The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-19


This policy ON the part of the black republi-
can revolutionists should make the conserva'
tive element more watchful, and put it doubly
on its guard.
The AngIo-Frsnch Commercial Treaty
as . Guarantee OF Peace.
1t will be seen by our Berlin letter that
Louis Napoleon has proposed to Prussia the
negotiation of commercial treaty similar to
that concluded with England. The Emperor
is evidently DESTROYS of impressing the world
with the pacific character OF bis future policy.
We cannot forget, however, the results Of his
famous manifesto, "L'Empire c'est lie paix.'
1t has brought as its sequence nothing but
wars and diplomatic troubles.
The English have made some heavy CONNER
cial sacrifices In connection with the recent
commercial treaty with France, In the belief
that it will constitute q guarantee for peace
between the two countries. We are afraid,
however, that the desire which they feel to re-
main on good terms with their powerful neigh
Dor has led them to over-estimste the value of
the new tie That they have contracted. Treaties
have no firm basis except in an equality of ad-
vantages between nations coequally situated.
When despotism allies itself with q
constitutional monarchy for particular OBJ
jects, the latter must take the chances of the
instability which in the nature of things at.
taches to a system in which single will pre-.
dominates. The history of political alliances
shows 10 instance in which treaties have out
lived for any length of time the circumstances
under which they have been contracted. 1t Is
impossible to bind posterity by compsets
which the ever changing interests Of commu.
mites may render impolitic and burdensome.
Commercial treaties form no exception to
this uncertainty. The same principles that
rule the political life of nations regulate their
commercial existence. They are equally sub
ject to the ebb and flow of liberal ideas, and
20 permanerce can be impaired to the arrange
me nts to which they give birth. OF the num-
berless conventions of commercial character
which the last half century has produced, how
few remain In force? And Jet they have all been
piefaced by glowing panegyrics on the bene-
fits that they would confer in promoting inter-
rational good feeling, and in permanently
afertipg the evils Of war.
When We read the sasguine an.icipa!ions Ia
which the ministerial press Of England INDUCES
In reference to the future results OF the new
treaty, we cannot but feel surprised at its obli-
vlsusness of these truths. No nation has enter
ed into so many formal commercial compacts
as Epgland-no nation has done more to prove
their utter worthlessness as obligations. Wit
ness It's treaties with the Continental govern
ments previous to the wars Of the first Napo.
leon; witness Its conduct In India and China
since. And yet there has never been COM
mercial convention executed by Great Britain
which has not been seized upon rs an occasion
Tor sounding her praises as the great propa.
gaDdist Of peace.
There Is singular appositeness In the cir.
cumstances connected with the ratification OF
the commercial treaty between Epgland and
France in the year I5s6 to those of the con.
vention recently concluded between the same
countries Then, as now, high hopes were en-
tertained Of the lasting benefits which were to
result from this closer linking Of their inte-
rests. In letter attributed to the pen of Ju
Mus butte exhibiting more faith 10 men and mea-
sures than usually characterized bis writings
we find language employed which presents a
remarkable coincidence with the expectations
at present INDUCED in by the English ministe.
rial journals ITO extinguish," says the writer,
''or to diminish, those illibersl prejudices and
those inveterate wars which, from the reign Of
Edward the Third, have devastated the two
monarchies and alternately convulsed them; to
substitute the mild interchange of commercial
advantages and reciprocal benefits; to open
new and untried channels for activity. enter.
prize and industry-ihese objects, II attained,
IL they can be attained, will do equal honor to
the genius Of the minister who planned and to
the spirit Of the age which adopted them. Vine
tier they are so obtained or not, am not so
presumptuous as to pretend or determine. Dot
when see the public prints teeming with IL.
vec,ive against the present treaty, because II /
bears 80 intimate q resemblance to the treaty
of commerce signed in I713, and which was re-
jected In the subsequent triumph Of rival fac
ton, / cannot help commisera.ing the iguo-
rance and creduiity Of people who can be
made the dupes Of 30 wretched an imposi
ton
In lees than three years from the date OF
which this was penned the Revolution was
huIr,ipg the French people into sanguiuary
excuses, and In couple more war was de
elared between the countries whose close fra.
termination had been thus warmly anticipated. |
Does the treaty recently concluded promise
more permanent result. The experience OF
history and the restless character Of Louis Ma.
poleon forbid the indulgence Of any such hope
MOVEMENTS IN DENocRArIo PoIIucs.--The
development. of Mr.. Fowier's defalcaton Is
creating grea, deal Of excitement among the |