The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-26
The European War--POIicy Of the
ETcnch Emnernr

ILl4Pol : ant Inc news by the steamer
New York dissipates the hopes that
were entertained of preserving the
peace Of Europe The French Empe-
ror has laid aside his reserve and
sounded the tocsin Of war. He is now
engaged in a progress through the De-
partments of France; and at Auxerre,
In reply to an address by the Mayor,
he uttered the following significant
speech
! see with pleasure that the memo
ry Of the First Emperor has not been
ettaced from your minds Believe me,
for my own part / have inherited the
feelings entertained by the chief of my
family for this energetic and patriotic
population who sustained the Emperor
in good as in evil fortune / have q
debt of gratitude to discharge toward
YOnne. This department was the first
to give me its suffrage in lSfS, because
it knew, with q majority of the French
people, that its interests were my in
terests, and that / detested equally
with them those treaties Of 1915 which
it IS now sought to make the sole ba-
sis of our foreign policy. / thank you
for the sentiments you have expressed
toward me. Among you l breathe
freely, for it is among the working pop
ulation, both in town and country, that
find the real genius of France"
This declaration of policy is as fully
and clearly marked as the famous New
Years speech to the Austrian Embss-
sador, which preceded the Italian cam
paign of 1859, and will be as well re-
membered in history as marking a new
era in the distribution of national boun-
diaries. 1t sounds like a defiance to
Europe Neither France nor the EN-
peror Napoleon has reason to be salts
fed with the Treaty of Vienna, to
which the Bonapart dynasty is in
fact a perpetual protest. There never
was a treaty for which there was so
much apparent respect that has been
so often violated in all essential par
ticulars 1t forever excluded the Bo-
napartes from the soil of France, and
established the European monarchies
on the present bases, with the excep-
ton of the changes that have been eff
fected by the Italian and Danish wars
1t was an unjust and despotic treaty,
and portioned the people among the
kings without their consent. But great
commercial and political interests had
centered around it, and it seemed to
have a certain degree Of stability. I'm
der these circumstances, the formal,
and no doubt well considered declara-
ton of the French Emperor against it,
produced a monetary panic in Europe
that is without parallel
The French Emperor understands
the situation. He clearly appreciates
the fact the middle and industrial
classes of France and of Europe are
opposed to q war. Hence, the signif-
cant declaration: Among you |
breathe freely, for it IS among the
working population, both in town
and country, that l find the real genius
of France" This means that portion
of "the genius of France" that has no
sympathy with the centralizing aggres-
sive policy of the empire. Paris and !
the great cities of France are opposed
to him. Even the Corps Legislatif has
no sympathy with the policy that !
would precipitate France and Europe |
peals to the rural districts; and virtu- |
ally eVokes a contest of class against |
class He pits the agricultural against |
the commercial interests. In reality, |
the farmers are no less deeply interest
ed than the merchants and bankers in |
the peaceful organization of industry |
But the progress of ideas is slow in the !
country districts, and the Emperor
takes advantage of the fact for the !
time being, to develop his policy.
The financial panic, to which we de-
vote a large portion OF our space to- !
dav, was clearly the result of the I'M
masking Of the French Emperor's pol
lev at AuxeTre. For some time past
he has maintained a prudent and !
characteristic reserve. 1t was Tecog-
nized that France controlled the issues |
of peace and war, and twas hoped that |
the Emperor would pronounce against |
the ambitious designs of Prussia The |
opposite course has scattered dismAy
among the mercantile and industrious
classes, who have to bear the expenses
of war Peace Is possible; but as
matters now stand war is probable.
This is the view taken of the situa-
ton in England. In the House of
Lords, Earl Clarendon, the Foreign
Secretary, in response to an inquiry,
stated that the English Government
had not offered any mediation or pro-
position to the Continental powers, for
the important reason that it would be
useless TO do so. The Government had
resolved to preserve q strict neutrality,
and would not offer an effective resist
ance to a determination for war, if such
a desire existed. lie boldly censured
the preparations for war, for which he
declared there was no sufficient cause.
This declaration must have been deep
" Notifying to English pride, and
especially SO to Earl Clarendon, who
had long been a personal friend and
admirer Of the French Emperor. 1t is
a confession of the ascendancy of Louis
Napoleon in the affairs of Europe,
which contrasts strangely with the for
mer history and prestige of England.
Coming after the speech at Auxerre, it
is still more significant 1t is distinct
intimation to the world that England,
which formed the Treaty of Vienna,
refuses to maintain it, and that the
Continental Powers must fight their
quarrel out among themselves, without
British aid.
1t is lust possible that Earl Claren-
den s remarkable statement may afford
the only grounds for peace. 1t cuts off
Austria from the hope of assistance
from England, and compells Francis
Joseph to seriously calculate on the
probable issue of a war with France,
Italy and Prussia A contest single
handed against these three great Pow
ers can only be attended by disaster
and humiliation. An alliance with
Russia would change the programme,
and render the chances somewhat
equal. But, as yet, the only intima-
tons on this point are remOnstranCes
said to have been addressed from st.
Petersburg some time since to the
King of Prussia against his aggressive
policy. Should these remonstrances
be efectually backed up by bayonets,
it is probable that the doom Of the
Austrian Emperor may be postponed.
But il must be remembered that there
are no very powerful bonds of union
between the two Emperors. Austria
committed an unparalleled act of
treachery in abandoning Russia in the
Crimean war, and the Emperor Alexan-
der may avenge the wrongs Of his
father by initiating the more prudent
policy Of England, and leaving Austria
10 her fate.
The European horizon is full of war
clouds, that may burst at any time and
deluge the Continent with blood The