The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-08-03
rn1 ANeLo-FnENCH ALLIANCE
MEXICO.

between the Vi luo Onlteu
States and Great Britain. state that
which our people all along supposed,
to-wit, that Great Britain and France
made an alliance for acting in concert |
in their course toward the United |
States and tho rebellion. In commu-
nieating to our Guvernmentthe deter
mination Of the British Governmental
recognize peace aad the Jurisdiction
of this Government as having been re-
stored, and no longer recognize the
Confederates as belligerent power
(with proviso excepting any anglo
rebelpiratical vessels ahoat, Earl Rus
SELL states to our Government that his
Government mas come to the conclu-
sion after consultation with That Of
France, which Governments have act
ed in concert in regard to the affairs of
this country throughout the war. +.
This declared alliance of the two
leading European powers in respect TO
their treatment of a nation with which
both were at peace, is an unusual
measure, and it does not sit easy on
the American mind. Does it require
an alliance between nations 10 resolve
upon and carry out a strict neutrali-
! ty? Is not public law sufficient to
guido the conduct Of tho neutrality, if
the neutral powers mean to be govern.
cd by that? We're either England Or
France in danger from our war of re-
bellion? On the CONTRARY, the con-
duct of both shows that. they regard
cd our war as effectualIy and finally
cripplng our power. Nations, whose
peace is endangered by the wars Of
neigbboring powers, do sometimes de-
tcrmine upon an armed neutrality,
and in such cases alliances with other
neutral nations for mutual protection
unreasonable and proper. But neither
England nor Franco made the alliance
for mutual defense. Each regarded
herself as able, and as called, to step
in and help cut up the American Re-
public Each now gives horselt credit
for remarkable virtue that she did not
The absence of all defensive reasons
leaves the natural suspicion, or rather
conclusion, that the alliance was for
offensive purposes, in case any oppor-
tunity turned up.
To what extent did this alliance 60?
If it had any integrity or meaning, it
was an alliance offensive, by which
tho course tho two powers should de.
eide upon toward this Republic should
be supported by the whole power OF
both. Did the breaking out Of rebel
lion in country with which they
were at peace make any occasion for
such an alliance, unless they expected
to interfere in tho WARP We have
evidence Of the intent Of the alliance,
first, in the expectations Of tho two
Governments when it was made; and
, second, in the fact that the Emperor
Louis NAPOLEON two years ago did
urge upon the British Government then
joint intervention to enforce peace on
the basis of tho Independence Of the
Confederaoy, which the British Gov.
ernment declined to do at that time
For this the English journals now
claim that tho alliance enured to the
preservation Of the United States, and
therefore that our exceptions to it arc
] ungrateful. But we know very wei
that this was not what tho alliance wal
mace for, and wo have sufficient rea
sons to believe that the British Gov
crnment would have Joined in an in
, tervcntion to secure tho partition o
this Republic, if irhad not believed
0 that it would be the inevitable result
Q of our'war, and would be secured with
Q out It's taking any risk upon itself thu
i luminosity of either section by taking
part with the other .'
We very we'll know that the expcc
j taton of both Governments was, from
0 tho beginning of the rebellion, that tn,
o United States were finally discovered
Their alliance was instigated upon tha
. belief. Their conduct was all upor
Q assumption. They wero free in com
i municating their conviction of this tC
/. our Government, and in declaring i
to their own people. Their ministers
Of foreign affairs, and their diplomatic
representative in this country, recciv
$ cd Mr.. SEwARD's accounts Of progress
d made in subduing the rebellion, an,
!. predictions of speedy and compIet
= success, with perfect incrcdulity, ant
" continued TO assure their Government
/ that tho Confedcracy was all the Will
II growing stronger They assumed tn
q right to fix u limit Of time, durin,
:. which tho Government should be al
lowed to continue the effort to pu
down tho Couiodoracy, OF the war mus
cease without it. f
o Tho allied Governments continued
- in the dolusion that it was impossbl
: for this Government to subduo tho Con
= federcy, until series of successe
u which gave us control of all the i'm
r, portant Southern ports, nearly ami
!, hilated the rebel Western army, an
"a captured LEES army, placed us IN
position and showed a power tina
!" would make interference u foImidabl
Is undertaking even for both powers
n To this dclusion and tho power We hav
70 displayed, we owe the forbearance {
, this unholy alliance, and not TO an
= friendly intentions of either power.
The statement that when the Frenc
Emperor became convinced of the co
lapse of the Coniederacy, he propose
y to England an alliance for mutual dt
l. Tense ofthe British American Province
1. and the French occupation Of Mexic,
', apainst tho United States. il nrobabl