The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-19
NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, SEfrEMBEK 49, 1865 v

I Our Foreign Policy-England. ~ and
| .nc>'-The Necessity OF = settIemcn mt
or Our n Citations with Them.
If there b any strength or any element Of
strength in Mr.. Seward's statesmanship he has
now the opportunity to make a full use of it,
Hitherto his foreign policy has neither deserved
nor commanded the respect Of the American
people. His principal exploit in his present
high position has been that of ready writer
the exhibition of the fluent facility of mag
azinist. He piles up thousand pages Of cor
respondence with ease, and what he advocates
on one page he regularly confutes on another;
and the ability and the readiness to do this
give him certain advantage in his disputes
with her Majesty's very little servants. Butsuch
exploits do not strengthen or dignity the posi-
ton of this nation in its relations with other
nations. Mr.. Stewards department in our gov
eminent is the only one that has utterly failed
to do its true share in the war. 1t has received
a great deal Of praise for preventing foreign
war; though it is patent that foreign war was
prevented by quite other influences. That de-
partment did not prevent an early quasi recog-
milton of our enemies by England and France;
it did not prevent the negotiation in those
countries of the loans that carried on the war;
nor did it prevent the sailing from the ports of
those Powers of ships armed to cruise against
our commerce. These are it's failures, and to
cover up these it makes claim to have pre-
vented what was prevented by wholesome
fear Of our power
What the country now requires from the
State Department is the adoption of vigorous,
manly, open national policy toward both Eng
land and France-a policy that shall put our
relations with those governments on a positive
basis. Had the State Department dropped its
diplomatic palaver, and spoken boldly and DIS
tinctly to those nations Immediately after Lees
surrender, when we had magnificent armies in
the field and an iron-clad navy afoat, our ques-
tons with England in relation to the Alabama
and the Canada raids would have been settled
before this to our full satisfa ction, and the
French would have been gone out of Mexico.
Both nations were then very fully impressed
with the sense Of our power, and they would
have shown the most extravagant respect to
our demands and honored them all. No one
can doubt it. But that opportunity was lost,
and the State Department must find the way TO
make one. It is possible that one weak
place in England's position may furnish this
opportunity ready made. It seems quite likely
that the Fenian movement may not be quite as
contemplate as some of the English papers
have pretended. It is admitted now that it is
extensive, that it is in the management of able
men, that Young Ireland has arms, and that
in four counties the movement h as already got
ten beyond the ordinary police authorities. 1t is
certain that if the relations of England with the
United States would suddenly become stormy
that fact would immensely help the Fenians. Per-
haps it would lift them up so far that our gov
eminent would consider it necessary to recog-
nize Young Ireland as "belligcrent Power"
No administration will dare to refuse that re-
cognition when the h0ar comes; for the Ameri-
can people will demand it with the most terrific
unanimity. That recognition will be the
grandest piece of justice in modern history.
How would England like to see the seas
swarm with Trish-American Alabamas? .
We must have more vigorous dealings with
France, too The country has seen enough OF
that kind of craftsmanship which believes that
the only policy that is mastery is that Of mas
terly inactivity. That policy has cost us mil
lion men and three thousand million dollars:
1t built up the rebellion under the very eyes OF
our government and we must have done with it.
France hesitates long before she will consent
to see even reviving Italy establish new ma
ton at her doors. She considers that the safety
of her frontier may depend upon who owns the
last little duchy cut from what once was Po-
land And shall we stand still while such a
Power tries to build up q monarchy at our
doors, and fold our hands, hoping that the
monarchy will fail? That policy will not sat-
isfy the country, and there must be a new one.
The State Department has notion that the
Mexican empire will fall of it's own weight,
and that all we have to do is TO, leave It alone.
Perhaps this is true, but 1t is a mean view Of
our national responsibility that docs not suit
the people. The country will not be satisfied
to see the French 30 quietysout of Mexico, but
a call for mem to drive themout will receive a
response from the people even greater than did
that for men to put down the rebellion. And
the government need not gp,far for leaders as
full of the tnae spirit as the,men.
The State Department must settle straight.
forwardly this question ont Monroe doctrine
with Franco, and the question Of the Alabams'
and maritime law with. England. Either IL
must settle those questisns at once, or it must
carry them INTO an International congress end
settle there the principles upon which these
questions. depend. The future peace Of the
world requires this and requires that we
should he recognized as The great antA sole
arbiter of empire on. this continent The a.
sumptions of European nations to speak on
American affairs vial be fund to be simply
impertipent when brought to practical test
Trance.has an army Of six hundred thousand