The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-12
ENGLAND AND FRANCE,

From the London Daily Negs Of Norem5er 25.l
Europe is now trembling with the tramp of armed
hosts, in consequence of the opinion that every
country must be armed for its defence. For long
Neriod opinion in France has demanded large arma-
ments for protection both at home and abroad
Louis Philippe had a vast army, though he was
afraid OF 1t, and his son. the Prince de Jonville,
labored assiduousy to form a navy. Louis Napo-
leon has successfully carried out and extended the
designs OF his predecessors. Opinion in France may
be against the cOnscription and against the heavy
taxation necessary to support a large army and
navy, but it is madly in favor of large armaments.
We are not contented with the preparations of
our Government and the bulk of the Youthful mid
die class is armng itself for the national safety 1t
would be very agreeable if one nation could arm
without alarming another, but such is tn mutual
dependence of nations, that this is not possible and
now all Europe is parade-ground, if not a camp.
10 represent armamenls as opposed to opinion is
palpaby mistake, and it would encourage a lam
entable deusion to allow the assertion to pass un-
challenged, that military power exists in opposition
to opinion, and can be controlled by the press
All opinion is ultimately corrected by facts, and
it now behoves us to ascertain facts which, in con-
tormty with the general opinion that every nation
must provide for its own safety by arms and mill
tary organization, make opinion throughout Eu-
rope in favor of immense armaments. There were
immense armaments in France under Louis Phil
lppe, but there was not general alarm. The diff
ference arises from the different character and
position OF his successor. Louis Napoleon is a
man of shrewd intellect and romantic ambition
He Is doer. He wields successfully his nations
power. His accession to the throne of France was
the actual subyersion fall the political relations
settled in 1915 1t was the reversal in spite of all
the Powers of Europe, of the ban they had pro-
nounced against the family of Bonaparte. 1t was
the restoration of the Empire which they had
fought to put down. 1t tore into shreds all the
famous treaties of Vienna, the reluctant acquies-
cence of Europe making it universally manifest that
those treaties not founded on Justice, rs was
said by moderate and wise men at the time they
were made. Immediately, therefore, on the
cession of Louis Napoleon, dstrust and alarm
prevailed in all the continental courts. This
unnasineSs for time allayed bv his professions
and conduct. The Sovereigns of Europe were lust
then terrified at their subjects, and they eager
ly accepted his that the Empire, though
it existed in spite of their settlement, was peace
time came, however, when his success in raising
voluntary loans to carry on war, and his manage
ment oi distant army, taught the whole world
that he could rely the attachment of the French
and had no military rival to fear. In his own time
and his own manner he set about reforming the re-
latiOns established by the torn treaties and in CON
currence with sentiment very general in Europe
went with an army to give freedom to Italy. We
need not follow his career farther. The end of the
movement was, and is, to convince the whole world
tcally at an end. The humiliation they inflicted
on France Is wiped away, and the last great battle,
which enabled the powers of Europe to dictate them
is ctectually revenged.
Austria being humiliated; Russia enfeebled and
estranged; Prussia commanding the sympathes of
only part of Germany; Spain and Italy allied
with France the condition of the continent, saving
the prevalence OF actual war, is similar to that
OF lSOI, when France and England were contend
ing for mastery in Europe. What may be the feel
ings OF the French do not pretend to say. 1t is
idle, however, to attribute those feelings now what
ever they may be, to the Emperor. They are the
result OF circumstances. In France the name and
power restored which Europe thought it had
put down forever. To the French the magnificent
armament connected with it, which give them the
assurance of impuGity, and which have already
given them power of aggression and splendid tr-
umph, are at present a source of pride. TO u.s.
now, disappointed and much deceived in our expec-
tatiOns, these armaments a of prodigious
annoyance, alarm and expense. Opinion here
favOrs our armaments, but condemns unequivocallv
those of neghbors, and the relations they bear
respectivey to our safety is the great fact on
which the general opinion among us is founded.
The mutual services which the English and
French have lately rendered each other in promo
ting the material welfare and the civilization of
both, are insufficient to entirely sweep out of the
national mind, however much they have brushed
off, the old mutual jealousies and hatreds. 1t is
easy enough to say that opinion is or ought to be
in favor of relying the advantages of mutual
trade, and on the immense benefits of mutual com
muuicatiOn to preserve peace, and easy enough to
conclude that opinion is against great military arma-
ments; but facts show that such assertions and
conclusions are not correct. The Journal which
says that opinion is against power, meaning the
military power of France, and controls it, might
as well say that a disregard of material wei
fare is the practice of Englishmen, because some
persons denounce it as selfish, worldly, and anti
social.
We must not mistake expression for opinion nor
the writings of few for the aspirations of all The
actual guiding opinion which dictates conduct is
far less what few say than what all feel. We can
only rely therefore, the feelings OF the many for
the preservation of peace.