The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-03


GsNsRAL DIX AND THE FRENCH Misslos.-it
is understood that General Dix assumes the
charge OF the Naval Office of this port for
month or two, and that then he will take upon
himself the duties OF the mission to France
q simple solution Of the problem, how is he to
fill both these desirable officess II further
appears that for this appointment to France
he is indebted to the Secretary Of State, fact
which is somewhat remarkable when il is re-
membered that the views Of General Dix on
the Mexican question are, or at least have
been, in direct antagonism to the mastery in
activity and soothing system Of Mr. Seward.
The question naturally follows, therefore,
how happens il that General Dix should be
selected by Mr.. Seward at this crisis as The
man Of all men for the mission to France. We
conclude that, from the unsatisfactory results
OF his soothing system, and from the pressure
of public opinion, MIR. Seward has become
convinced that more positive and decisive
policy is demanded to meet this case Of Napo-
Icons Mexican usnrpation. But whatever
may have been the motives Of Mr.. Seward in
this appointment, we are at liberty TO accept
II as the turning over Of a new leaf and the
opening OF a new chapter in our foreign rela-
tons, and that General Dix's arrival in Paris
will very soon be followed by Maximilian's
departure from Mexico, unless, from the force
of circumstances beyond his control, poor Max
may be constrained sooner to pack up and turn
from the perilous "Halls Of the Montezumas" to
rejon his aniabie Empress in their more CON-
Portable and peaceable chateau on the Adri-
attic. When General Santa Anna and Mr..
Roberts make up coalition of Mexican liberals
and fighting Irish Fenians for the expulsion Of
the foreign intruder from the soil Of Mexico,
the thing will be done regardless of the
policy of Mr.. Seward but if il he true that
Mr.. Seward is also party TO this coalition,
then, indeed, we may rejoice at the change
which has come over him. What feather in
his cap il will be 10 find that his blandish-
menss towards Louis Napoleon and his turnkey
ism towards England have been abandoned for
vigorous and decisive American foreign
policy
The wise statesman shapes his course 10 the
course OF events, and il circumstances demand
it his tayorite theory or grand idea OF yestei-
day is lo-iey abandoned. SO we would apply
tho change indicated in the policy OF the
foreign department al Washington to the do
nestle policy of the administration. 1enscity
to grand idea Is . good thing but when it
has manifcsily become hopeless enterprise
il is not only the part of prudence but Of true
heroism 10 abandon it. The Bourbons were
hurled from power in France because they
could not al last be made to learn anything or
to forget anything. The marvellous success OF
Louis Napoleon, on The other hand, is mainly
due to the fact that, will, all bis 'grand IDEAS
he has carefully noted the drift of passing
events and has advanced or fallen back or
stood still in this or that undertaking as the
developments Of the day encouraged or admon-
ishcd him. This is the policy for the adminis-
tratlon. Cratifed to believe that Mr.. Seward,
in adopting it, is about to change his system of
diplomacy from soft soap to sulphur, il neces-
sary, we still entertain the hope that the admin
istration win in season adapt not only it's
foreign but its domestic policy to The inevitable
course Of events as marked in the drift OF the
ruling public opinion Of the country.