New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-09-29
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

GOhEbIsN AWtN'''
In the fixed resolve of the American people to
maintain the authority Of their chosen Govern
mcnt and to hand down intact the heritage OF
their fathers, it is not unnatural that there should
be mingled some nervous doubt as to the pur-
poses of foreign governments, through whose in
ervention alone the success of the Rebellion IS Ell
Their possible or has ever been hoped for by the
wiser of those hot and undisciplined minds which
control the policy Of the upstart Conederacy ;
but calm reflection VIII satisfy us that, whatever
NAV have been the desire OF foreign Powcrs,
there has never been any serious cause for ap-
! prehension that they would take an active part
in the struggle.
The experience Of England in the War Of the
Revolution and Of l-l2 against ourselves, and
in the war of the Allies in the Crimea. has been
enough to convince her of her inability to main
tain even her hold upon her Canadian colonies
far less 10 cope on land with the great military
force now marshaled under our banners and train
( ed to march and battle OF all European nations
she is the least prepared for a military struggle
| IN which the number Of men to be maintained
"a an invading force Is a condition of srcsess
Her strength lies in her great wealth in money
and material and in her formidable marine. In
an Of ihcse the United States is hcf equal. and
in a struggle with this country her great com
m,rce would be- as nnbh an element Of weakness
a. her armed marine j. Of strength.
An cmdnon,ly calculating and practical peo-
Gle. y Itch has never yet undertaken war with
other aim than 10 secure or promote her com
merca aud Ter manufacturing interests by
opeuinc new markets to her active industrial
o.s.cs England will carefully count the cost
~ any new enterprise. and study IT, probable
bearing on these Interests Steam ha, introduced
q rew element into The calculation, and il Is not
improbable that the d'predaton- II he priva-
,crri from which We are 80 severely suii.nn-,
haze at las, op,nol her eyes 10 the inevitable
results ~ her commerce Of a quarrel with the
Unitrd States II three or four vessels Ike the
Alabama. none of them frst-class wax vessels,
"ieh'-hnrfred rcnty Of the Seas have been
able 10 destroy hundreds Of ships and millions of
property. and drive 20 tie protection of foreign
nae- thousands Of tuns in addition. and yet
clude the numerous and rapid cruisers in pur-
suit now hiding under cover of neutral ports
AID anon tracking the boundlcss waste in Pew
ani unusual courses, II has not escaped her cnl-
eulaiion that one hundred such vessels dis
patched from our ports fleet Of foot ana lightly
armed. seeking only destruction. and carefully
avoiding combat, would in few short months
sweep her great commerce from the seas so en-
iiroly tha, her trade would be- Absolutely de-
s'royed She would be practically Isolated in
her in.alar home.
Her war-yesscls nigh, destroy our sca-port..
but that il doubtful with our new defensive
power in guns and iron -clads, and such dcstruc-
lions would III repay her ior or ayengr the loss
If that on which her lie depends, her wooden
walls" However her Statesmen may have
viewed ,hi- matter in the early days Of this
struggle. there can be no question of their
opinion now; and We de- not douhs that Ear more
anxiety has been entertained IN England with
regard To tie sailing Of the Rebel iron-clads
than has been felt Oh this side q the water.
We have only needed 10 maintain a calm and
bold outside in our diplomatic relations 10
secure not only the neutrality but the respect Of
this Power The Proclamation of the Queen.
according hellgorent rights 10 the Rebels, Wa,
no doubt u wanton disregard OF international
comfy and that liicrdlincss which We had a
right Ia expect from q cogna'c racc--in il,
undue haste, pat forth before the representative
If the incoming Administrator had the onpor-
tunity Of prcs,nling Us views, it was an gilcn-c
which viii long ranhlc in The American heart;
but, the step once taken, It was hardly disuhcd
TO seek it, rciradtion by more than deliberate
protest. IL maa perhaps be Idle To hope that o.
proud Ministry would acknowledge tie wrong
by retracling the act. hut, beyond this wroug
aud the consequences which have nsullcd from
il, and which were doubtless uniorefetn nj the
time II was issued, England has never seriously
entertained any idea ol active aid 10 the Rebels.
Nor is there, we trust, in the present oondi-
ton Of ailars much 10 Rear from tho designs of
France. France has nothing 10 gain from a
quarrel with this country. A military invasion
! l. simply beyond her means. War three thou.
sand miles from the base of operations is not in
/ the power Of any nation or any combination Of
nations against such Il military power as that of
the United States. Certainly, since railroads
ard steam have added so incalculably to the
means of resistance and the facilities for The con
ccntration of troops, force landing anywhere on
The coast of the United States would be- over
whelmod before it could make Judgment; and
no men-oi-var, not the combined nayies oi
France and England, could safely convoy Il