Daily national Democrat., 1860-01-20
England and France.

apprehension of an invasion from France, at
some period not far remote in the future.
The continual military and naval prepara-
tions of Louis Napoleon, the latter being Of
such character as clearly to indicate that
no attack upon any very distant country is
contemplated. very naturally gives England
good ground for suspecting the designs of
France.
So great has been this apprehension Of late
that prominent English merchants have ad-
dressed Napoleon letter desiring to know
what were his intentions as regards England.
A very silly inquiry. and one rejecting no
great credit on the pride of character of the
the interrogators. Napoleon replies in an
ambiguous and rather sarcastic spirit, with
out giving the inquirers much satisfaction.
His letter is not calculated to allay the fears
of the British people. They apprehend an
invasion as strongly as ever, and it really
does seem as though they had pretty good
cause for their apprehensions. History re.
cords the fact that the French did once march
into British Territory a considerable distance
with very little difficulty, and had the small
force then sent been backed up by the forces
which they expected, but which storm pre-
vented them from receiving, a succession Of
victories to the French arms would have
been the result.
The main reliance Of Napoleon, in case Of
an invasion Of the English Kingdom, would
be the wide disaffection of the Irish people
to the English Crown. The moment that a
French army would land upon the shores Of
Ireland. thousands of the oppressed and
down trodden Irish would rush to the stand
ard Of the invaders. What obligations are
they under to England not 10 do so2 What
liberties do they possess or privileges under
the English Government worth the having 7
Have they not always, from time immemO-
rial been treated more like the inhabitants
ofa conquered province than like free-born
British subjects? Have not their ablest and
best men been inhumanly sacrificed, without
law and without jussice. upon the altar of
English despotism, for the mere assertion, and
no more, of the right of the people of Ireland
to the franchises and charters of the British
Constitution Do the Irish people not now
support the Established Church, notwith-
standing they are Catholic, and their con-
sciences are against the established religion
Catholics as they are and supporting their
own Church, are they not compelled to pay
heavy and exorbitant taxes in order to feed
and clOthe and cover with dignity clergy
who do nought but denounce them for their
religious opinions? For these reasons and
many more which might be named, had we
the space. have the Irish good cause to rebel
against the English Government, and to lend
their assistance TO the French arms, should
Napoleon plant his standard upon their
shores.
1t is only by an invasion of this kind that
Ireland eau ever rise with any effect against
England The British rule has always been
SO stringent in Ireland as to keep down rebel.
lion, without much difficulty A standing
army of forty or fifty thousand men, garri-
soned in the country, and ready at mo-
ment's warning to put the DEGREES of the
| government or its representatives in execu-
ton; standing order rigidly enforced, that
no Irishman, unless a soldier In the ranks
shall bear arms or have them about his house:
an almost absolute power of pampered ar
istocratic. land-holding few over the masses
dependent upon them-all this has placed
poor Ireland in a condition from which it is
impossible for her to e1tricate herself with
out the interposition Of q foreign power.
But let France land an army in Ireland and
a far different state of things would be pre-
sented. Ireland, having now no arms, would
at once stand forth fully armed, from the ar
senals of France. Regiments would at once
be formed under such French officers as Nc
Mahon, who have won glory on many a well
fought field, for France and Ireland too.
The aristocracy who have so long lorded it
over the down-trOdden Irish and made them,
as it were, mere serfs upon the soil, would be
compelled to flee for thesr lives. Their prop.
erty would be consumed for the benefit Of
the peasantry. The spirit of liberty, the an
cient proud spirit of the Celtic race, would
burst forth in all its pristine vigor. and the
English Government would tremble for her
dominion. We believe, that Ireland would
be wrested from her grasp. God grant that
it may SO happen.