The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-09
EVACUATION OF MEXICO.

The Oracle of Paris has spoken, and
unlike the oracles of the Greeks he uses
no ambiguous or double meaning lang
uage. His words have given peace to
this country at least. While the French
troops remained in Mexico, 1t was a
continual menace to our republican ms
titutions--and at any.moment we ran
the risk Of being participated into war
with France, our oldest and best friend
among the nations of the earth. But
now that Napoleon has so peacefully de-
termined to withdraw his support from
the throne of Macmillan, and out of
Difference to the United States, too, we
can disarm and prepare for long and
uninterrupted season Of peace. We are
now at peace with all the world and
"cultivating amicable relations with
the rest of mankind.n in every deed,
and by devoting ourselves exclusively
to the arts of peace, there is no reason,
why the present should not be made the
augustan age of America. The New
York Herald in double-leaded leader
thus speaks of the good tidings from
France "This last action of the En-.
peror Napoleon's stamps him as a great
man. 1t requires greatness to boldly
meet an emergency of this kind. Ma
poleon went into Mexico for the purpose
of protecting the Latin race and pre-
venting the OvershadOwing influence OF
the United States on this continent. He
went there to build up an immense
French colonial empire. His letter to
Marshal FOrey plainly sets forth these
intentions. 1t was supposed that we
were broken up,and France, like all the
other nations of Europe, was scramb-
ling for her chance. The other Powers
backed out before they got too far in
volved, but Napoleon held on, and
thereby,as was recently said in London,
placed himself in a most painful diem
ma. The French people are very sensi-
tive with regard TO the national honor !;
and although there has always been n
large party in France opposed to the
Mexican expedition, yet when the ma
tional honor is touched the French are
apt to unite and to sink all personal
predictions for their country's welfare
and glory.
But Napoleon saw exactly the situa-
ton. He has done i'm Mexico precisely
as he did in the Crimea, precisely as he
did in Italy. As soon as he had gained
his point i'm Russia he made peace. The
instant he had gone far enough in the
italian war he signed the treaty of Viii
lafranca. In each of these movements
he carried out the idea he has always
held that is necessary for his dynasty,
not to smash everything, as his uncle
did, trusting to his genius to reconstruct
them, but to goa certain distance, form
alliances and cement them. And if
these advices are to be credited, he has
developed this idea to a much wiser ex-
tent He has boldly taken hold of this
liexican matter, in Difference to the
public opinion of the United States in
Difference to the great Power that now
exists in this republic, and he withdraws
his troops from Mexico. By so d)ing
lie has renewed the entente cordiote--
has revived the old ties of friendship
that have so long existed between this
country and France. Americans admire
moral courage as well as they do physi-
cal pluck, and they will forgive the
French Emperor much that he has done
in the past for the boldness with which
he has met this question and retired
from his untenable position. He will
now, doubtless, carry out in full the
Napoleonic idea which has hitherto ac-
tuated his policy, and, having gone as
far as it suits him to go, wilLform new
alliance with US and cement it by COM
mercial treaty, thus contributing. as far
as any European Power can contribute,
to our national development.
The withdrawal of the French troops
from Mexico is, of course, only the
natural result of the collapse of our re-
beIlion. But it is not every monarch
that knows when to back out. Napo-
leon does. 1t is not every monarch who
would have the pluck to do it. Napo-
leon has shown that he possesses this
important element in the ruler of a great
nation. ali1