Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-11

FRENCH INTERVENTION IN l11o.- ne
N. Y. World publishes a letter on
American affairs. written by zone o.
the most distinguished members Of the
British Parliament" in which some
singular statements are aired for the
benefit of the Yankee world. France, 81
says the distinguished Briton, "recog
nized you in the last century when you
had not 1.-THE Of the power exhibited
by the South" &c. This is not faiI
statement of the circumstances of French
recognition ofthe United States in 1873.
France did not recognize this country
until it had achieved real existence,
and not until after one British army
had been driven out OF New England,
though supported by powerful fleet.
and another British army had been de-
ieated, and made to surrender in New
York. The war between America and
England began in April, 1775. and It
was not until February, 1878. that
France formally recognized the new
nation, Just as the thirty-fourth month
Of the contest was drawing toward its
close. Sir William Howe had been
compelled to leave Boston, and nothing
but Washington's desire not to injure
that place saved the British feet and
army from total destruction. Sir John
Burgoyne had been beaten in the field,
and forced to surrender his army to
Gen. Gates. AT the time of French
recognition, the English had little power
in America. They held the three i'm
portant towns Of New York, Philadel-
phia. and Newport in the North. with
small portions Of the country near those
places. Beyond those places they held
no American territory Of any value;
and though General Washington had
been besten at Brandywiner yet the
readiness with which he sought battle
at Germantown. failing Of success there
only through the mistakes Of some OF
his esicers, and the occurrence Of fog,
showed that the victories OF the Eng
lIsh in Pennsylvania had been Of the
most barren character. At no period
Of the war, down to the capture Of
CORVALLIS at Yorktown. was the Ameri-
can cause in better condition than in
the last days OF I777, when the French
Government made up its mind TO ack-
Rowledge our nationality. which had
been gained without any open foreign
aid, and with very little secret foreign
aid. We had, too, many vessels on the
ocean. public cruisers as well as priva.
teers, which had inflicted great dam
age upon British commerce, which
was fact that made a strong impress
sion on the French mind, France hav-
ing suffered terribly from British naval
superiority in her last war with her old
foe. That war in the South, which
assumed SO comprehensive character,
and which might have led to the con-
quest of the Southern States, had the
English known how to improve their
successes, was not begun until after the
French alliance was formed. The con-
di,ion OF the United States at the begin
ming Of 1873 furnishes perfect con-
trast to the condition Of the Southern
Coniederacy at the close Of 1852.
Boston Traveller.
Not only is this true, but, what the
Traveller singularly overlooks Great
Britain treated the recognition of the
United States by France even under
these circumstances as a cause OF war,
and France did not deny the business
Of the treatment. The case adduced
by Zone Of the most distinguished mem
bers of the British Parliament" is thus
not only not in point but dead against
the point.