Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-28
The Attitude Of America.


The Attitude Of America.
There always was, up to q recent
period, a feeling of hearty good will
for France among the American
people. It was sort of hereditary
sentiment, which, originating in
revolutionary times, had decended
from generation to generation. 1t
had been increased, too, or, at any
rate, not allowed to slumber, by
events in Europe, and by the injus-
tice with which English writer's quite
generally treated their enemies Of
France. But it is not to be forgotten
that the original American friend
ship for France grew out of homo
geneous ideas of government as well
as from a common hostility to Great
Britain. La Fayette and his roman
tic attachment to the cause our fore
fathers espoused no more earnestly
than he, had much to do with it.
Then, following our revolution, came
that of France, before whose terrible,
though excusable, energies the des-
potic systems of ages went down in
ruins; and with this great movement
our people fully sympathized, ex-
tending to unhappy France the hand
of fellowship when all the princely
cut-throats Of Europe were perforat-
ing her with daggers and driving her
to desperation. The citizens Of
America sympathized with the citi-
zens of France.
When We come to analyze this
historical friendship Of which we
speak, we shall find that our sympa-
thies were those of republicans with
republicans. There was no approval
of the mad ambition Of the first
Napoleon; there never has been,
among the American people, any
other feeling for Napoleon III. than
that of detestation. And this reached
point of intensity amounting to
national wrath, when, during our
late civil war, the Emperor Of the
French did all in his power to destroy
the Union and break down the
American republic. Contempora.
neous with this bad conduct on the
part of Napoleon III, was the fact
that many divisions in our Union
armies were composed largely, some
wholly, of German volunteers; that
the people Of Germany manifested
the heartiest friendship for the Union
cause; that the capitalistsof Germany
invested their money largely in
American securities; that those who
are now at the head Of public affairs
in Germany were our constant good
wishers and friends. And now the
natural result is that Napoleon finds
his foul birds have come home to
roost. and German craftsmanship,
justice, and liberality are rewarded
by perceiving that the bread which
they cast upon the waters has re-
turned-a blessing and an invaluable
prize. From all parts OF our country
there is but one voice, and that is
strong and clear for Germany and
progress, and against Napoleon and
despotism. Thus it is with nations
as with individuals-good deeds
always bring about, sooper or later,
their own rewards; and ill doings are
sure to find a proper punishment in
the vindictory justice Of the laws OF
Heaven. s.
There can be no doubt that, though
the war Is, upon the whole, popular
in France, there is powerful public
sentiment against the Emperor.
Theirs has friends as well as Napo-
leon. II they are not In the majority
they are such as, in the end, make
majorities. They are the most intel
ligent men, the thinkers Of the nation.
Their opinions and their expressions
may be for the time being repressed.
but they will not stay depressed.
They will in good time re-assert
themselves, and with irresistible
power. 1t Is easier to repress the
empire than to repress intelligence,
justice, and freedom.
The truth is, the French empire,
under Napoleon III, is the embodi-
ment of repression, which is despot-
ism. He assembled the throne through
one Of the most cold-blooded massa-
ores of history. With q powerful
army and an omnipresent police he
has repressed the people, liberty, the
press, speech, song, ever since. Now
he represses the utterances of one OF
the most diaffnUI,fahnd Ero,,oh NOR