Year: 1859

newspapers lnaC MT. COcIen mas been using his
portunlty as the guest of the President to sound
MN on the subject of mediation between the belli-
gerent powers in Europe-Mr. Buchanan himselrto
oe tne mediator. The story is probably untrue the
SLIMtnn ol conjecture or of the impression of Mr.
coDden as leader in the little group of peace men
III TINS country 1t, however, it is true or at all
extensively believed in the United States II will h
as wen TO remind your cOuntrymen that Mr.. Cob
den Is not representative of EngIisb oninion on
more than n specific class of subjects JF,anI ~
explain that he is not the question of Amer
can slavery; and on foreign policy he is as IttIo
entitled to speak for the public at home. Tho nal
tion would say, if asked whether it would be wnu
for Mr. Buchanan to mediate in the continental
quarrel, that the thing is impossible On two
grounds at least it is so impracticable that am
disposed to hope that Mr.. Golden has not pronnsed
anything foolish.


1t is impractcable because the quarrel is of n na-
turc which does not admit of mediation 1t is not
case of misunderstanding. 1t is not a case of in
depreciation of treates nor a question of bounda-
ries or of territorial or commercial rights There
is no ground for explanation, no point for decision
no field for arbitration. The cause lies deeper and
rises higher than intervention can reach The tbina-
to be proved is whether the Italians shall live as
they please or continue to be ovcrrued by foreign
power which they detest. 4 shout of derision was
raised, two years since, when one OF our most Hbp-
raj statesmen observed that it was pity the peo-
pie Of LOmbardy were not little more civil and
patient towards the Austriaus, as bv showing a
compliant temper, they might obtain many conces-
slons and relaxations of rule. The scornfuI reply
from Englishmen as well as Italians was that the
people did not want relaxations and b0unties: they
wanted the strangers to take themselves off from
a country where they unwelcome and had
been settled for the political convenience of the
ruling sOveTeignS of 1915.


stronger cry of derision would arise now if any
statesman in any country were to pronose terms
OF accommodation in such quarrel 1t is true
there was evident for the strife beqinnino
at this time rather than another. 1t is perfectly
fair to warn the world against the Bonapartes for
whose personal objects the explosion has evidently
been effected this year rather than another: but
there never was time when mediation could have
done more than defer the fighting; and at no time
since the OrSni conspiracy probably has even that
limited range been open to Intervention Ru+ If
may be said, if the Lombards and other Italian vic
TINS OF Austrian despotsm, direct or Indirect can
not De restrained from trying to drive out their op
pressor, may not timely mediation prevent the war
from spreading?


This is exactly what England is trying, and what
the neutral powers throughout Europe certainly
sincerely desire. NO help from America could
avail more or less, because the question still is be-
tween dissatisfied peoples and their despotc rulers
Whether the war spreads or not, seems to depend
on whether the other foreign subjects of Austria
think proper to rise or to wait. The Austrian en-
pire is artiliciay composed. 1t is not contained
within territory of ancient limits. or naturally
bounded, and its subjects not an organized ma
ton, speaking one language and habtuated to a
system OF institutions. 1t is aggregate Cf stray
States, bound up together for other folks conye-
nience. From this it follows, not only that various
portions discontented but that their discomfort
Is perpetual Indictment to the military powers of
the continent to intrigue, and in one form or an-
other assail the general peace Thus the general
peace now hangs on the chances of the conduct OF
the eastern provinces of the Austrian empire and
the influence they exert on their neirhbors At
every word of civility that passes between ono
great man and anOther-in Montenegro and Servia
in the Danubian States, anywhere from the Bal
tic to the Levant-some body gives start and
there is whisper of more war; Either the conflict
that or lata Oh nj,
decide the alternative of conventional or natural
government in the ensaved countries of Europp or
1T is a partial and preliminary conflict and in
either case, there is nothing for mediation to do
because compromise and accommodation are out Of
the question.


There is one more consideration, which will
mention to render the staten ent complete as far as
il goes though it does not concern Mr. Golden at
the time of his visit to Washington The conduct
of the minor States of Germany can hardly be
known across the Atlantic even vet That conduct
is becoming Ito English eyes, more absurd fantas-
tic and mischevOus from week to week The false
analogies which shallow minds are forever follow
ing out between the career of the former and the
present Napoleon are acting on the German imagi-
nation like wine on the hungry man. The notion
OF being invaded by France has thrown the quiet
and submissive Germans into a condition Of fear
and rage which isnothing short of madness. There
Is not as far as is known, little of evidence that
the Emperor thinks of attacking Germany and ev-
cry sort of reason why he should not, yet, on the
mere Imagination that he will the small States are
raving to join Austria, which is not German
State, and turi0usly scolding neutral Prussia which
is the true embodiment of the German mind In
this direction, the preservation OF the general
peace depends on Prussia. While she remains ncu-
tral there can be no general German war, and at
present she has no cause of quarrel with France
| No doubt her prepossessions are German: aud she


