The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-16

shall endeavor to perform our duty.
The New Attitude OF tho English Minis
try-Louis Napoleon and his Relations
to Europe.
1t is evident to the careful observer that all
the Powers Of Europe are preparing to meet
some great coming event, which those within
the circle of dynastic intrigues and State
secrets foresee, but which is not yet apparent
to the public eye.
The secrecy with which diplomacy and State
affairs are managed in Europe deprives the
great mass of the people of any influence in
the control of events that directly affect their
present and future interests, except when some
great uprising Of the masses takes place, as in
1898, in 1880 and in ls48. At these times the
representatives. of the remnants of feudalism
flee in terror, and public administration is for
a time conducted with publicity that enables
the banded, dynastic and aristocratc classes
to plot with advantage, and generally with par
tial success, though they have never succeeded
in recovering entirely what the popular upris-
ings have deprived them of. But in the
normal times of their rule, public
affairs are conducted as secretly as
possible, and it is only by their acts
that their hopes and fears can be partially
deduced. These feelings have been very active
in Europe since the subsidence of the CONNER
cial panic of 1857, which for time subdued all
other considerations. They reached climax
when, on New Years Day of 1859, Louis Napo-
leon saluted the Austrian Ambassador with
words of anger. Then the world knew that
war between Austria and France was thing
resolved on. The class interests strove to parry
the bolt, and failed. During the rapid progress
of Louis Napoleon in the Italian campaign,
they hopefully labored for a general war
against him, when the peace of Villafranca
startled the world with the exhibition of his
fears. The next event. which has opened a
view of the same feeling to the world, was his
sudden commercial treaty with England, and
abandonment of the old fiscal policy of France :
q step evidently intended to create closer
union between the Napoleonic dynasty and the
middle classes, who live by industry and trade,
in view of coming danger. Closely following
this step came the news of Austria pouring
cannon and materials of war into the fortresses
of the historic quadrangle, the recruiting
and arming of the legions Of the Pope,
the jealousy of Prussia stimulating the
protest of Switzerland, the excommunion of
Victor Emanuel, the abnegatory and cautious
pursuit by Louis Napoleon of his policy in
Savoy and Nice, and lastly, the recent speech
of Lord John Russell in the British Parliament,
evidently indicating the rising up, even in
England, of new fears of the French Emperor.
Thus we perceive the general prevalence
among European dynasties and diplomatists of
sense of coming danger. Aglance at the po-
sition Of affairs there will show that there is
reason for this.
The course of events has led the people of
Europe to the conviction that in their struggle
with the feudal aristocracy they need the as
sistance of a powerful and skilful leader to
help them to complete their victory This
is the position occupied by Louis Napoleon.
He is the executory legatee Of the revolution.
Modern absolutism is only the transition from
aristocracy to democracy. The autocrat Louis
Napoleon is the intimate ally Of the people;
and though his personal object may be merely
to seize on the government for himself and his
family, his vocation is to raise the class of the
commons, and to maintain the whole State
against the active power of the mobiles and the
hierarchy. It is in this vocation that his
labors awaken the fears of the dynasties
and the aristocracy of Europe 1t will
be difficult, however, to find IN this great fact
logical reason for the evident suspicious Of
Lord John Russell, although it satisfactorily
accounts for the hatred Of the British tories.
The reasons for the suspicious Of the English
liberals must be sought elsewhere, and we
think they will be found in the short chain Of
recent events The erection Of Sardinia into q