The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-16


which feeds the flame; but 1t Is q sig-
have made the largest boast they could Of the
whol esale destruction Of the cotton crop-havs
not been able when they come TO figures, to
make the number OF bales destroyed up to this
time more than 100000. And as the entire
crop numbers four millions of bales, this is but
. very small drop In very large bucket, and
really amounts to nothing.
What will Napoleon do in Ills Mexican
Dllcmmag
In military nation like France the late de-
feat Of its arms in Mexico must be keenly felt
by all classes, and to those who only look at
must appear to be an egregioms error placing
him In dilemma from which i ID impossible
ior him to escape But to those who look
deeper into the springs Of action. and who have
studied the history and character Of Napoleon,
there is no blunder and no insurmountable
difficulty On the contrary, the invasion Of
Mexico 10 but the means to an end. and the
failure 10 part of his plan TO rouse the enthu-
siasm Of the French nation 10 the point to
which he desires to bring 1t. lie we'll knew
that temporary check to the success Of French
arms would stir up the popular mind to Its most
profound depths, and would infame the martial
ardor Of the army to such pitch that 1t would
require tremendous battles and dazzling vic
tories to satisfy it. How easy to direct this
resentment to England. a. the cause Of the dis
aster, in not adhering to the convention, and
deserving France in the critical moment.
The intelligence which we published yes
terday Of the naval preparations in France
on grand scale shows that blow is medi-
tated against "perfdious Albion" and that,
in all human probability, struggle will soon
commence which viii, cast into the shade all
the wars Of the present century. There is no
mention made in the French newspapers OF
these preparations, nor does anything appear
to be known of them in England; but there can
be little doubt that British statesmen see what
is going on in France, though, from policy, they
affect to be ignorant of it. for two reasons: first
they calculate they will the better put Napoleon
off his guard by tegning ignorance Of his designs;
and, secondly, they do not want to alarm the
people, who are already sufficiently prepared
for the revolutionary spark which may at any
time set them ina blaze. But there is abundant
evidence to prove that they are greatly alarmed
at those dark shadows which precede the
coming events.
The invasionsof Mexico is. therefore, foil,
like the invasion Of Egypt, half century ago,
to conceal the real destination Of the impend-
ing stroke which is to make or break Napoleon
III. There Is something very tempting to an
ambitious mind, which has the power, in the
idea Of breaking up an old commercial empire
which had so long lorded 1t over all creation,
more particularly as the aristocratic rulers Of
that empire are the hereditary enemies of
France, and, above all, of the family Of Bona
parte.
That Louis Napoleon possesses the means in
his immense iron-clad feet Of gunboats, and in
the enormous army Of infantry, artillery and
cavalry, which he could transport in few
hours to the Thames and the Mersey, no person
can doubt who knows anything of bis naval
and military resources, and Of the immense pre-
parations he has been quietly making for q
number of years. He knows his dynasty is not
safe till he has thoroughly humbled the pride
Of England, and he appears to have
made up his mind to do it. He could effect .
landing in various parts Of the island; but it Is
probable that the destination Of his troops is
capital, and both the two great commercial
cities, containing the chief wealth of the coun-
try. He could, in the first place, levy enormous
contributions to ransom those cities from the
shells Of his gunboats, and he could make
them the two bases Of his operations in the brief
campaign which would suffice to overrun the
land. Having reduced England to subsection,
and effected social and political revolution in
her institutions, he could then proceed at his
leisure to dispose of Spain, and whatever other
Power rendered itself obnoxious to him.
II may be supposed that Germany, the ally
Of England in other days, would assist her in
this struggle. But the conquest would be ef.
feeted before there was any time for an
alliance. Besides, Napoleon's command of
the sea would effectually cut Off rein
forcements, and the insular position Of
England, once her greatest strength,
would now prove her greatest weakness.
Lastly, all Germany is like smoking volcano,
which may at any moment burst into fame
1t is not in . condition, therefore, to contend
with France. The first attempt of Prussia to
interfere would be the signal to wrest from
her the provinces Of Che Rhine. Selfish, proud,
insolent England, has not true friend among
the nations Of the earth.
But would not the colonies Of England still
sustain her, though the heart Of the empire was
smitten? Not II the control Of the sea belonged
to the conqueror, az 1t assuredly would. On the
contrary, the colonies, which England even now
holds by very feeble ties, would then be rent
asunder from her forever, and would either
establish their independence or be annexed to
kindred and neighboring nations; for instance,