The New York herald., 1870-08-03

telling the Old gentleman the object Of my visit
that had come to get his views on the interesting
public topics OF the day, or, In other WORDS that
| NEW YORK HERALD. tffrRfr wa
The old gentleman, who had resumed his re.
Clining position after the sautations, now sat
straight up, and, looking at Ioe with his calm bue
eyes steadily for second or 30, as II doubling my
expressed object, commenced TO laugh quietly,
| while he remarked - q
"Wcll, Fir, don't know Of what consequence
my views on public subjects can be now. never
| mix in public affairs, and am old now that
my views, like myself, may be said to have be-
| come obsolete" &
! We assured him that the views of veteran oh
server like himself, who had enjoyed such tacili-
ties for studying the inner workings OF admnistra'
! tons and political parties must always carry
| with them weight and interest.
He answered that he had no objection to giving
| his views TO anybody He never concea!od them
and did not wish to do so.
| "REMINISCENCES or TIE NEW YORK HERALD
| Then he gided from the subject TO . reference
TO his early acquaintance with the editor OF the
| HERALD "t h'
~ knew Mr.. Bennett during the administration
| Of jackson, while WAS editing the Gso5e. Mr.
mine in the Globe enterprise; but told him two
| such great men as be and wonld be too great
| weight for such small vessel az the Globe. and
that we might swamp 1t. advised him TO go to
| Philadelphia, which he would find to be o B1otia
| There he would find splendid field
for his talents and genius. He went there and
| established paper, but at one time the
weight OF Jacksol's administration was thrown
against it and IL crushed. A few years ago
when visited Mr. Bennett, he reminded me of this
circumstances and said to him Tt is the best
thing that ever happened you. and you ought
80 thank General Jackson and me for it; for was
| 1t not the cause OF driving you to New York,
where you started the HERALD and have built up
| tAe greatest newspaper enterprise! Now, Sir,
you are higher than the highest Senator on earth
! have followed Mr.. Bennett's course with great
| deal of interest, and we have always been good
friends. though sometimes he gives me rap in his
paper" D..
Running along in this style for little longer, he
asked me on what particular topic ! desired his
! views
Ianswered that in the first place woud like to
| know his opinion Of t
| THE PRESENT POLITICAL SITUATION.
| He thought that though it looked somewhat
! gloomy. sill there reason why the
the party at presentin power should not be driven
| out If wisdom prompted the action Of the oppo-
| publican party design to perpetuate their power
through. military despotism over the South.
They know that by no other means
| can they retain power. 1t Is their only
reliance and they will attempt it unless some d.
version occurs which will render such course un-
| necessary"
CosREspoNDENr What diversion could occnr,
MIR. Blair, TO change what you consider their pre-
sent programmed
Mr. BLAlR-Weil, sir, there might be war.
| Our government might be drawn into the present
| European war Dy cOfupucatlOnb mVOiVllY CuD3
| or San Domingo. If Napoleon succeeds, it is evi-
! dent to my mind that old Spain will become
mere appanage OF France. And then Napoleon
world feel bound to protect Cuba for Spain. Our
/ policy is to obtain Cuba in some way, either by
purchase, conquest naturally by force of events.
! If Napoleon attempts to exercise sovereignty over
| the island 10 will be y cause Of war with gov
| ernment, and in that way we might become en-
gagged in a struggle with France. There are other
ways in which we might be drawn into a foreign
war also. r
CONSEQUENTLY you think il would be
worth our while TO go to war about Cuba?
Mr.. BLAm-Certainly, sir. Cuba and San
Domingo naturally belong to us. They are essen
tal to us in many respects. Bnt would not go
to war until every other method would prove use
less. would exhaust the arts of negotiation and
diplomacy first. We could offer to purchase Cuba
from France and perhaps France would find her.
self in position to sell the island, just as she
| sold Louisiana to us formerly. France might find
| il more profitable and agreeable to adopt that
mode Of settling the question rather than draw
upon her the hostility of the United States.
THE ISSUES OF THE WAR IN EUROPE.
| CoRREsPoNnENT--Why do you think that Spain
| will become a mere appendage Of Francef
| Mr.. BLAIR-Well, IL seems to me that must be
the result. If the struggle is confined to France
and Prussia, ] think France must win,
1 Napoleon will be. He will have added to
] his present dominion vastly, and, having crippled
Prussia, will not only have prOstrated his great
rival, but will also be in position to settle the
Spanish throne question himself He will be able
to dictate 10 the Spaniards whom they shall
choose as their future ruler. He may do this in
such way as not to wound the pride OF the
Spaniards, but he will manage it to give
him controlling influence in the government. If
necessary he would make republic OF
Spain and place somebody in power under the
name OF President. The manner of doing would
matter little so long as he accomplished his object
CoKREsPOSDENT-Do you think the war in Eu
rope will pe confined TO France and Prussia?
MIR. BLAIa-That would depend suppose on
circumstances. If Russia and England saw
Napoleon dismembering Prussia in snch a
way to endanger the balance ot power
in Europe, suppose they would have
10 intervene in their own behalf They
could not permit France to become too
powerful, and thus allow themselves to be endan-
gered. Louis Napoleon, it seems to me, is now in
the position of his uncle. He is in danger OF call
ing into existence another CGaliti0n-the same ~
that which occurred to oppose the ambitious de-
signs of his uncle. The struggle may become one
between Prussia Russia. and England on the
| side and France, Austria, Spain and Italy on the
other. The aim of the First Napoleon was to es
tablsh the ascendancy of the Latin race in
Europe. Louis Napoleon had the same end and
declared 1t in his Mexican expedition. His object
was to get foothold here to establish Latin
| ascendsncy on this Continent. His object now,
| no doubt il the same with regard to Europe. He
| hopes to rally the South of Europe against the
| North by religion and race, and thus make him
| self the preponderant Power in Europe The
| withdrawal OF the French troops from Rome is q
temptation to Italy to join her forces with those
| of France.
! CoRREspoNDENT--Iny your opinion, Mr.. Blair, what
| would be the result of such struggiey
Mr.. BLAIR-It Is impossible to give opinion
! on such a subject The struggle would be gigan-
| tic; but the result would depend upon too many
chances and circumstances TO enable any one to
| foresee it.
| CoaKEsp0NDEEr--Do you think England could
| afford to go to war with the Alabama claims un-
settled
| Mr. BLAH-She would be obliged to take part
| in the war. She would keep out OF it of course a.
| long AS possible through commercial considera-
| tioms But she would have to interfere finally to
| prevent repetition Of Napoleonic ascendanoy in
| Europe. You can how Insignificant England
| would become if Napoleon were to succeed in his
| ambitious schemes. The defeat Of Prussia would
| think, be the signal for Engand's Intervention
and another European coalition against France
| These are my views on the subject though have