Year: 1869

United States to convey to the President his


congratulations and to express his apprecia


tion of the value of the maintenance ofhmica-
BILE relations between America and Russia.
This action on the part of the
greatest nation Of Europe is At once
Important and significant. 1t means
that an alliance between Russia and
America is in progress, although THO diplo-l
matte workings of the two governments may
not be made public. Russia was the only
European nation, with the exception of
Prussia and other German States, which
was friendly to the United States during
the late war; That there was secret and
cordial understanding between Russia and
America, at that time, is an admitted fact,
and the knowledge of this tacit alliance,
had more to do with the non-recognition of
the Confederacy by England and France
than all other causes combined The pre-
sence ofthe large Russian fleet in New York
harbor in 1868, and the manifest entente cor
dale existing between Russia and the Uni
ted States, was fact of too great Importance
to he overlooked by the shrewd diplomats
of England and Franco. Much as they hated
the Great Republic, much as they wished
to destroy the influence of Republi-
can institutions, they dared not make
the attempt with so formidable
coalition arrayed against them. 1t was not
that England and France had not the will to
pronounce for the Confejeracy, it was that
they did not dare to. When one half of the
nation was arrayed against the other half,
England and France might have dared
to unite with the one section against
the other. But with the most powerful na-
ton in Europe ready to take up arms against
them, they dared not risk the struggle.
The influence of Republican institutions is
now being so strongly felt in Europe as to
greatly endanger the safety of the monarch
ial governments already menaced by peo-
pie sullcn and discontented under imperial
misrule. That the governments of France
and England are unstable is manifest to
every man who watches the affairs OF
Europe. The official journals may declare
their governments more strongly fixed than
ever, and the aristocracy may proclaim that
all is peace, but their careful preparations
and the force used to subdue the free ex-
preston of the popular win gives the lie to
all such declarations. The people are not
writers, they are workers, and their discon-
tent is expressed not in words but in actions.
Note the vigilance with which the people
are watched, the rapidity with which
troops are masscd among disaffected pop
ulation. and then judge of the volcano
upon which those governments rest. Like
the mythical Enceladus beneath the weight
of Mount Etna, whose struggles to free him
self shook the earth, the struggles of the
people to free themselves from the weight of
tyranny under which they are crushed shake
these governments to the verge of disrup-
tion. The people may rest quietly for a
time, but the tyrants are ever in fear of the
next effort which is sure to come The peo-
pie of France and England are sullcnly
quiet, but ever and anon there comes the
menacing voice of people who hate their
rulers, which, like the far off murmur of the
volcano, is but premonition of the aw-
full eruption that is to devastate the country.
The late elections in France, although the
people were overpowercd by the govern
ment, show the fires of revolution to be far
from extinct, and quickening with rapid
ity and power that will sweep away the Ma
poleonic dynasty like chaff before the wind.
The universal discomfort of the English peo-
a,le, the jealous attitude of the British Gov.
ernment, its expressed inability to protect
its foreign possessions, are so many irrefuta-
bic evidences of the weakness of the British
rulers. Why, then, do they seek a foreign
war9 Because they wish to direct against
Others the fire which otherwise will consume
themselves; because they hope by arousing
national pride to restore their shaken power:
because the losses of war would fall upon
and weaken the people,and it is the people Of
whom they are afraid. This is the reason
why England and France are so willing to
unite with Spain against the United States
for although the tri-partite alliance has
been denied, it is patent that it really exists
They hope by an American war to unite Their
people, and at the same time, by arousing
hostile feelings,t to weaken the influence OF Eu,
ropean republicans. To do this, they arc
willing to risk the results of a war, certain
that these results, be they what they may
will work to the advantage of their govern
ments and the injury of the people. Fol
these reasons we believe that France and
England, notwithstanding the Dragging de
clarations to the contrary of many of oul
papers and politicians, are not only willing
but anxious to have an American war. They
have nothing to lose and everything to gain
If they should conquer, their governments
will be made stronger If they should be de-
feated, the power of the aristocrats will
remain undiminished, while that of the peo-
pie will be greatly broken. The only
thing that will prevent them from assailing
the United States, is the fear of an enemy at
home Russia is in sympathy with America
for we are the only nation whose progress
will not interfere with her own. She is
therefore, anxious for an American alliance
and we believe that an alliance, offensive and
defensive, will be greatly to the benefit Of
each country The prophecy OF Napoleon,