New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-22
Iouus NAPOLEON IN AFRICA.

One of the chief features of the foreign policy
Of L,uis NAPOLEON has been his ,stentatious
patronage of the nationality principle Reticcnt
and equivocal as he has generally been on great
political questions, he has dared in this question
to put himself openly on record Tie alleged
his regard for the inalienable rights Of oppressed
nationalites as the reason for his support of the
Italians in their war against Austria, for his
sympathy with the Poles in their nsurrection
against Russian rule, for his refusa, TO indorse
tho claim of Denmark to the possession OF
Schleswig and Holstein and'for his proposal OF
European Congress to satisfy. in general, the
just aspirations Of oppressed nations. On all
of these questions, the majority Of the leaders
of the progressive party were in fun sympathy
with the sentiments uttered by Napoleon.
But in spite OF these and other liberal pro-
LESSONS, the Progressive Party Of Europe never
placed any confidence in Napoleon. They re-
garded his whole home policy a. that of an
astutc tyrant, and his expedition to Mexico for
the overthrow of tie Mexican Republic as the
most glarng contradiction Of all his liberal pro
LESSONS on the nationality question.
| The Emperor has just given a new proof OF
either the greatest inconsistency, or OF glaring
dishonesty by two proclamatons which be has
issued, while on a visit 10 Algeria, " the PEG.
pie OF that country. II is now thirty-iive years
that France has held, against the often-ex-
pressed wish Of the inhabtants, this portion OF
Northern Africa. She holds II by only the same
law by which Austria claimed right to LON
hardy, Russia 70 Poland, and Denmark to the
German Duchies If Napoleon had been in
earnest in his professions about the nationality
principle, could he have been deaf 10 the claims
Of the Arabs, while he recognized those
of European nations who were in exactly
the same condition! But he not only
treated the effort by Mahomedans of Africa
for recovering their national indepence a.
an entirely unjustfiable rebellion, but in
his proclama'ons issued at the beginning
of the present month, he added insult to co.
ercion. In the first proclamation addressed 10
the European inhabitants no mblushingly
asserts: " ~ must be The masters, beoause ,ce are
The more oiriii.od." And 70 The Arabs he says, in
his second proclamation: "Tell your mistaken
brethren that 1900, 900 OF Arabs can1ot resist
Al. 900. 900 Frenchmen." II must he said 10 the
credit Of tho AustTians, the Russians and the
Danes that neither Of them based their claims
upon such arguments as this pretended defender
of oppressed natiOnalites does.
There is another very strange passage in his
proclamation 10 the Arabs. The Catholic En-
peror Of France, who on thousand occasions
has called himself loyal son Of the church,
who just now in his proclamation TO the Euro
pean settlers of Algeria had referred TO the
planting Of the cross IA u sign Of civilization
and the symbol of peace and charity, claims
allegiance from the Mahommedans because
their - Prophet says God gives power to whom
soeyer lie will" aud be calls on them to
acknowledge with The Koran that what God
directs is well directed"
No such language woull ever be warranted
by the church TO which the Emperor claims to
belong. 1t is the same spirit of Macchiavellism
which regards the religion Of the subjects as
well as their national rights as means for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but not for the triumph Of a
principle.