The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-11-13
Foreign Intervention.

Foreign Intervention.
1t is probable that some minds have cherish
ed lurking fear of foreign Intervention in our
national affairs, during the progress of this
war, and that fear has been kept alive by the
rumors which have from time to time reached
us. But we have never believed that any of
the European Governments would interfere
directly, although we have good reason to be-
lieve that the aristocracy of England have had
something to do with tho rebellion from its
first incipient stages They sympathize with
secession, because in it they think they see the
instrument which is to break down and des
troy republican government, as well as to
remove a powerful commercial rival Recent
adyices indicate that the emancipation proc
lamation OF the President has been favorably
received abroad, and has apparently removed
all danger of Intervention in our affairs by the
the European Governments. And the hope
of such intervention in their behalf, by the
people of the South, has nearly, if not entirely
vanished. The Richmond Examiner of a re-
cent date, says that there were, but short
time ago, "hopeful indications that England
and France were about to take some action in
this war, that would be favorable to the South.
This opinion was reflected, not only by the
journals of the enemy, but in the minds of in
telligent foreigners on this side Of the Allan
tic. "But," says the Examiner, "the prospect
of European Intervention, has vanished like a
wreath. There is no installing the sig
nificance of the speech oil the British Secrea-
ry of War, in which he asserts that the South
has not, as yet, accomplished her independ-
ence, and must be regarded as a beligerent,
holding an uncertain position in an undecided
war. The British Government will, in no way,
and at no time recognize the Southern Con-
federacy as one of the independent powers of
the earth, or interfere to limit the duration of
this war"
But If there is no danger of direct interview
ton by the British, or other European govern
ments, there is danger of private interview
ton the part of the liberty -hating arstocrats
Of the old world to aid indirectly the cause of
secession. Already there is at least one pirate
afoat, preying upon our commerce, which
they built and fitted out-The Alabama is
terror to our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES this, we
have alarming rumors of further movements
In the same direction. Upon the authority of
Southern man then in London, an English
correspondent Of the Boston Journal states
that as many as eighteen iron-clad war vessels
of the largest size yet contracted are now be-
ing built for the sConiederacy" in various
parts of England and France. These ships
are built, it is positively asserted, and will be
armed almost entirely by subscriptions among
the aristocracy of England, who have a bitter
hatred of any republican form of government,
and from the mercantile and manufacturing
interests, which desire to break down what
they deem formidable rival. These ships
are to be used, it is said first for conveying
fleets of transports laden with supplies, NUM-
tons of war, &C., and in breaking the block
ade for their admission into Confederate ports
and afterwards as circumstances may sug-
gest If there be any truth in these state
ments, and we are inclined to think they are
not without foundation, il is easy to conjecture
the mode in which the aristocracy of Europe
may intervene in our affairs, Notwithstanding
the protested neutrality of their governments.
If they can build and fit out large ron-clad
ships, openly for the purpose of aiding the
South and of preying upon the commerce of
the North, without let or hindrance from their
governments, it is certainly a sort of neutral
ity' unknown in history. But if our govern
ment is true to itself, as we have no doubt it
is and will be, there is but little to fear from
any sort of foreign intervention, direct or in
direct.