New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-05
ENGLISH AND FRENCH INFLUENCE
IN EUROPE.

Whatever opinion we may have of the mora
character Of the French Emperor, it cannot De-
denied that be- is to be reckoned one OF the
abest rulers Of the century. No other living
Sovereign has exercised 50 powerful on intlu-
ence on the political history of our times, and
in particular none has done 50 much toward q
general reconstruction Of the map Of Europe.
There is hardly a country on the continent of
Europe In which there is not party which
leans on Napoleon for the sake of accomplish.
ing it's own ends. Most of the Italian states
men are ardently devoted to him; the Minister
President of Prussia regards him as the model
statesman of Europe, and courts his favor; q
strong party in Hungary looks to him for the
independence Of the country, and even Kossuth
is believed to be DESTROYS of securing his aid
Poland still chershes her hope for the sympathy
Of France; and Spain has among its politicians
large French party. The influence of the
Emperor has therefore by no means been con-
fined to France, but throughout Europe public
opinion has been guided by him with firm aud
skillful hand.
The chief rival Of France in its foreign pol
icy has been and is England, notwithstanding
part of the world England and France are
competing for a controlling influence. Though
there is room enough for both, yet the race
for superiority not rarely kindes anew the
smolderng fires of international jealousy.
Napoleon has done more for the French in
terests abroad than any French monarch
before him, and it is, therefore, natural
that tho English Government aud people should
watch with intense solicitude his every move
meni.
The political complications in several coun-
tries Of Europe have been for some time such
as to offer TO tie rival eSertions Of the two
nations very inviting field. Nationalties
which have been living for centuries under the
an Independent existence. Hitherto no Euro
pean monarch has shown so much Difference to
the great motive power ofPo!itcal changesJn
Europe as Napoleon, and it was therefore in
him that the hopes OF so many oppressed were
concentrated. 1t was to hir, they looked to
redisribute the territory of Europe, which tho
Congress Of Vienna had arbitrarily pareeIed
OIt among tho princes. Napoleon, until re-
Gently, has 30 fostered the national aspirations
of suffering countries NJ nearly TO exclude the
influence Of England.
The English Government appears to be, at
present DESTROYS to reconIuer its lost ground
aud enlarge its influence on the destiny OF Eu-
rope in opposition to that of France. Two
important moves. which seem to inaugurate
new period in the foreign policy of England,
were made toward the close of tho year 1862.
England patronized the Greek revolution, aud
even offered to the new kingdom tho cesslOn OF the
Ionan Islands, which she had often and proud
" re fused to the unanimous and urgent de-
mands Of the islanders. Tho apparently mag
ray.mous offer did not fail to have tho desired
effect. The Greeks at once became ardent adj
nircrs of Great Britain, and with almost en-
tire unanimity elected Prince Alfred their king.
Another move of the same kind was made
in Italy. While tho French Emperor, by at
tempting to uphold tho temporal power OF the
Pope, lost the confidence of very large por.
ton Of the Italian people, England took strong
ground 10 dsloase Of tho Nations cause. aud