The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-05

The Emperor's Grand Idea-The Neces-
sity OF Checking the United States
The Latin Race.
We give elsewhere the letter of the Emperor
of the French to Marshal Forey, in which he
communicated his "grand idea" in relation to
Mexico, an article from the London Times
showing how the Emperor's letter was re-
garded in Europe at the time of its publica-
ton, and the part Of the Emperor's recent
speech to the Chambers in which he refers to
the withdrawal of the French troops. 1t will
be seen that the Emperor's letter to Marshal
Forey is a letter Of instruction, by which the
commander, in order perhaps to fill him with
the spirit Of tho expedition, was Let into the
secret Of its ultimate object. ave have an
interest,"" says the imperial writer, Gin the
United State, being powerful and prosperous,
but not that she should take possession Of the
whole Gulf of Mexico, thence command the
Antilles as well as South Anne RIGA, and be the
sole disburser of the prodn cts of the New
World" In other words, France fears the
growth of the United States; she must stand
in the way and stop it. and the Emperor be-
lieves that this must be done by the establish
ment Of the Latin race on this side the Allan
tic. This is his "grand idea" Six months
after this letter was written, and when the
Emperor believed his object secured, he an
nounced it to the world by publishing the mis-
sive in the Moniteur 'We cannot but feel"
said the London Times, "Lhat we now learn
tr,,a of tha irnu rio al
tho Mexican expedition not otherwise remark
able IL would have q claim to be remembered
as the first serious attempt OF Europe 10 resist
the advances Of the American democracy and
establish balance of power on the Western
continent" Such is the object proposed to
France by the grand idea and in his words on
the withdrawal OF his troops the Emperor, let
ms remember, expects to arrange their return
only whom it can be effected without COM
promising the interests that led him to "tbat
distant country" II is the grand idea all the
time, and il il this notion--this vain fancy Of
the Emperor and nothing else that to-day
darkens the sky between the United States and
France.
should there be war between France and the
United States it will be against the will of the
forty millions OF the French people and the
forty millions of the United States. There is
not u tact ip the position of nations more true
beyond dispute than that as respects the pco-
pie of these countries, there Is no cause of
quarrel between them. Some nations re-
gard others AZ their natural enemies. His
torians recognize this relation, and the effect OF
II upon political events is obvious in many
places. For centuries this was the relation that
Englishmcn and Frenchmcn held towards each
other, and the impression left by the war Of
independence caused Englsbmen to be re-
gardcd in the same light throughout this coun-
try for many years. But the people of France
and Of the United States have never held this
relation towards each other. There is no cir
cumsiance in our history that calls up bitter
thoughts against the people Of France. On the
contrary, the relations of the two peoples have
ever been those Of friendly fellowship. France.
in the words Of her ruler, "forgets no noble
page of her history" and We know that she
still looks with especial pride W that period in
which she was associated with M in the struggle
for freedom. II would be an insult to this ma
ton 10 doubt that the same feeling In still cher
ishcd by the whole people. All the relations
Of the two peoples since that memorable period
have been such as 70 foster the good will that
originated In the alliance against England;
and now both see that their best inter-
ests would lead them in the same direction
as their ancient friendship-.to the cultivation
Of q more intimate intercourse and to the
preservation, II possible, OF perpetual peace.
Hence there Ia not only no reason why there
should be war between these peoples, but every
reason why there should be peace and peace
IL the desire Of both nations. Forty millions
Of people in France and forty millions in the
United States are disposed to be at peace with
each other by all possible means, to avoid
every measure that can irritate, and TO consider
a. sacred the rights Of each other. II Is not pos
siblc to doubt that this In true; and the deduc-
ton from Il Ii inevitable that If war Is made
between them il will not DO in accordance
with the will or the wishes Of either people.
II therr IL a war between these two countries
Il will be forced by the Emperor Napo-
leon. II will be his personal war. II will
be war for the propagation Of his ideas
an attempt to lifs or lower the world TO the
level Of his intellect by force Of arms. Mexico
will be the mere bone Of contention; but the
principle u issue will be whether the Ameri-
can people shall give up their declared and
chsrishsd policy --shall abandon certain un-
doubsed rishss hat thsv have - . sssioa--sot