The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-21


Those who look upon the seizure OF the
Chincha Islands by Spain as merely a matter
OF temporary difficulty, aud "a susceptible Of
easy arrangement, can be but imperfectly ao-
quainted with the history Of the last half CEN
tury. Uneyplainable by the circumstances
which are said to have provoked IT, it can only
be accounted for as part aud parcel Of that SET
tied policy of aggression on the part of the Eu-
ropean Powers Of viii oh the invasion ofMexico
and the seizure Of ST. Domingo were the initial
steps.
The colonization of the Southern portion of
this continent by the Latin race has long been
a favoritc idea with France. Louis Napoleon
may claim the credit Of it; but it dates further
back than his era OF power lis threatened
execution was In fact Of tho causes that led 10
the emlnciation Of the Monroe doctrine. When,
In 1928, the Duo d'Angouleme entered Spain
at the head OF an army of one hundred thousand
men, for the purpose of overthrowing the con-
stitutionsl government Of that country, it was
pfcarranged that ia the event OF success attend
ing the expedition France, in conjunction with
the continental alliance, would take steps to
bring back the Spanish American colonies
under European subsection. Mr. Rush. our
then Minister at the court of London, took tue
alarm, aud had frequent conferences with MI.
Canning on the subject. The latter, though
expressing a hope that France was not
serious in these projects, thought it desira-
BILE that they should be anticipated by
an understanding and concert of action be-
tween Great Britain aud the United States in
regard to the new republics, TO DO followed by
recognition when the proper time arrived.
That this step would have the desired effect
Mr.. Canning believed, from the large share of
the maritime power OF the world which Great
Britain and the United States enjoyed, and the
consequent influence which the knowledge of
their common policy on a question involving
such important maritime interests, present and
future, could not fail to produce everywhere,
In the following August Mr.. Canning having
received distinct notification that these designs
OF the Holy Alliance were TO be put in cxecu-
ton, Mr.. Rush urged upon him the expediency
Of an immediate and unreserved recognition Of
the independence Of tbeSouth American States.
Our Minister had previously arrived at the de-
termination that in the event of the British
Cabinet acceding to his entreaties, he would,
WITHOUT reference to Washington, notify the
Powers in question that our government would
not remain inactive in presence OF an attack
upon the independence of those States. Diff
culties having arisen a. to the mode in which
joint action upon the subject could be taken
BY the two governments. Mr. Canning resolved
no longer to keep the court Of France In igno-
rance of his views lie accordingly had seve
raj interviews with Prince Polignac, the result
| of which was that there was complete back
| Ing down on the part Of France. This was fol-
lowed, at the close Of the same year, BY the
! memorable declaration by President Monroe,
in his opening message to Congress, which has
since been held to be the established policy OF
this government in relation to foreign interven
ton in American affairs, aud soon after by the
formal recognition by Great Britain Of the in.
dependence Of the South American States
Notwithstanding the encouragement cast on
the project by these events, we ind France,
under Louis Philippe, again seeking to realize
it. The motive of the Spanish marriages has
never been sufficiently understood. They were
intended to form another link in the chain Of
influences by which it was sought to bring the
more properly speaking, French, control. In
1874 there appeared in Paris book on Oregon
aud California, published by order of the King,
under the auspices OF Marshal Soult, President
Of the Council, and NJ. Guizot, Minister OF For
eign Affairs. Its author was M. de Mofras, an
attache Of the French legation ia Mexico.
Alter speaking Of the establishment of u Flu
ropean monarchy as the only project calculated
TO put an end to tue divisions and anuhilate
the factions that desolated that beautiful coun-
try and declaring that the Catholic religion
and family relations with the ancient posses
sors OF the country would be the first cond
tons required OF the princes who should be
called TO reconstruct there a monarchcal Cow
eminent, M. de Mofras proceeds to say that tue,
Iniantas Of Spain the French princes and the
archdukes fulfil these conditions. The Gr,t
object Of France he adds, should be to Sc
lect this prince from some branch OF the Bour.
bon family Twelve mouths later We find
N. Guizot. the then Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
asserting formally in the Chamber of rDepu-
ties the right Of European Intervention In the
affairs Of this continent. He made on That
occasion the significant declaration that cit
belonged to France to protect by the authority
OF her name the independence OF the States
and the equilibrium Of tho great political
forces in America The object Of these as
sertions is rendered all the more clear by
statement made in the Spanish Cortes ia lS47s
by Senior Olozaga Of the sums expended and
drawn from the treasury Ia Havana in the year
lS4s for tho psrpose Of establishing q
monarchy in Mexico and placing Spanish
prince on the throne" II the revolution OF
1880 had not driven the citizen King and bis |
family into exile, it ia clear that we should !
have had France and Snain iointiu aftrrnnfins i