of the
African slave trade, and winds up by
hoping that we will be friends, which
means the hope that no difference with
the United States will tumble the present
British ministry from their seats. Returning
to the subject, after few days, it again harps
upon our debt and disordered finances, recon-
mending them to the study of the large section
of British reformers praises colonial protection,
contrasts "democratical America" with "monar-
chical England" finding mo enviable wisdom in
democratic institutions !" asserts that "the most
intelligent men in the Union studiously avoid
official positions" and thinks that federation will
more removed from the centre. The Post palm
erstonian) draws it little more mildly, and
harps upon the Central American question, which
it says Sir W Gore Ouseley has gone to Nicara-
qua to settle. 1t descants upon the universal re-
suit of military occupation being annexation,
warns the European Powers to be on their guard
against us, and improves the occasion to give
the foreign policy of Lord Malmesbury spur.
The London Times is surprised at go large
portion of the Message being given up to foreign
questions, thinks we had better pay more atten-
ton to domestic affairs, and opines, after ALL that
the African slave trade is no worse than that be-
tween Virginia and the South, if the only way to
stop it is to give us Cuba. The Paris Conait,aon-
mel (ministeriaD is very anxious that people
should not exaggerate the Importance of Presi-
dents Message, and is alarmed at Mr.. Buchanan's
request for power to act in pending questions
with some of the Spanish American republics.
1t finds consolation, however, in the fact that
the Message is the I" expression of an individual
mind rather than manifesto unanimously ap-
proved of by the national will" And here is
the point of the sensation caused 10y the Message
in Europe. The plotters and intriguers who wish
to preserve the sdtu quo Of the wOrld-because
progress involves change, and change means
new men in power-are afraid that too much
effect may be produced upon the democratic
mind in Europe by Mr.. Buchanan's announce
ment of an American policy. They hope that
people will not pay much attention to it-that
they will look upon it only as an individual OPT
MON, and not as the voice of the country-and
that, above all, Congress will not, by its favora-
bic action, make it an exposition of the national
will, and thus show to monarchical Europe"
that democratic America" is something more
than an unbound faggot.
On the other hand, the journals who represent
the rising democratic spirit of Europe treat the
Message with great caution, but are careful to in
innate their praise of it. They do not see clearly
the effect it may have on the popular mind or, if
they do, they fear to express it, and their praise
is timid. The London Star (radical reformer)
reminds the European Powers that two of
them onIy-France and England--hsve
any real interest in the issue Of the
Cuba question, and says that " whenever the
policy Of America with regard to Cuba begins to
assume a substantial form we may expect q poll
teal complication Of no ordinary kind which it
will be well to watch, Lest itembroil usin trans