The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-22
THE RIVALRY OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
Er1,n liz Lnadn .


We do not believe it to be true, and there is no
reason for the allegation, that any Journal, orator
or politician of any kind has said a word to excite
the susceptibiities of France or create alarm for
the selfish reason assigned by NJ. De Morny-viz.,
for the sake ofpopuarity. The only feeling of the
British people is simple apprehension of finding
themselves some day the object of attack bv an
ambitious, tickle, and excitable neighbor, and a
consequent determination to be prepared for the
emergency. With us this is entirely matter of
selfpreservation. We do not wish to take from
France one acre, one town, one ship, one man; but
neither do we wish to lose one. We are painfully
aware that now for several generations it has been
| the natural instinct of France to perform grand
part in European politics, and compose her internal
troubles under military dictator, absolutist
| dynasty,
1t isa feeling now wholly independent of this or
that man, this or that family; and nobody here
| dreams that we should find France safer neigh
| borhood under the temporary check of an expert
mental Constitution. But nation which has made
| up its mind to be governed by a military chief
which emphatcally sezes that refuge from internal
disorders and that instrument of national glory
must ever inspire just apprehensions in neighbor
as emphatcally resolved against this course. Were
England now to nd such a Government established
in London as it sees at Paris we should expect to
see half the middle and upper classes of this country
following the example ofthe Pilgrim Fathers on
similar emergency. A Great Eastern week for ten
years would hardly suffice for the exodus of every
thing that is really British in these isles Whence
haoltual resolution to be our own masters, We will
not depend on the caprice, the folly, even the
wisdom of any one man. If such be our feeling
with regard to our own institutions, the occupant of
our palaces, and the head of our own army our own
civil and ecclesiastical establishments, it is not ex
traordinary that will not depend on the mercy
or the sanity of the man, whoever he may be- oc-
cupying the Tuileries.
There is no mincng the matter, and we say it
with all respect, we have just seen in Italy spec-
men of what such man may do, without any pre-
paration, and with the ordinary peace establish
ments of France. As the PresSe reminds us. France
is now aware, and was told fortnight ago by a
member of her Corps Legislatif, that "henceforth
at her own pleasure, and choosing her own time,
she can suddenly throw from $4,000 to GO, 900 men
on any point she pleases of enemy's territory"
so, even II feelings be put out of the question
even II 1t happened that through some common pur-
suit England and France were at this moment in
state of more than usual accord, still we should
make point of being prepared for a change in her
feelings or policy. This would be nothing more
than logical sequence from the jealousy we show
In our domestic Institutions. We will not be at the
mercy of an Englishman, much less, therefore, of
foreigner.
That is the only sentiment which is allowed to
show itself, and to influence the conduct of Eng
land. No doubt there people here, as there are
everywhere, who crave for the excitement of war;
it matters not with whom. But this is not the ru-
ing sentiment, nor the sentiment of any but very
small minority. England only consults her safety