New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-03

officially what all Cbrstendom think. England
might wen have done it. / half believe Mr.
Dsraeli would have done it. Mr. Gladstone,
master as he is Of home politics, feels too heavily the
responsibility Of decision on foreign affairs. lie Is
morbdly anxious TO keep on good terms with every
body. So il was left for the Press to speak, and l
rejoice TO say the Press did speak, with unanimity
and force that made il heard with respect all over
Europe. The Imperial Court of France went mad
with rage and resentment. Napoleon had counted
on the subseryency of most Of the London Journals
AS many of them he had only too good reason 10
count. They had leaned strongly toward him and
away from Prussia when the Hohenzollern business
first became known So far they are responsible, and
more responsible than the Government, which mad
been at least impartial and had, am confident SAID
and done nothing during the first week to encourage
the Emperor with hope of support, moral OF
material. But no journal anticipated that war
to be forced on regardless Of the withdrawal of
Prince Leopold. When they discovered that the
Emperor had made up his mind to disgrace Prussia
or fight her, the English Press launched protest
worthy of its best days and its most honorable fame
The Tines took the lead declaring that the greatest
national crime since the days of the first French En-
pire had been consummated; that the war wac the
act of one man in France and that it is difficult to
conceive what nfatuation can have committed the
Emperor Napoleon to q course which is as impoltc
as it is criminal. For days this tone was kept up,
but suppose such an of virtue was too over
towering to continue long. Yesterday the same
journal turned one Of its usual corners 1t is now OF
opinion that il is useless TO inquire into the origin or
n war once begun. 1t has leased it's conscience"-
that is its phrase-by condemning once for all
the conduct of the Emperor, and insists that
Parliament ought to keep itself FREQ from
the appearance of taking side that hope OF future
influence by way of mediation ought to induce En-
gland to hold its tongue for the present. and so on
The Daily Nelcs, am glad to say, does not change
sides 80 quickly. With an ability and boldness
equally remarkable, it has exposed and denounced
the gigantic crime Of him whom it was lately the
fashion to talk of as "Englands nearest ally"
The Press well represented the public feeling at
the first announcement of war; 1t is not merely
general ii may almost be called unanimous. At any
rate l have not met one man of any degree or rank
or any shade of politics, who did not condemn the
Emperor, and express more less sympathy with
Prussia coupled with a conviction of the business Of
her cause. England looks on Germany as great
people forced to go to war i'll selfdefense against
Jealous and inscriptions neighbor.
. And that brings me to a remark or rather ques-
ton, which have heard q good many times VIII
not the Americans sympatlize with France simply
because we, the English, sympathize with Prussia !"
have always answered that l was sure my conn
trymen would not do anything childish. so I'M
worthy of selfrespecting nation 80 completely I'M
lust to q friendly people, millions OF whom are also
citizens of the United States; above all, if they are
to be governed by sympathes / am sure they Will
not forget that during our war the Emperor OF the
French was the most bitter and persistent enemy we
had III Europe that it was he who urged
England to recognize the Confederacy; that
he would have done that shameless act could no
have persuaded Eng gland to join him, and was ready
moreover, to have given material as well as moral
support to the Rebellion. We have not forgotten
Mexico. I said. nor the Rebel iron-cads built in
French ports. Nor have forgotten that we are Re-
pubcans, and that the Emperor, who has wantonly
begun this wicked war, is the most guilty foe to
Republican principles. We have not forgotten the
corp dGiat, with its bloody crimes. We have not
forgotten the noble men whom he exiled, and who
are still in exile Nor have we forgotten that during
our war Prussia was our seadfast friend through
good and evil fortune. II less conspcuously for us
than Russia. she was not less faithful; and have
told to my English questioners the story of part Of
nv conversation with Count Bismarck in 1866, re-
lated at the time in The TRIBUNE. / had from his
own Inns the cordial declaration of his good will to
America and Of his unchangiDg faith IN our success
He told me how often the Tory faction in
Prussia pressed him to take some step for
the acknowledgment of the Confederacy. Never"
WAS his uniform answer. The friendship
between the United States and Prussiais traditional
II 10 ~ old as the Union and dates from the days of
our great Frederick. will never do an act to inn
na,;l a friendship / value SO much" He kept his
word The statesman who has made Germany
froe united nation, was as wise for us he was for
himself He talked much Of the intimate relations
that must exist between two countries that bad 80
mucb in common, 50 many citizenships in common,
snch constant interchange of ideas, each 30 inuen-
tial 70 the other There the stamp of sincerity
nm all he said. Indeed he had already proved that
NV his acts Are going to reQuite that loyal good
will of au undnching friend by shaking hands with
tbo trcacherous assassin who was our worst eneinyf
don't believe II.
Somebody who signs himself an American has been
writing letter to The Telegraph to say that we shall
do inst what have affirmed shall not because Of
ito childish folly and stupid bad faith. L have no
f,4hc, remark to make on that letter thalP this !:
that its publication proves how culiously strong is
tbo interest here to know which side We shall take
in America.
NOT less remarkable illustration Of the attitude
or tbe British Government toward Napoleon IS its
refusal to allow any Oficer or the BRITISH army,
wbetber on half pay or whole pay, to join the prus
sian Headquarters as newspaper correspondent
IN, Times wanted to send Capt. Hozief, the very
able writer who described the sadowa campaign for
that iou1nal-one of the best pieces of newspaper
work ever done. The Prrssan generals, unlike the
French. are quite willing and even DESTROYS that
authorized correspondents should accompany
Them. The English military authorities did not
.Il,,tI laTM iestt al, M
Tine "sppear 10 have been seized With sudden
alarm les, the pen of a soldier should give eciot
90 p,ussien victories which The pen of civilian
q. IL in innaIt. "A nnlnr 10 Irrnch eXreS.es.