The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-09

These eminent statesmen nau lnOugnt proper 10
administer public rebuke to that journal in re-
gard to its course the italian question and the
Apclo-French alliance. The imputations which
were so directly made in Parliament were as
directly met by the representative of ''the Fourth
Estate" in Printing House Square. 'Of all our
'public men," says The Times,
bere one who make the fullest confession
of his allegiance great doctrine of the freedom OF
the presshe palladium Of our liberties the safeguard
of our constitution, the means Of difusing among the
people that knowledge that enlightenment which ena
bes them judge of all subjects with candor impartial
ty and moderation and thus makes democratic influences
permanent by protecting them from violence and excess
who does not hold this languages Yet who, we may
venture to ash really and honestly subscrbes to its
truth?;
1t finds the superiority Of the English Press
over its Continental contemporaries to con-
sist in the fact that theformer is reeree in every
sense-free 10 censure 10 praise the measures OF
those in power and ''free to utter that which men
sin power often will not tell or look in the face;
(which the people at large do not always see, and
s'which the masters of mankind do not often wish
''to be seen-the bare and naked truth" 1t charges
that there is scarcely a statesman living who can
be brought to comprehend ''the genuine idea of
'free press and ascribes to that want of accurate
~
have the truth freely spoken, and their superciious
ness in denouncing any truth which they are I'M
willing to hear. Mr.. BRIGHT is censured with be-
ing pacific overmuch, and therefore intolerant of
all that runs counter to his own views. But The
Times intimates that peace is not to be secured by
fearing and deprecating war:
"To men who write and think without prejudice, the
proper way to preserve peace is to state the whole truth
fairly and explicitly that the nation judge oft real
position and neither be pulled up by overweening conf
dence depressed by unreasonable panic This is the
course have observed with regard to France. With
the slightest enmity, with the best good will to
gallant neighbors-but trust with true appreciation
of the of the government under which they live
We have had to remark that the Empire was not quite
much peace the Emperor would have us believe We
have obse we'd that from the termination of the Crmean
against ourselves and qchoe Of her policy avh
gardto Italy has been an complete CONFEDERATION Of the
'cishes oppressed by England"
1t was therefore, eminently proper that public
attention should be called to the formidable in
crease of the French navy, and the necessity it i'm
posed for corresponding efforts the part
of England. So, with respect to the treaty
of Villafranca, The Times contends that
no one seriously denies that the terms
granted TO Austria are, in the highest de
gree, unsatisfactory, and, in saying so, that jour-
nal did but give expression to the popular opinion
Mr. BRIGHT has visions of mutual disarmament
and visions of perpetual commerce. Both measures
would be undoubtedly beneficial to England
"Let France dsarm, and how gladly, how eagerly will
initiate and her example; but while Italy is
left crushed by Intervention by
revolution while the termination of one is accompa
MED by words which announce The commencement of
other 1t may benefit Mr. Bright to maunder treaties
of commerce and projects Of disarmament, but it will
hardly become us, who bound to from the
terals which ourselves supply and not arbitrary
assumptions or conventional recences to accept his con
clusions."
Lord JOHN RUSSELL is next taken in hand. Though
q leading member of the Ministry he cannot I'M
derstand why the press should urge the country to
arm
eve will frankly tell him why. tits because we have
taken and formed estimate of such pub
lie himself because believe that, although full
ly of the danger they would put the country
in position of defence unless driven to it by public
opinion which they resist They would tell
they do now that they have fears, apprehensions
they would act if great dangers could be averted by
speaking of hem and their deeds instead Of being
in contradiction to their words would be in strict
accordance with them Now Lord John Russell and his
colleagues talk peace and prepare for Had adopt
ed that they would never have adopted our recon-
mendatons.n
Then comes the turn of Lord PALMERsToN, who
is also handled without gloves. He had charged
the English press with hostility towards France.
