New-York tribune., 1870-09-05

while by such mixed results he had oDtalnsu ia '"o
Crimea and LOmbardy: II craved undhubo s"o'''''
overwhelming victory. Meanwhile, the benunDng ho'
ror OF the coup dfta Of December, 1861 was beginning
to fade from mems minds, the undying RepuDioah "
stinc of the mind France began to show signs OF its
life, and even the intelligent unRepublican classes VINO
had acquesced in the Empire recognized the social ana
intellectual decentralization which followed H.
One who studies the course OF the foreign policy OF
France from the peace Of Vlafranca 0r Iurc 70 the
departure the Mexican expedition cannot fail 10 notice
its restless meddng. irritating character. The con
tinued forbeance OF the other European powers the
tacit submission OF England are among those clrcum-
stances which will seem almost incredible to the future
historian. The Emperor's Government was apparently
very strong for through the intense Spanish bigotry Of
the Empress, the support OF the Roman Catholic Church
was added to that of the army the peasanry
was thrcefod strand OF power, which monarchical
faction like that OF the Oreanst Bourbon party,
could possibly succeed in untwistng. policy Of peace,
non-inefvention, and continued material development,
was that which a ruler assured OF his place would un
doubtedly have chosen. Napoleon Ill unconsciously
betrayed his own want Of faith in his lasting
by adopting opposite policy. He had deyotedarm
he had created powerful navy all France was kDitnto
one compact body by railways and teegraphs and Paris
had been made magnificent by macadamized avenues
from which barrcades could he constructed leading
toward fortresses whose artillery could sweep themfro
sonal ends while actually stimulating the industry and
vastly increasing the wealth Of the nation
satisfied here his quiet would have been esteemed
bearance his prudence would have been accepted as
magnanimty
MEXICO.
But there is always Nemesis lying in wait for natures
80 essentially selfish and false. The first blow came DacK
upon him from the quarter whence no one coud nave
antcipated IT, We are not yet in possession OF all
ha induced England and spain
TO ioin him in the Mexican business Cn October 1861
but we have the absurd theatrical letter to Gen.
Forey, announcing his self-imposed mission 10 r-
construct the Latin in America, and rebuild
the fallen edi1ce OF its power AT the time
there was no favorable opportunity to interfere
actively in European affairs. The American civil war
absorbed the attention of the older nations and they
were more vtay interested in s results than was then
apparent on surface The Mexican expedition was
threat an mpernence indirect (and therefore unan
swerabe) interference i'll American affairs ltwas meant
TO be the first step toward Intervention on behaf OF
the rebellious South The dsmemberment OF the Amer
can Republic would have been the triumph OF dyDastlc
ideas throughout the world, and there was nothing
which Napoleon III. more prayerfuly desired.
The withdrawal OF England and Spain from the expe-
dtion quietly and respectfully accomplished that
the good understanding of France with those nations
was not disturbed. The French army under Bazalne
few easy triumphs in Mexico and the most possl-
BILE was made ont Of poor Maxmilians temporary IN
vestiture with the purple. Napoleon however was
srewd enough that the success OF the undertak
ing depended on that of the South, and he probably
made in the whole Of his reign no such desperate
exerton AS during the latter half Of 1862 TO induce En-
gland to unite with France in armed intervention
member Of one the regning families of Europe and an
intimate acquaintance of Napoleon III. assured the
writer of this article of the fact just stated lie declared
that I'm the Fall OF 1862 the Emperor had said to him. at
IA. h,,.I IL -, ont OF. faptt
'At last things are arranged to my wsh-England VIII
intervene in the American question" His plan was as
we learned from which cannot yet be gwen
to institute joint interference in such form that
France could withdraw at the critical moment (as En-
gland had done in Mexco), and thus Engands paw be
used TO haul the French-or rather, the Napoleonc-
chestnuts from the fire.
Two things baflied this ceyarranged plan-Abraham
Lncolns Proclamation of Emancipation and the steady
friendship of Russia The moral support OF the English
and the consequent caution OF the English Gov
ernment saved the United States from what was, for
short time, very imminent danger Napoleon III hes
itated until the proper time for his action had passed,
and England had more reason for cOngratuatiOn than
her people perhaps, now Of The end Of
the Mexican business was the severes blow which the
dynastc system had received since the French Revolu
tOn. The divinity OF hereditary rulers instead Of being
strengthened, again tragically shaken and hence
forth another bloody ghost added 10 the thousands
which already haunted the Tueres.
We may here remark. pass0nL that during four
years of war Mr.. Seward gave intimaton of the
danger which menaced from the side OF France
Although he could not have been unacquainted with the
facts he steadily ignored them; but the further nego
tiatlons by which he brought about the withdrawal of
the French army from Mexico went far to atone for this
apparent Indifference. The necessity OF such with
drawa was of course recognized by the Emperor after
Lees surrender and the only question was how should
be accomplished without compromising the dignity of
France.
The later events Of Nap0leOn's reign lie to us
that we need not recapituate them in detail The failure
of his Mexican plans disturbed the general faith in his
nallibe wisdom, and first revealed the hollow fOunda-
tiOn upon which his imperial power was built. 1t was
source OF profound modification 10 the French people
how profound only those know who have visited
France and discussed the matter there within the last
three years The growing the priesthood
and the arrogance with which it exercised under the
encouragement of the Empress, whose piOus ambi
ton increased as her beauty faded, became an
other source OF dssatifaction among the people.
On the other hand, the rigor of the Imperial
rule had been considerably relaxed, and there
those who believed that the Emperor only wished
order before realizing his genuine political views by
Constitution which would secure fair representa-
ton the people! The attractive mystery OF retcence
and the glamour OF success, still hung around him The
opposing elements yet sharply sundered. The
French people grow weary OF disorder, or even
lOng-continued excitement. Their temperament is
full, sefndugent, epicurean only small class among
them capable of more than passing sacrifice for the
sake of principle This characteristic had been culti-
waited by the Empire; literature and the drama had
given il the cOmpletest expression, and a refined.
sensuous maeralism expressed in the tastes and
habits of the population.
From this point, there seems TO he a change in the
character of Napoleon Ill., but rather inclined to
consider it as unguarded manifestation OF quail
ties which he had already exhibited His history reflects
the contradictions united in his nature. His educa
tion early associations and later studies all
or less democratic We understood the material wants
aud desires OF the people very much better than the
mana rchicaI theory Of His own