The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-25


Toward the UniseA States.
The governments Of France and England
have lately made remarkable change In their
respective attitudes toward the United States
They arc pursuing course not unlike that pur-
sued BY tho Same Powers toward ~ through all
the years Of the war, though now they have .
widely different object in view. Napoleon
and Palmenton, while our hands were full Of
the great war, summed up their policy with
reference to these States BY each urging the
other to 60 ct m. Eas6 saw that the great
republic was then in the EXTREMIST danger and
believed that it might be brought to tho earth
by timely blow delivered then. Each also
wished to geo the great republic PROSTATE; but
they were less ambitious Of the honor Of laying
II low than DESTROYS to keep clear Of any little
mistakes in the matter. So from month to
month and year to year they pointed out to
one another how feasible the thing was; but
their conduct was always controlled by mutual
distrust, suspicion. and fear. England had
once been drawn into great war in the East,
In which she played merely the game Of
France and only improved the position Of the
Emperor Napoleon before the world. Those
were not legitimate English objects; the war Of
the entente cordiale was great blunder. There
must not be another such, and therefore Eng
land played shy on the question Of interven-
ton. France, on the other hand, had been
fooled by England. All the Western Powers
had gone into the Mexican muddle hand in
hand, and, England suddenly changing her
mind, France had been left in the lurch in that
difficulty. So it behooved her to be shy also.
And while thus the great Western Powers
fought shy Of one another in our case we put
down the rebellion, and their great oppor-
tunity was lost.
Now there ID a great change. There is an
equal emulation, an equal uneasiness a. to each
other between these firm allies but ell their
eagerness ID at present as to who shall 60 the
furthest tho other way-who shall bid highest
for the amty and friendship Of the United States.
This somersault dates from the Emperor's latest
visit to Biarritz. Just az the Emperor arranged
at Biarritz last year, reconstruction Of Europe,
SO he initiated this year Encouragement Of his
American relations. Mr.. Bigelow, the Ameri-
can Minister, was invited thither, and between
him and the new French Minister for Foreign
Affairs, M. Moustier, the Emperor proposed the
initiatory steps for his final withdrawal from
Mexico and the consolidation Of friendly rela-
lions between France and the United States on
. sound treaty basis. Thus was originated that
for the settlement Of the Mexican
question over which the State Department ct
Warrington ID now busy. And this IL but
necessary part Of the present legitimate policy
Of the Emperor Of France. Il Is an extension
Of the main point in his European programme.
By his operations. carried ON through Bismarck
and the Prussian and Italian armies, he broke
up the great Northern coalition. Russia, Aus
tria and Prussia, the great combined foes Of
France, were completely separated nom one
another. Austria il pushed out Of Germany
and 80 crippled for the benefit of Italy that this
last Power, the inevitable ally Of France, may
be fairly played OF against her for any emer-
gency. Prussia, elevated to Q first rate Power
by the consent of France, sees her best inter-
ess to be in the West Of Europe rather than in
tu0 E00t, 0UQ btoUuD VI VIC GkCuou AVUtA0I %
. bulwark, where before she stood a. danger
ous and threatening neighbor. The whole
situation Is changed for France in the interest
Of peace and good will and . quiet succession
Of the Napoleonic dynasty. The policy Of the
Napoleonio dynasty b now identified with an
of.,nationalities that Il most
favorable to the lasting peace Of Europe, and
that fact is everything in favor of the stability
Of the dynasty. 1t is now undoubtedly the
Emperor's purpose to arrange his American re-
lations as clearly as he has those in Europe,
keeping in view always that great main point
Of the good will Of the world toward the Napo-
leonic dynasty.
But 1t Is odd TO see the alacrity with which
England rusbes forward on this example. The
ardor and gush Of her newly formed friendship
for us, and the loftines Of the respect with
which she Ia disposed to listen to our merits,
are wonderful II she does not ct once come
down with her cash and pay the Alabama
claims, she, at all events, b willing
to refer those claims to . commission, even
though she once refused TO do 80 and declared
that she would take no further part In that I'M
profitable discussion. Her most bitter anti
American organs are urging modification Of
the British Neutrality laws, admitting in SO
many words that British law is not just and not
what 1t ought to be. Behold the British lion
In the dust Of his penitence! But 1t is hardly
strange that England should begin to feel the
want Of few friends in the world and to fear
that fast alliance between France and the
United States may shut her out from two pos
sible sources Of sympathy in the troubles that
are gathering around her. With the English
people uneasy, discontented, determined on
reform or ready for revolution; with Ireland
kept down by force and Canada at the mercy
Of the Power that England has 90 abused and
insulted, II Is time that that once great Power