The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-15

france
England.
The contradictory nature of the accounts
from Europe, in regard to the respective posi-
tions of the several Powers on the great ques-
tions that agitate the current of politics, shows
that at the present time there is little unity of
action, If indeed any, among the Cabinets.
The only two countries that seem to be pur-
suing common policy are France and Eng.
land, who have recently. united for the purpose
Of giving an impulie to the commercial ele.
ments Of the world. In making the new treaty
with England, France has thrown overheard
the old fiscal system Of the Continental Powers,
and brought into existence between two coun-
tries bonds of peace and friendship, which
must grow stronger and stronger with every
year that passes away. They form the basis
of at future unity of policy and purpose such as
the first Napoleon long tried to establish with
England, and which must materially influence
their future course towards the hume
rous questions which are continually
coming up in the European family
Of nations. Freedom of trade carries
inevitably with it freedom in many other
things, which gradually wins It's way among
men until the general interests of the people
come to override those Of dynasHes and poll
teal clques Louis Napoleon knew full well
the blow be was striking at the political system
of Continental Europe when he determined to
plant in France the English policy of develop
| ing trade. This will be best seen by q short
view of the aims Of each Of the Continental
Powers.
In England the old tory policy, which
makes common cause with the aspirations of
the European dynasties, has been superseded
by the commercial idea. The English people,
instead of sympathizing with the protective
system, which centres national prosperity and
greatness In the advantage of numerically
limited class, hold to the theory that true wis
dom permits the consumer to buy in the cheap.
est, and the producer to sell in the dearest
market he can find. They therefore aim to
create new markets for their products, and to
open new sources of supply for their wants.
Guided by this policy, the government has
vainly endeavored to obtain an entrance for
her merchants into the markets of the
Continent and failing there, it has sought to
build up as allies to the new principles colo.
MES in the East and commercial relations with
the West. In both success has attended her
efforts; and, as if to demonstrate the superiori-
ty Of commercial relations over those of poll
tics, the growth of her commerce. and with 1,
friendship, with the United States, surpasses
anything witnessed in any other portion of the
globe.
Bnt antagonistic to her commercial and DO
litical connection with the pOpulous regions
of Asia, stands the gigantic power of Russia
From its earliest days Russia has felt the neces
sity of communication with the ocean. Con
quering and assimilating the numerous hordes
that once wandered over her inland territories,
she has grown like an elephant barred in q
cage. Her first essay was to seize Finland
from Sweden, and thus gain access to the Baltic.
Then she conquered the southern provinces and
the Crimea; but this only opened to her the de-
sire to possess the Caucasus, the Danubian
Principalities, and Constantinople, so that she
might command the Black Sea. The reduction
of the shores of the Caspian carried her
towards Persia, where her policy be-
gins to encounter the interests of the
British empire in India And now she
has stretched long arm to the AMOR, and
seeks to build up there for herself power that
shall control the Western shore of the Pacific,
where France and England are both seeking
commercial entrance into China. Thus the
policy Of Russia and that of England are coming
into conflict in many places.
France, under the Nspoleonic dynasty, seeks
to carry out the ideas of the first Napoleon.
The Rhine and the Alps for boundaries, the
Mediterranean a French lake, Italy allied with
the French idea, and the French people to be-
come the most active and predominating OF
rope. These aspirations bring her into con
fict with several of the Continental Powers
Prussia, who acquired the provinces on the
Rhine in the Vienna partition of Europe, is not
only ready for war to defend her possession OF
them, but seeks the control of the German
Confederation, from which she wishes to Dust
Austria. Thus Prussia has neither = strong
sympathy with France nor Austria, and ia the
past has leaned more upon an alliance with
the tory sympathy Of England Austria,
bankrupt and worn out as she is
still aims to hold together, aud to in
crease her motley and Homogeneous empire.
She resists the advance OF Prussia in Ger.
many and that Of France in Italy. She has
contributed largely to thwart Russia In her
schemes on the Danube and endeavored to OBJ.
J tain those Principalities for herself. Thus sts