''Cf course there qOas no hostility to Austria in Lord
Pdmerst0ns declaration that he hoped that Poaper his
good friend and ally 1coud be driven oa Of italy and
furnished with exact measure of indiscre
ton by knowing what considers may be dis
creetly said. He is evidently anxious to go into Con-
gress the Emperor Napoleon from the immune
rable difficulties and dangers achich begun
peace concluded in defiance Of the enlightened opinion of
England and France and Udiy and Germany brol1
upon him Lord Palmerston may follow his objects
but let him not expect that shall promote their at
tainment by wful mystifcaton of facts, that the
people phich hurled him from office because he
suited the 9cishes Of the Emperor Napoleon rather than the
dignity Of his country will permit him to pledge its
to the iuilment of the stpulaons made at vafranca
send Lord Jonn Russell Plenipotenary to repeat
at Zurich his vagaries at Vienna"
With this damaging discharge of both barrels,
The Times concludes its first article. The second
position of defence and attack is taken up the same
day, and with effect still more mastery and de-
cisive. Referring to the repeatedly expressed wish
that the English journals should say nothing of
NAPOLEON III and France, The Times pertinently
remarks --
st is our vocation and very being to speak truly
and freely about all public characters and affairs. If
cannot follow our vocation we cease to be altogether
We free press, which Is about as distinct thing
from Continental journalism living man is from
skeleton, a forest from timber yard
The condition of people under press that is
despotically muzzled is next sketched with singu-
lar force, directness and power, and then comes
the following naughty declaration of privileges:
IF have said what is not true that is another ques
ton but if our crime is that have sometimes said that
which may hurt the feelings of an Emperor or his sol
diers then beg to state We erit ed before
either Napoleon III or Napoleon l. We mach
essential institution Of this country they Of theirs We
precisely what were not only when Louis Napo-
leon lodged in St. James, but when his uncle sub
officer of artillery. We what were before either
Mr. Bright or Lord Russell The era which
freen
That press has preserved its freedom by acting to it
self and speaking the trutb to the best of its ability and
judgment, of everything and everybody. No one can
overestimate its weight the auxiliary and mouhpiece
Of free legislature and open justice But here it exists
of the chief forces of the country also heritage
from forefathers to be bequeathed to children
But it is asserted that the EMPEROR of the French
is ''cordial ally" and as all feel a powerful
neighbour.
.sWe are spending Mr. Gladstone tells u.s. eight mil
certain contingency which, there is no Disgusting it. is
the possibility Of either an nuason By oar ally on some
OUTRAGE part beyond all endurance Our words have
certainly weakened the French Emperor either for
good or for evil. He still make terrible and
magnanimous peace. He can still punish and propate
one great neighbour and be Immediately formidable to
another. If there is point on which may venture
a man of sngulary fixed ideas and unalterabe sent-
This is the opinion of his friends and the very
boast of his life But Mr. Bright affects to believe that
he is irritable himself and that we, by occasional
criticism of his conduct, have estranged his friendship
and impered the alliance. We take this to be pure
imagination founded very superficial knowledge of
facts and much less respectful opinion of Napoleon Ill
than our own
The Times then cites the fact that, wiser than
those about him. he approved the presence of The
Times correspondent with the French army in
Italy, and that now 'sFrance knows her own yicto-
''ries principally through his pen and through the
journal which is described as her worst enemy -
A general denial of enmty towards NAPOLEON III.
next follows. The acceptance of his programme ia
alluded to as evidence of desire to approve of the
purposes of the war; after the had in fact been
undertaken, and the idea that the French EMPEROR
ism to criticism is thus controverted;
But is il true that the Emperor himself for no
erticism9 Why should he? Napoleon ILL., is the foremost
man of his time the prominent actor the great
stage of the world. He likes praise, no doubt but he
his chance of blame But one thing he would not
like is be unnoticed and that is the treatment pre-
scribed for him by the Parliamentary censors lie can
shut out The Times from all France whenever he likes
his underngs sometimes do but he often overrules
them lie knows better than his ocious servants either
mere or az fafs that we are the friend of both nations
depore our immense armaments but they are as
nothing compared with those which the Emperor declares
to ne none at all have to protest against
estimate o. peaceful security 1t compels on us no
with the use Oh our tongues and pen impossible not
TO complain OF burden which weighs heavily upon
France ~ well az upon England
Such is the reply Of the London Times to the