Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-01-02
A Change in Tie Policy Of England ant
France Towards this Government.

rebel service. Ean Russell announced the
fact in such terms u admitted of no doubt
that in this s9aissthe British Government
was IN earnest. We are now assured BY our
Secretary of State, Mr.. Seward, that france,
upon the firm representation Of our Minister
at Paris. has ordered the stoppage of the six
rebel rams which were being constructed at
Nantes. This step on the part of Napoleon
will take the Southern confederacv by sur.
prise. and will. no doubt, create a panic
among those misguided classes in Secessia
who still cling to the hope of foreign inter-
vention or recognition. France, in thus fol-
lowing the example set by England. proves
that had the latter government acted with
less precipitancy in recognizing the rebels as
belligerents, our civil war would long since
have terminated.
England extended favor to the rebellion,
and France fastened to follow her example,
as also did Spain. Thus buoyed up, Davis
and his followers have struggled on against
good cause and fearful odds, because they
were sanguine that, sooner or later, England,
France and Spain would recognize them.
But we fortunately, won at Antietam, and at
Gettysburg, and with men like Grant in the
ded their weight to the influence we brought to
bear upon our evil wishers in Europe; and.
with " swamp angels and iron-clads thrown
into the balance. up went the cause of Davis
into vapory uncertainty. Long ago would he
have abandoned hopeless sirite had Eng.
land and France acted at first as they seem
disposed to act now. These European ma.
tions have at last ascertained that the real
power and strength of the American republic
are in the loyal States of the North and
West, and they will abandon the South be-
cause it is weak and unable much longer to
resist the legitimate influence and authority
of the United States government.
The people in France, who have all along
been aversc to any course on the part of
their government which might bring about
a war between us, will be all the more indis-
posed to any such policy from the failure Of
the Mexican expedition. This affair, as
viewed in all its aspects, must be considered
failure, and its difficulties will but enhance
in popular estimation in France the prrils of
a war with this country. An enterprise has
just been started in that empire which will
have vast influence upon the American
question. We refer to projected line of
steamships between this country and Brpst,
hitherto military port in France, but which
it is proposed to render commercial port
also. Brcst has the finest harbor on the
French coast. Vessels can cn'er it at all
times. 1t is so deep that the tide does not
affect the ingress or eeress Of the port. The
trip across the Atlantic would br shortened
from eighteen to twenty hours by making
Brcst the port of landing; and as this place
is connected with Paris bv rail there would
be an immense amount of business transacted
there. The influential classes connected with
this enterprise will of course be averse to all
recognition Of the South and consequent
quarrel with us, and we shall see that Napo-
leon will be swayed by the influence Of these
parties.
Decidedly. the star of Davis and his COM
peers is declining. We would by all means
advise them to leave the South to its mani
fest destiny-Union-and at one take up
their march to Mexico, drive the French
from there, and reader that great and pow
erful government, in alliance with the United
States. Such scheme is feasible. Their
present idea Of an Independent South is, On
the contrary, absurd, impossible.
-.e-------
FORESTS NECESSITY OF FERTILITY:
The value Of forests to country in retaining
moisture is we'll illustrated by the late severe
freshets of the Connecticut valley: The
snow melts quicker in an open country, and
is retained longer among groves. Formerly
the Connection river and its tributaries We're
clothed with forests now they are largely
denudt,d. and we have reason to expect
greater freshets than formerly. The present
6arenness Of Greece and Palestine, ds con.
trasted with their former fertility, is similarly
accounted for. DR.. Unger, a celebrated
naturalist of Vienna. claims that tho climate
lacks it's orginal moisture. He Gays that the
hords Of warriors that have followed each
other for centuries on that soil, have burned
up the forests. and every effort Of nature to
make restoration is subdued by superabuu-
dance of goats. The population live on the
products Of the goats. and the goats crop
exsry twig. thus bringing baroness. If the
forests should ever again grow, DR.. Unger
thinks fertility would Le restored.
DISTANCES IN CHARLESTON HARBoR.-
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