The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-06

beyond dispute than that, as respects the people
OF these countries, there Is no cause of quarrel
bet ween them. Some nations regard Others
as their natural enemies. Historians re-
cognze this relation, and the eject of 1t
ny on political events Is obvious In many
places. For centuries this was the relation that
Englishmen and Frenchmen held towards each
other aid the impression left by the war of
independence caused Enelishmen TO be re-
garded IN the same light throughout this coun-
tryfor nlany years. But the people OF France
and Of the United States have never held this
relation towards each other. There Is no cir
cumstance in our history that calls up bitteS
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 "lorgets no noble
page of her history and we know that she
still looks with especial pride to that period in.
which she was associated with us in the struggle
for freedom IL would be an insult to this ma
ton TO doubt that the same feeling is still cher
ished by the whole people. All the relations
OF the two peoples since that memorable period
have been such as to foster the goodwill that
originated in the alliance against England; and
now both see that their best interests would
lead them in the same direction as their ancient
triendship-to the cultivation OF more intimate
intercourse and to the preservation, II possible,
oil perpetual peace. Hence there IS not only no
reason why there should be war between these
peoples, but every reason why there should be
peace; and peace is 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 rritate, and to
consider as sacred the rights of eacn other. II
is not possible to doubt that this is true; and the
deduction from 1t is inev v'table that if u war is
made between them 1t will not be in accordance
with the will or the wishes of either people.
II there is war between these two countries
it will be forced by the Emperor Napoleon. It
will be his personal war. 1t will be war for
the propag alton of his ideas-an attempt to lift
or lower the world to the level of his intellect
nv fnrcn N hpyipo will hp ha me hona
OF contention; but the principle at issue will be
whether the American people shall give up their
declared and cherished policy-shall abandon
certain undoubted rights that they have as
right of the French people, but merely in defer
ence to one OF the French Emperor's ideas. We
must stand aside because Napoleon has been led
TO Mexico by ''gt and idea," though that idea
finally may be no better than the one that for.
merly led the same person to Bouogne with a
tame eagle and q cooked hat.
The French people have no claims ON Mexico
the assertion ct which would be inconsistent
with our dignity. All Mexico, TO be acquired
by war with us, they would Justly regard as
game not worth the powder; for the wealth that
lies in their trade with this country is worth
more than ten such provinces. Mexico, there
fore, does not and cannot divide the two peoples.
If there is war it will not be on our part to save
Mexico and protect ourselves, but on their part
to carry out the Emperors idea at the expense
OF our safety and dignity. Napoleon alone, and
none other, VIII be responsible Tor that war.
He will be the sole and only cause of it. Let
the French people understand thls--Napoleon's
attempt to decide the rights and wrongs of ma
tional life Tor peoples better able to decide those
POINTS for themselves; his attempts to recon
struct the world on Napoleonlc principles; to
force a rcarrangement of nations in accordance
with ideas that happen to strike him and Mar
shal FoIey as grand-these will be the causes,
II any, that will embroil the two peoples. Con-
duct just like this on the part OF the First Napo-
leon forced union of all Europe against France.
VIII France uphold another or the same race in
the same career
this continent, however grand it may seem to
Marshal Forey, is not worth a war between forty
millions Of people on one hand and about the
same number on the other. Does the Emperor
started war between two such peoples for such a
causey We cannot believe it, He must be am
bltious OF good fame, Ii OF any. He must de.
sire 10 be known to the future as the great ruler
OF great people, and he can only acquire that
fame By noble consideration OF the public
good. Really great rulers are known by nc
other test History execrates those Intent
only on the expansion OF their power
and will forever laugh at that sovereign
who had such q notion of his own "granG
ideasn that he thought he could have told Coo
Almighty how 10 improve the world If he haC
| been present when it was made. Let the En-
! peror remember also that the weak point in his
great relatives history was that he insisted upoI
his own idea not only against all other men, bu
even against the elements. Napoleon to-day
! stands in position from which, by considering
| only the good or the French people, he may pas
| into history as perhaps the greatest of France
manyruleIs. But his position is as high 10
! OWL as for good. If he goes forward considerin!
| his grand ideas" rs superior to all other humal
! considerations. dragging the French people a
| his chariot wheels, he will be weighed dow
! with execrations as only one more scourge an
! bane OF the human race.