The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-02
The Land Of Deisre.
On. Y. WORLDLY

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| Shortly after the peace of Luneville, Napo-
leon Bonaparte, still First Consul of the
quasi French Republic began to intrigue
| with the eccentric Emneror Paul of Russia for
the destrgetion of the British power in India
The Car, pho was probably more than half
crazy, hadNuarrelied with England about the
oession of halta, which he claimed both by
treaty and sr eHsio as Grand Master of the Or
der of St. John of Jerusalem. Napoleon artfully
fomented his discomfort at Epglauds refusal
to surrender the island, by flattering his claim
and sending him the sword presented by the
Pope to the heroic John de la Yalette for his
memorable defence against the Turks. Napo-
leon had, when In Egypt, and before be began
to entertain his schemes of European conquest
looked with curious eye to the possibilities
of an Eastern Empire, and had conceive ed il to
be quite feasible to march q French army to
India by way of the Euphrates He now saw
| that all he needed to make himself supreme in
Europe was to occupy the Gear in Eastern
conqnests, and he prepared plan of campaign
far more magnificent than those of Alexander
or Timonr. The French and Russians were to
cooperate in an overland march to India.
Thirty five thousand French, descending the
Danube to the Black Sea, were to cross and
march by land to the Volga, descend to Astrak-
han, thence across the Caspian, TO unite with
Russian army of equal strength at Astrabad.
In forty-hve days, marching through Persia
and by HeTSt, Ferah and Candahar, they cal
culated to reach the Indus whence they had
only to descend upon the great peninsula to
make it their own from Cashmere to Cape
Comoriu. 1t will not do to say that the scheme
was not practicable. 1t is enough to know that
its accomplishment was frustrated by the
sassnation of Paul, an event which plunged
Napoleon in great grief.
Events always repeat themselves, due allow
| ance being made for changes in the environ
ing circumstances. The destruction of France
in the late war with North Germany was ac-
compished through the precarious position of
England in respect to the Eastern question and
the manifest intention of Russa to advance
her lines towards Constantinople aud India on
fha rat ifu iuoiry
shown by the important testimony, now first
published, of d. de Chaudordy before the
French Commission of Inquiry into the origin
and history of the ancO-German war. There
was an agreement between France and Austria
to act in concert in the war, the coming of
which was recognised to be inevitable, and
every consideration of policy, interest and
gratitude attracted Italy also to the side of
France, accordingly these two powers made q
treaty, binding themselves to take the side of
France if Napoleon suffered no defeat before
the 18th of September. Weissenburg and it's
results nullifed this treaty, which was made
null anyhow by the attitude of Russia. That |
power consented to act strictly under the ia |
structions of Count Bismarck, upon the sole |
condition that she was to have her way in the |
Black Sea, and thus the treaty of Paris WAS |
set at defiance, the conquests in Turkestan in
augurated, England efectnally isolated and
silenced, and France compelled to submit to
partition and spoliation.
We have instanced these two cases to show
the influence which India has exerted and is
exerting in the history of the world. In the
first place, the peril of India spurred England
to tremendous exertions. She su bsidized all
Europe. She destroyed Copenhagen and the
Danish fleet conquered Egypt, invaded Spain,
Naples, took the Cape of Good Hope,
into the Black Sea, spent eight
hundred millions sterling, all for the defence
Of India. In the second instance she held her
bands, withdrew her pTetensions to be one of
The powers of Europe submitted to have Rus
Via break her treaties and Prussia snub her,
md let her two fastest allies be overrnn and
,onqueIed, all in the defence of her Indian
Empire.
But the Indian Empire is none the less as
ailable and assailed too day because England
proclaimed herself non-com Blatant in 1870. 1t
Gems to he of the instinct of every coBqueroF
md coBqUering nation to look with eyes of
Ividity upon India. Hegel, not less acute in
ONE of his magnificent congratulations be-
ause often obscure and haEy, has said with
ingular point that India, as Land of De- {
ire, forms an essential element in general !
history. From the most ancient times down
ward, all nations have directed their wishes
nd longiDgs to gaining access to the treasures
f this land of marvels, the most costly which ,
be earth presents. Those wishes
ave been realized; this Land of Desire has I
cen attained; there is scarcely any great s
alton of the East, nor OF the modern European h
Vest, that has not gained for itself smaller
r larger portion of It,"
1t is as yet too soon to say '
ow fatal has been her influence upon Eng z
md, bat this much is certain: that the sue
9sSors of Chatham and Pitt have gone back
the policy of Dandy and Pelham and the b
eirs OF Give, Wellesley, CORVALLIS, Munro, il
lphinstone, Cough, Napier aud Clyde, in
ldia, are certifying carefully the lines which
1850 warriors were only sedulous to advance. C
The road ambition travels is too narrow for "