The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-21
The French People.

The French People.
The prompt manner in which Louis NAPo-
LEON moved to the relief of the prosecuted
Chris tians in Syria has added new laurels to
his name ia every country except Great Brit
ain, whose journals, protesting TO be more
Chris tan than any other, endeavor to find ex-
cuses for tn. Druses, because they are suspi-
cious of the motives of Louis NAPOLEON,
and jealous of the progress which the French
nation has made under his government in all
the industrial arts, in manufactures and COM
MERGE. and in political influence and power.
Ii is Impossible for that wise and sagacious
statesman to dispossess The English leaders of
public opinion of their absurd suspicious
His late letter-frank, manly, and clear as q
sunbeam-only makes them more doubtful
and unhappy. They will not look at things
as they seem on the surface, but are sure that
there is deadly hook under this tempting
bait and that the French Emperor will never
die content till he has avenged Waterloo. I'm
doubtedly that is true; that is part OF the
Napoleonic programme; but there are differ
ent modes of taking vengeance and possibly
the mode which NAPOLEON has adopted is one
which will promote the material interests as
well as the national glory of France while at
the same time it degrades and humiliates
England. We have already said that the first
NAPOLEON desired an English alliance, and it
is equally desirable to enable the present En-
peror to carry out his policy with regard to
the rest Of Europe. We are not SO certain
that that alliance is equally desirable for Eng
land. AT all events, she has thus far played
second fiddle to the Emperor of the French,
and lost her ancient influence on the Conti-
nent. The Anglo French alliance, in q mill
tary point of view, has developed the vast
pre- eminence of France as a military power
over England and every other European En-
pire whilst it has only sufficed to show the
inferiority of the English soldiery, and give
its navy no opportunity TO exhibit its pro-
wess. LOUIS NAPOLEON makes war without
the consent of his English ally, and makes
peace without waiting for her concurrence.
For the benefits of this new alliance she has
sacrificed in open war the friendship of her
old and faithful Russian ally, and by her lin
tied Partially in the Italian conflict, has
alienated Austria and dampened the friend
ship of the Italians. On the contrary, France
and Russia have come to good understand
ing once more, and Louis holds the heart of
Italy in the hollow of his hand. Why should
he be in any hurry to destroy that alliance
"uiCu 6HSlauO " tuc "OElu dS an lS-
nominious tail to the French kite Without
the expenditure of a single franc, he has let
down England a peg or two already in the es-
timation of the world. "When two ride g.
horse, one must ride behind and England
has been riding behind throughout the whole
of the French alliance, and will continue TO do
as long as it exists.
A contemporary, while cordially approving
rI,a 40 rs
sending off powerful detachment of troops
ahead of these of all other nations, to the re-
lief of suffering humanity, says cit is plainly
because of the debasement of his people that
Louis is able to do the apparently noble deed
he has now on hand And he then proceeds
to assert that the education, morals, habits
and incomes of the English peasants are far
superior to those of the French, and considers
it sufficient evidence that the lower classes of
England are better off than those of the Con-
tinent, that they are not willing TO risk their
lives for few sous per diem.
These views of the French people, come
through an English medium, though the more
enlightened class of Englishmen would not
endorse the war. Proof enough could be pro-
duced from English periodicals alone, to show
that in intelligence, morality, and industry
the French rural population are equal to any
in the world; and that in sobriety, the English
nation cannot, for a moment, compare with
them. One of the leading London periodicals
has called attention to a striking point of diff
ference between the manner in which the
English and French lower classes amuse them
selves on days of leisure--the one going off to
the gin-shop, and leaving his wife and family
to take care OF themselves; and the French
man, taking them to public gardens, to share
with him his moderate amusements. There
is scarcely a seaport town in the world which
will not testify 10 the peculiar sobriety and
quiet and orderly behavior of the common
sailors of French men of war, when off duty
and the drunken, barbarous, riotous conduct
of English, and (truth compels us TO add
American sailors, when they have IA liberty
day on shore" The English aristocracy will
no doubt compare favorably with any aris-
tocracy on the face Of the earth; but to talk
about the inferiority of the lower classes to
those of Great Britain, shows a degree of
prejudice unworthy an enlightened American
So far from the promptitude of NAPoLRoN's
movements showing the 'debasement of the
French people," it demonstrates a more no.
bic and civilized public opinion than that of
England for it was the force of this public
opinion. Ito which LOUIS NAPOLEON emphati.
cally refers in his late letter. which compeiI-
ed him to move at once to the relief of the
Christians in the East; whilst England, which
drugs the Chinese with opium, kidnaps their
Coolies into the most horrible bondage, and
refuses TO give the Christian religion in India
an equal chance with the Hindoos, holds back
from the rescue of the suffering people of Sy-
ria. till she
have upon her own interests.
oHockIno AccIDKNT.-Miss Mary Boch.
man, miiliner, was burnt TO death on Satur.