New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-13
FOREIGN TOPICS.

their estimate OF the recent important circu-
lar of the French government. The con
frmed imperi alist papers, of course, declare
it to be the very essence of frankness and
conciliation-th illustration and climax of
that sentimental declaration of an intimate
alliance between peace and the empire, which
is Louis Napoleon's principal rhetorical tri-
umph. But the opposition papers do not see
it so clearly. Some Of them utter querrulous
criticisms on the hasty abandonment by the
government Of the presumed claim OF France
to extend her territories whenever any other
power acquires an accession of strength; and
to strectify her frontiers at the expense
of other nations because Prussia has &C.
complished similar purpose. These pa
pers are dissatisfied that France does
not insist on proving that what
other countries can effect, she can achieve
with even greater facility They are amazed
that her right to regulate European policy
has been disputed; and they are mortified
that their government has not insisted on the
right. The Journal des Debats declares that
France has nothing to fear "when she sees
the neighboring States organizing themselves
according to principles she has herself ap-
piled which would be all very fine if any
such organizations had been effected. The
great Napoleonic principle is proclaimed to
be popular consent manifested by universal
suffrage; but the Presse afirms that this
principle has been openly and boldly violated
by Prussia; that "treaties and engagements
which were the basis Of European order have
been trampled under foot, and that power
(Prussia) has claimed for itself Sin the name
of force, the right of destroying and replac-
ing common work in way to suit exclus-
iyely its own expediency and interests with
out respecting any law"
Certainly Prussia has not paid much re-
gard to other countries, or to the doctrine
of the balance of power in settling her
difficulties with Austria, and it can scarcely
be said that she has respected the great
Nepoleonic idea, in the manner Of annex
ing the smaller States which military
results placed in herpower. fHThis, y the Presse
declares, sis what has caused and still
causes emotion in France and woe betide
our country when such spectacle would
leave it Indifferent it would have lost
its best title to march at the head of civil
zation; it would have been incapable of those
magnificent outbursts which enabled it to
brave Europe" Which, likewise, is all very
fine on paper; but then the French govern
produce all these lamentable consequences.
Hence we presume that magnificent out
bursts" are not soon to be expected from
France, and that she will not s'brave Europe
again, at least in Louis Napoleon's day.
On the other hand, the Union discovers
that the circular SIS long eulogy" which
ends in establishing the necessity of provid-
ing France with muskets. That paper criti-
cizes the logic Of the circular, and finds
lack of sequence between its con-
clusions and its premises If everything
looks SO bright and peaceful if France has
lost nothing, but rather gained, by the recent
Of Germany, why insist so
strenuously on an Immediate Improvement of
that military organization which had hereto
fore been considered model for therest of Eu-
rope? There are, perhaps, the Union says,
"people who will discover a contradiction, at
least apparent, between the sans delaj in the
improvement of the armament and the tran
quill and perfect security which the circular
expresses" The following from the Liberte
is pretty sharp criticism
Everything then is for the best; France has
nothing to fear from any one; on whatever side
she turns her eyes she meets only with sympathy
and consideration in all Onarthra the
sees reason TO be satisfied; in none does it per-
ceive any menacing eventualites; lastly, the pres
ent peace appears to it to be durable one. A
single preoecupation may form shadow on this
smiling picture. (Here the Liberte quotes the
passage relative to the vast increase Of the Rus
sian and American population, and to the neces-
sity for Central Europe not to remain parceled out
into little States) Thus, on the one hand, the
populations of Western Europe have no reason for
going to war; the other, they ought to strive, in
presence of the prodigious development oil Russia
and the United States, to aggomerate. so as not
to lose the rank in the world they have occupied.
Such is the summary of the policy eXpounded
with rare lucidty by NJ. de Lavaette.
Either we have lost'all perception of logic, or
the conclusion of such an expose should be
summed up in two words, I" disarmament and
: European union.n Why, in fact should France
impose on herself ruinous armaments if she does
not mediate any territorial aggrandizement? +?
Why, if peace appears durable not initiate the
example of the United States, which economic
their forces IN far weather to employ themselves
unsparingly in critical times2 Either let us have
glory with its perils and profits, or prosperity
with its consequences. That is all we ask for
But is that what the minister proposes? Unfor
tunately not *~* The policy set forth by
the circular may be summed up thus: 'fWe can
only congratulate ourselves on the events that
have been accomplished, for they strengthen US
more than they weaken. Nobody threatens us,
nor do we intend to threaten any one, SO that the
present peace is durable one. Consequently,
there remains but one thing for us to do to arm
ourselves to the teeth and to develop our military
forces, We humbly confess that with this style
of reasoning we are unable to agree.
-s.--------
Our thanks are rendered to Mr.. Edwin Bald
win, clerk of the steamer Sarah, for Mobile
evening papers Of Thursday.
To Mr. Sam Morrow, of tbs Southern Ex-
press Company, for late Augusta and other
papers.
We are indebted to the Southern Express
for files Of latest Augusta, Cincinnati, Mem
phis, jackson and st. Louis papers.
-ss------------
GOV. WEI1s AND THE LEG1s1ArURE-Th
following appears in the telegraphic dis
patches published in the jackson papers OF
yesterday
Setc 0rleans.-The morning papers will publish
Tomorrow the correspondence between Governor
Wells and the hoard 'Df levee commissioners re-