will be ready at the first moment to resist ag-
! gresson, and reply to menace FROM beyond
| the Rhine; but at present there is pre-


tence whatever for anything worse than
I hnr ri
Prussia leans on England for sympathy and
guidance, that the preservation of the general
peace depends on US. To great degree it does So
as we could at any moment remove the strong re
straint which keeps down the German hatred of
Louis Napoleon. How could vour President do any
good in this case? The neutral powers are already
guarding such peace as remains by restraining pas
slons over which none but European authorities
have any power. If they succeed it will be where
a Transatlantic mediator do nothing, and IT,
after all, bursts out the Rhine it will not be
for want of anything that American President
could have done to prevent it. His influence would
probably be strongest with Russia; but it is be-
lieved by most sensible people that the Gar him
sell is as heartily disposed in favor of peace rs any
lntercessor could make him. In spite of alarms in
troduced and prOpagated from GERMANY of n So
cret conspiracy between the French and Russian
sovereigns to invade everybody else, the rational
part of our nation believe that we are safer from
Ere nch aggression than at any time since the com,
detot, and that the Gar is devoted to domc tic pro-
jects which would be ruined by war One apnrc-
henson certainly is that il he finds the difficulty
OF seri emancipation greater than he can cope with
he may be tempted to ride off from the project on
a foreign war; but, in that case, the person who
should attempt to bring him back to his special do


mestic duty is hardly President of the United
States in the present condition of that Republic
This brings me to the second reason why anv
mediation the part Of Mr.. Buchanan is out Of
the question. He could not command the resnect-
tul attention Ofany European power There may
De an interchange OF courtesies and complimentary
language on occasions when he is regarded the
representative of the American nation, as on the
opening of telegraphic cOmmunica ton and the ar
rival OF new ambassador at Washington, or in
London; but, as soon as real business arises and
personal influence enters into the case, it will be
found that Mr.. Buchanan is altogether poweress,
worse. How is it possible that he should be lis
tened to on any question of international rights
and duties, or looked up to as adviser affairs
of government, after what is known of him in Eu-
rope? The Ostend manifesto is not forgotten,
coming as it did after Mr.. Buchanan had given
ill-iniormed public men to understand that he was
heartily anti-slavery in opinion His policy of
nexation has been universally reprobated in Eu-
rope; and also his countenance of"the Monroe doc
trine and his playing fast and loose with Central
American questions, and with fbusters, and with
the slave trade, and with every party that offered
a temptation in one hand and menace in the other.
How can man do any good in European Difficult
ties who cannot control the pirates of his own


ton and territory?-the man who covets Cuba?-
the man whose political history is bound up with





this moment carrying slave trade in the South in
defiance of law and contempt of the Constitution
| the man who stands before the world abandoned,


Inundated, defeated, and who avenges himself by
| exposing the corruptions of your political State.
| which known to aiilict him before, and
| by prophesying ruin to his country? The states


man who at home "despars of the republic" is not


the one to set matters right in other States. The
| ruler who cannot restrain his outlaws, nor


sustain the Constitution and laws of the republic


nor rise above being the sport of factions, nor ac


quiesce in the commonest principles Of nternationa


morality when his interest lies in brag and menace,


can do nothing for virtue and peace in Europe,


we may treat him with external respect, in consd-


Grafton of his Office while he is President Of the Re
| public; but a man who is appealed to mediator
Except in a mere technical matter) must, In hls


individual character, possess the confidence OF his


clients and it is inconceivabe that any person III
| Europe can have confidence in Mr.. Buchanan.
| Your course of neutrality (and we conclude that


neutrality will be course) will be easier thah


ours. We in England are all agreed in words ABOUT
being neutral, but we understand only too plainly


that our rulers take for granted that IL we cannot
| preserve our neutrality shall side with Ger
| many We must strive the more to make royalty
and aristocracv understand in good time that no.
| thing shall induce the people OF England to take
! part against Italian liberty. We equally detest
| the two Emperors now at war with each other
| We have no favor to spare for either; and we will
| not assist the despotism of the Austrian nor the
| ambition of the Frenchman We are ever ready


to repel aggression if the latter should ever offer
it, be his allies who they may; but we will not pick
quarrel with him, nor discountenance Italians be-
| cause he is their helper. We wish thev NAV not
! l. q 4,,o