The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-05-20
AN EUROPEAN SCARE.
The following paragraphis going the round
of the press, with various comments

The following paragrap is going the rounds
OF the press, with various comments
NEW YORK. May 1a-The Tribune's cable spe-
cia from London says the initial steps have been ia
ken for an alliance, offensive and defensive, between
England, France and Spain against the United States
The rejection of the Alabama treaty, the tone of Mr.
Summers speech the alleged tillibustcrng tenden-
ces of General Grants administration and the re-
ported connivance at expeditions from the United
States against Cuba, being made the pretext for
necessity for such alliance
This may or may not be Grue. We are not
inclined to believe it. The golden opportuni-
ty for these powers TO have combined against
the United States was during the rebellion in
this country. Why it was not done, and es-
pecially why England did not avail herself of
some of the many causes for quarrel, and'
openly espouse the cause of the confederary,
as she already had secretly, passes our COM
might have borne it down irrcsistiblv against
us. The same causes for the combination
spoken of existed then as now. We We're the
rival Of England in commerce. an opponent
of Imperialism in France, and coveted Cuba,
Just as we now do.
We said the apparent Indifference of these
powers to the opportunity then presented was
incomprehensibe But it may be that the
colossal power which ovcrshadows Europe
from the North the nation created by the
genius of Peter the Great, and fostercd by tho
scarcely less remarkable genius of Catharine,
-semi-balharous Russia-may have have act
ed as our guardian. Our acknowledged friend,
calmly watching events, ready if need be to
espouse our cause, and pour down on upon
our enemies with the half disciplined and I'M
counted hordes that dwell in the mysterious
recesses Of her vast domini0n-the designs of
the Southern powers of Europe were electu-
ally check-mated. Her grim and terrible 81
lence was our safety. When France and En-
gland interfere in the affairs of this country
the Car moves towards Constantinoplc. And
it may be that the wild Cossack will again en-
camp in the streets Of Paris, while Yankee
iron-clads anchor in Boulogne We have no
need to borrow trouble on the score of any
combination like that suggested
An instance of the manner in which the in
terests of the commerce of this country are
neglected by the radical administration and
Congress, is furnished in the tonnage duties
exactedfrom American vessels in Cuba. The
Washington correspondent of the n. Y. Her.
aid states the case thus
Alvces have been received from Havana stating
that III consequence of the want of an understand
ing betwee.l our government and that Of Spain
American vessels in Cuba are at the present time
obliged to pay in every port of that island dollar
III gold more than an English vessel of the same
size and under the circumstances for each and
every ton of her Spanish measurement. At the
date of writing two vessels We're on the berth and
loading for New York, one English and one Amer
lean both class AL American Loyd's, and nearly
the same size, and taking box sugars at the same
rate of freight. Both had inward cnrgoes. The
English vessel pays 81 80 per ton and the American
$3.50 This state of affairs surely needs no COM
ment
The English are attentive enough to their
commercial interests to look after this impor-
tant matter, but the radicals busy in finding
offices and privileges for negroes and the gen
eral scramble for the spoils, entirely overlook
this wrong to their white scafaring people.
Maine men. upon whom this cxaction is spe-
cially levied, can see how their rights are
cared for