New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-04
THE FRENCH PRESS.

The excitement Occssioned in France BY the
affair of the Trent has contributed in an emf
nent degree to illustrate the strong current OF
popular sympainy---if We ale to judge thereof by
certain so-cBlled organs of public opinion. The
discussion thus far ought to show the American
people who are their true friends and Of what
substance they are made. We mud that the act
Of Capt Wilkes has been very gcbcHaly con-
demned by the French Press the reasons for
which condemnation it is unnecessary to dls-
cuss, further than 1t serves to show the Inc
between loyalty and dishonesty.
One portion Of the Press was evidently I'M
uble t. contain itself for JOY at the prospoc. OF
war between England and this country, and
the ultimate success Of the rebel Slayeocracy
Of the South. And the journals in this par
ocular interest were ready TO tender TO England
tie co operation Of France asaint the NAM
tenance Of law and the perpetuatIon of free
Government on this continent. However
cninous this projected conspiracy say have
appeared to outslders, il is insufficient 10 alarm
those who know the character, and can meas
ure the influence Of the Pro-Slayery Journal, Of
France.
Foremost among the journals which have
heralded the dehnitiye victory Of Slavery, and
have shown their eagerness for q tripsrtite
alliance with England and Mr. Jefferson
Davis, are the Constitutional, the Pdtrie,
aud the Pays. Til recently, these journals
have enjoyed the subyeniion Of the police. But
for reasons which have not been made patent,
their pay has recently been stopped-only osten-
-by, some say - but the better informed
believe the withdrawal of the supplies has
really taken place--a fact which at once nc
counts for the violence Of their temper and
their tendency to general recrmnaton. For
the time they have ceased to wear the collar
of Office; but the badge Of seryitude is their
natural inheritance and unless IN the capacity
of lackeys, deriving their subsistence through
official sources, life and action become 10 them
all but impossible. In such { temper, they
were likely to jump readily at ogerturcs such
as the agents of the rebel Government were
prepared to offer. For with ChevalieIs OF
their particular order, IT is point Of honor ~
PROSTATE themselves in the dust
II is worthy Of note in estimating the in
huence of the Secession journals of France
that the combined circulation of the Con.
StitufioHad, the Patrie, aId the Pays
scarcely reaches One-half the circulation Ut
three Of the daily journals which take friend
ly view of our domestic difficulties The sub
scrlbers Of these quondam organs of the Police
Department are mainly ofiicc-holders, while
those Of the Independent Press, whether iibe-
raj, radical Carlist, Protestant, or Catholic,
are the French people. Such journals as the
Courier du Dimanche, the DeJatS the Prose-
the SieeIe, the Opinion Naiionaie, the Ga=eHe
de France, and other', joined in condemning
the net Of Capt. Wilkes; but along with their
oIdemDatlOn-which was based on their sen.
sitiveness as to the rights of neutrals-they
united deep and sincere expression OF grief
at the prospect OF the accumulated
danger to the cause of the Union aud
of human progress which might accrue
from war with England. The independent
journals we have named were careful
TO repudiate any hostile inteation GU the part