The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-12-02
& Foreign, ~ ar.

e and VICINITY
& Foreign War.
Are we to have foreign war? NJ. Sew
]. doubtless could answer this question
tier tl.an any other man in the country
as he may have many state reasons tor
ing re.icent on the subject, We can only
doe by the light of the falts before US.
There are two subjects on which a sufii
ent quarrel to lead to hostliities could be
,tched up with England. if either side is
nxious to fight. The one IS, the matter
rowing out of property destroyed By ships
nat sailed from British ports under the CON
kderate flag; and the other out of the mani
Eat tolerance and favor shown by our Coz
-nment to the Fenians. In re!ereace to the
rst f these, the case IS simply this The
kmerican minister at Londcn has been in
Etructed by our Government to demand pay
bf England for the property destroyed by the
rebel pirates. AMI England has fatty refused
it, but has limited at an arbitration, which
bur Government has fa IL rejected. To all
ordinary comprehension, there must now be
a bac!,-Iown on one side or the other, or
there must be fight. It is not probable,
howe, er. that two such enlightened nations
Will 90 to war on 4 simple question Of dollars
and cents. As to the matter of the Fenians,
should their contemplated revolution in Ire
land rsaily attain proportions to make extern
sive ma:Gria, aid from this country available
AMI necessary, there is no doubt but public
opinion here would ne So strong il favor OF
the revolutionists, that no attempt to prevent
ships from leaving our ports would be sue
cessfIl, and our Government could hardly
thus avoid scrious eutanglements. With the
other matter Of the rebel cruisers unsettled.
a new cause Of Irritation like this would
inevitably bring On war; but with this
Fenian matter in the foreground, we take it
England will be all the more ready to make
concessions-in the matter of the cruizers.
Bat we are perhaps in more danger of a
war with France than with England
France has do c that which no nation has
hitherto yentured to do: She took advantage
of our supposed helplessness during the
rebellion and deiied our Government in the
matter Of the Monroe doctrine. What this
doctrine precisely is, has been varously and
very INSULT iently defined b. our own Gov
eminent; but as understood and stoutIy
advocated by nine-tenths Of the people of the
L. s., it means simply that no European
power shall be allowed so to interfere viii
the governments Of any of the republics OF
this continent as to overthrow them anC
establish a monarchy. Louis Napoleon ha
done this and now the cry comes up strong
er and stronger from the people every da.
that this thing shall be righted-in short
that Manhattan shah be driven ont of Mexi
CO. France has taken possessi- II Of Mexico
with the afowed object of collecting q deb
said to be due that country from Mexico
TIA. object has not vet been accomplished
but vast expenses have been incurred, whicl
are added to the original debt Oar people
believe that debt business was but pretext
and that the real object was to gain a foot
hold on our southern border, to be i'll posi-
ton to "take advantage Of the situation
should the rebellion have given promise 0
success. But, whether this was so or rot
France has taken position from which /
would ruin Napoleon to back out and ye
one from which our people are rapidly wora;
ing themselves up to a full determination
he shall back out. And that, in this deter
mnation the Government syiupathises viii
the people, is almost certain from the frequen
open declarations Cen Grant is reported It
have made on the subject. Only the othe
DAY he is reported as saying in Richmond
ZEN phatically, that the advent of Maximiliai
to the pretended throne Of Mexico was par
of the rebellion, and his Immediate expulsion
should be part OF its history. France ii,
not ask our consent 10 establish a throne il
Mexico. and we shou'd not consult that powe
in re establishing the republic. He said tina
france had 10 night to interfere in the ques
ton, but, If she woull Involve hersef will
us in :. war on this point, now is the time It
have it, while orr army and navy are We
organized, and before our commerce is agait
set ahoat on every sea-
Upon the whole, the prospects of a toceigr
wrr begin to look threatenin e, or promising
whichever way you prefer; and tie create
probability is dat il vii! lie with France