The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-14
Our Foreign Relations.

England, France, and Spain, against the UNI
ted States, was in an initiatory condition, the
consideration to which 1t was entitied' "A
there be truth in the statement, the proceeo'
ing is one of the most i'm portaat that nave oc-
CURED daring this century. when we reflect
upon the tone OF Congress with reference ~
the unsettled questions with England-lhe
strong desire manifested in this country 10 &C
on,re both Canada and Cuba-the general
avowal Of an aggressive policy In our foreign
relations by congressman, press, and peo-
pIe-such an alliance, rs we said yesterday, Is
both natural and polite. IL would bring
about a great revolution in the relations ana
policips of nations, and would be fraught win
conseo uepces of immense magnitude In the
history of the world.
We eov this upon the hypothesis that the
alliance should be formed. But there are
strong reasons that render il improbable, not.
withstand!ng that the motive TO establish IL
ia strong and natural. One of them Is that
snch an alliance would be an act of hostility
that wonid provoke counter action on the part
,f the United States which would render war
extremely probable. Therefore, the suggested
allies would be slow TO enter into such COM
bination rs long rs there was hope OF n
At this time n foreign war is not coveted by
the Federal Government. The perturoed ana
disconten ted state of our domestic afiairs-the
inauguration here of j. civil and poiitical re-
yolution whose consequences are subjects OF
anxiety even with the great war party which
effected 1.-THE immense debt already accnmu.
lated, with the oppressive taxation which II
imposes upon a grooming people-all make the
y,rpt ne for a N
with the greatest Powers of Europe. There
fore, the United States, we imagine, will be
inclined to assist Il little in the matter of such
an arrangement rs will render the alliance
suggested supererogatory.
Nevertheless, il would be unwise for us to
natter ourselves that this growing and self
sufficient Republic can for long period avoid
n collision with some one or more OF the great
Powers OF the earth. War will not cease un-
Ill the millennium, and it is the lot Of the most
prominent of nations TO fulfil the provdential
decree which continues wars and rumors Of
wars
The United States conquered its inGepend-
ence in prolonged struggled with the great
est nation In the world, and afterwards gained
4 triumph over that same nation upon aques-
ton of national rights. To these proofs Of
power and prowess in war has just been added
that indispensable testimony 10 complete ma
tional force and consis tency-the ability TO
resist the tendency to dismemberment. Now,
then. the American Union is brought forward
in the front line of nations-among the great
est, rs we'll by the admission Of the world rs
by the conscious strength of the American ma
lion. Naturally and inevitably the aggressive
propensity follows. This must beget war,
and war we must have; so that, however pre-
sent circumstances and motives may operate
TO delay ito supersede the talked of Euro
pean alliance hostile TO us-the day Of colli-
sion is inevitable.
To all rejecting and sensible minds, not to
say liberal and patriotic citizens, these views
necessarily lead to the question of our domes.
tic relations. All must feel, rs we suggested
yesterday, that contentment and prosperity
should be restored at home--that contentment
and that thrift which come from equal
laws administered by experienced and wise
and honest men. 1t is only in this way that
the strength at home which is indispensable
TO successful resistance of assaults from with
out, can be secured. Could there be greater
national madness than that which, while
counting collisions from abroad, would fill the
ton upon untried and alarming theories?-the-
cries which tend to the degradation Of the ca
paclty and experience in the public service,
the destruction Of faith in the Government,
and the gradual decay of public virtue, patri-
otism, and national strength?
This nation, we repeat, must fight on. 1t
is on the war-path. It's fate depends upon
public wisdom and forecast. Fanaticism and
or the Government will not be proof against
the trial, and must come TO Il premature end
Union, conten tment, and national yigor, must
be fostered and secured by wise laws justly
administered or the nation cannot fulfil its
destiny-cannot pass through the ordinary
cycle of great peoples.
We append to this article the following eX-
tract from tho PaU MH GrstHe of May LIST.
That paper is the mirror Of the views and
sentiments Of the English arstocracy, which
has most to lose by war. Taking the words of
the Gazette, the men of property do not seem
TO be afraid:
"Mr. Sumner has proved to demon
stration what is the real feeling of the nation
and the Government, which, on this question,
lie may fairly be said to represent. 1t is evil
dent that IL is not Il feeling which can possibly
he propitiated by any half-aud half conceS-
s,ons. Either we must acknowledge that the
civil war was as m uch our work as the South s,
and meekly accept the conseq uences,
must abandon the hope of bringing the Ameri-
can people into more friendly attitude to-
ward this country. As even the EXTREMIST
northern sympathizer will hardly go the
leagth demanded by Mr.. Sumner, we may
hope that the opinion of Englshmen will be
practically unanimous i'll favor OF the latter
course. The right answer for Lord Claren-
don to give 10 Mr.. Motley is q simple non
yoSSstmuS-a refusal to enter into any
discussion which includes the mention of
the proclamation OF neutrality rs matter
either for compensation or arbitration. We
should have spared ourselves some humilia
tion, and the Americans some additional irri-
tation, If we had acted on this principle
throughout Mr.. Johnson's visit. There is
another use TO which Mr.. Summers speech
may he turned We shall be greatly TO blame
if we do not see in it . warning that we have
incurred, though by no fault of our own, the
anger Of a very powerful people, which has
only now found out that in military and naval
eminence 1t can rival the greatest of European
Powers. No doubt Mr.. Summers only refer
ence to war was reputation OF its alleged ne
cessity. But that reputation was itself
founded on the effect which it is assumed will
follow from the eXertions of good men on
each side, and We know by this time what an
American Republican means when he talks of
good men. The epithet is rarely, if ever, ap.
piled except 10 those who adopt the whole
Radical programme A good Englshman
means a man who has started from the same
premises Mr. Sumner, and has come TO the
same conclusion. Ii good men of that type are
sufficiently numerous and sufficiently persua-
sire 10 bring the ma jority of Englishmen round
To their view, Mr.. Sumner may be right in
thinking war between America and England
Il permanent impossibility. But if, rs we an
iicipate, there is difficulty in finding the
preachers, or II, as We are sure will be the
case, their celebrations fail on deaf years and
stony hearts, it is quite possible that this Ger