The Portland daily press., 1864-02-22
France and Mexico.

-
pregnant with meaning. No doubt it was in
tended as sort of anodyne TO quiet the ma
tionalities Of the civilized world, and to cast
mist before the eyes of statesmen, not only
of this country, but also Of Europe, that he
might work more securely in the dark, con-
coct his plans, shape his course and reach
those heights which his ambition so much de-
sires. Louis Napoleon is unquestionably a
cunning man, and the most able incumbent of
any throne in the old world. And he knows
very well too the nature of the tenure by
which he retains power over the French ma
ton. The path that d9Aim to the throne is
still vivid 10 his memory, and he would gladly
cover that path from the view of Frenchmen
by holding up before them the hattering pros
poets of a glorious future. That he studies
deeply and thoroughly the French character
there can be no doubt, but there are men In
Paris whose minds he cannot blind and whose
hearts he cannot corrupt No dazzling ray Of
splendor from his throne can outshine the pure
fame Of Liberty that burns steadily on the
affairs of their hearts.
Opposition to him commenced long before
he sent his army to the conquest Of Mexico,
and since that event il has grown more formi-
dable and now may well make him feel the
force of the saying, uneasy is the head that
wears crown" 1t may be true that "Genius,
like the mint die, can stamp alike with royal
efilgies, pieces of gold and pieces OF "copper""
but Louis Napoleon with all his own intel
lectual power and shrewdness, together with
the prestige his uncle's name and fame have
given him, cannot repress the spirit of Repnb-
lcanism that warns and stirs the hearts of
Frenchmen. 1t Is there buried deep, and like
the central fires of earth it cannot be remov-
ed or put out. Not one coup de etat, nor
score Of volcanoes can accomplish that work.
1t will burn though mountains press it down
and oceans cover it..
1t has been said that "armies of Freemen
conquer for themselves, and not for their lead
ers,' but we do not infer from such general
truth that the French armies viii long remain
10 Mexico, nor that they will cultivate Mex
lean soil, enter into commerce and manu-
features there, exterminate the natives or help
establish an empire under the rule and gov
eminent of Maximilian. The truth is, the
Mexican war never was and never will be
popular in France. This invasion of Mexico
is the exclusive work of the French Emperor
and his Government. Although Frenchnen
are proverbial for their love of military glory,
yet they never set on foot such an expedition
and do not now favor it. Even the common
people are far from being enthusiastic over
the conquest, and French Statesmen are wise
leon would establish cannot long exist on this
continent.
Cunning and shrewd as the French Empe-
ror is acknowledged to be, he may be yet out
witted by his own people, and never give a
royal inheritance to the boy Eugene has borne
him. Any one who has carefully traced the
history OF this movement upon Mexico by
France, England and Spain, from the com
mencement to the present time. must be as
tonished at the duplicity Of the French Gov
eminent as seen through its minister, n.
Thouvenal, who repeatedly declared that the
sole object his government had was TO collect
the debts due to its citizens. Questions were
and put in such definite forms that they could
not be misunderstood or eeaded by the most
cunning diplomacy, what we're the real motives
and purposes of the Bonaparte government in
this contemplated raid on Mexico? NJ. Thou
venal's answers have proved to be complete
sappressio reri, and we might go farther and
say, they have proved an eepressio faisi. This
willy minister has constantly reiterated that
France had not the least intention of interfer-
Ing In any way with the internal government
Of Mexico. And these declarations were made
down to the time Of the sailing of the expedi-
ton, and even after the feet of French soldiers
had pressed Mexican soil
We venture to say, that no government of
any civilized country has ever practiced more
duplicity or concealed its motives and pur-
poses under so many false colors as the Bona
parte government has In this movement on
the government and people at Mexico. This
conquest of Mexico by Power thousands of
miles away is indeed a very extraordinary
event, and filed with great and momentous
possibilities. But for the present struggle of
our government for the nations life, this re-
markable demonstration of the French Empe-
ror would greatly excite our people and be
the all absorbing subject of discussion through
out our country. And the time is coming when
1t will become so, unless Louis Napoleon be
driven from his evil purposes and ambitious
plans by his own SUBJECTS, or by the outburst
OF general European war If his own peo-
pie or some great event does not recall his
troops from Mexico, the United States will do
the work, the Archduke Macmillan, nor
any other prince. Neither can wear a
crown on this continent. God never intended
this fair land for such a government, and
time will show it. We are not impatient, for
Gods time is the best time. The case is in
good hands, and the Republican orators Of
Paris are making sad work Of this project Of
the ambitious Emperor. Public opinion il
that great metropolis is fast gathering strength
against this movement on Mexico, and the
Emperor will be compelled to change hi
course or lose his crown at least, such ap
pears to be the signs of the times in that EN-
pire which has been proclaimed TO be Peace.
EJ- Steamer Caledonia, of the Glasgow
line, Capt. Craig, from Glasgow, 81, arrive,
at this port at II o'clock, last evening, having
experienced head winds and heavy seas dur
ing the whole passage. She brought ~ cabii