Polynesian., 1859-04-09
Gbe polpuesian.
FOREIGN NEWS!

we have European dates to February +. Atlantic
to February 81, and California dates to March Is.
On the subject of the European War question,
as viewed through American spectacles, we quote
from the New York Century and the Boston Jour
nal. The Century says
HE WAR QUEsTIoN.-All the late arrivals from
Europe represent England and France as actively
| engaged in warlIke preparations Those of the
latter power are supposed to be directed toward
Austria, and, with the help of Sardinia it is easy
to see that Louis Napoleon has such advantages as
may make him not ayerse to trial of Franch valor
on the scene of his great Unce's most brilliant
campaigns. The present attitude of England seems
to be pacific, so far relates to her participation
as principal In the apprehended conflict. The
steadiness of her stock exchange indicates this
though she follows the example of the wild boar in
the fable, and sharpens her tusks in time of peace
The continental markets clearly on u war foot
| ing. 1t must be remembered, however, that the
Stock Exchange is the most sensitive index that
can be imagined. 1t always tends to an extreme
exaggeration of danger beyond any real cause.
There Is possible motive in the military prepa-
ratiOns of England and France that does not look
to Southern Europe for solution Neither of these
powers has been blind, or altogether Indifferent to
! the annexlng policy of the United States So long
as 1t was confined to our own shores, or appeared
to be the result Of a natural spread of population
our immediate borders, they might think it not
wise to Interfere; but that it is extending to
foreign shores, and threatens the dismemberment
of European empire, they may have concluded that
the time is approaching for them to say an effec-
| tive word in the matter. What is a more common
mask in the art of war than for States to endeavor
to mslead each other by pretended preparations,
and diplomacy in a false directionl We throw out
the suggestion for what it is worth, that Southern
Europe is less likely to witness the shock of war
| 81, tI,aW TnIia
ter stroke of military policy by no means weak
with either England or France. 1t may well be
considered by the former that it will be easier to
arrest the march Of American conquest before than
after we shall have seized Cuba. Her own possess
sions in the immediate vicinity are too important
and valuable to be outhanked at one blow BY the
hostile occupancy of that island France it is well
known, is said to contemplate serious designs with
respect to Central America. The Catholic popuIa-
ton of that region and the unsettled state of Mex
| leo, might readily open an enticing view to the
ambition of the French Emperor He would
! thereby deserve q coronation at the hands of the
Pope, and place himself in a position to obtain
concessions for Italy better than by the agency of
| the sword
The dethronement of Souloque, though in itself
not fact, probably, of great Importance, may open
the door To active Intervention by France in the
affairs of Hayti. She lost that island by the enmty
of England, and she might now regain it by her al
| lance Have not other powers an equal right with
| the United States to plan new conquests in the
| West Indies Did not President Pierce depute
| Madame Cazneau to negotiate for permanent foot
ing in Dominica, with view to ulterior designs,
which were only not openly aVowed, but for which
| the times proved not ripe
| The war party in our own Congress-for such a
party has been growing steadily for a number of
years past-is determined to push forward the con-
quest of Cuba; and reckless is it in the pursuit
that it does pause to violate both the spirit and
the letter of the Constitution by virtually vesting
in the hands Of the President the extreme function
of war, which that instrument designed to repose
| in Congress alone. We cannot conceal from our
selves the possibility that the two great powers of
| Europe are tending to a closer alliance for their
common protection and that of their neighbor and
| that the apparent imminency of war with Austria
may serve them an excellent purpose in masking
their real designs with respect to the United States
| And the Journal follows on:
The STATE OF EUROPE.-We have endeayored to
condense faithfully the substance of all the infor
nation contained in our files of English papers, re-
latng to the troubles of France, Austria and Italy
Our readers will judge for themselves what the
! prospects of war are. For our own part, we do
| not see but that things remain precisely as they
were the moment after Louis Napoleon had made
his mysterious remark to Baron Hubner. The
soothing explanations of the MOniteur were so de-
layed to come deprived OF nearly all their value
and have been more than neutralized since by the
deliberate non-commttalism of those around the
Emperor The only event outside of France of
pacific signifcance-Austria's yielding In the mat
| ter of sending troops to Serva-has been allowed
to pass by without Acknowledgements, although 1t IS
said that extraordinary efforts were made to induce
| Louis Napoleon to avail himself of such bit op-
portunity to restore the public confidence. The
man remains as impassive ever. He hunts and
he gives receptions-but he also visits his armOries
and in every possible way, lends stimulus to the
immense warlike preparations which are going on
all over France.
Italy remains like VesuVius, threatening and
dangerous, but discovering no locality where an
outbreak can be absolutely predicated. Sardinia
is firm, but whether she is to assume any further
attitude Of aggression remains to be seen. The new
social alliance with France would seem to strength
en- her resolution, but the accounts in regard to
that are somewhat contradictory. Austria S posi-
tim and intentions as well concealed as those
of France. Prussia and the central powers OF Eu-
rope are strongly in favor OF peace and their lntlu-
ence probably is felt everywhere at this Crisis We
are still inclined to think that their policy will pre-
vail, unless some untoward event should yet arise
IN precipitate the worst tendencies suhsisting
Iouis Napoleon himself is reported to have said
lately to a friend There frequently dIteren-
cps which are inevitable in the relations between
movers but between those misunderstanding and
war there is an abyss" Without attaching any
importance to this as a disclosure OF the speakers
intentions, it undoubtedly expresses general
truth AS Europe is now constituted, these mis-
understandings are nearly unavoidable, and their
effect for the time being is marvellous, but they are
often only on the surface, while all the deeper but
more slowly moving influences conspire to peace.
By the arrival of the America at Halifax, Euro
pean news to the 29th January were brought to
New York, from which we quote