The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2293, 12 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1870.

Judging by the state of feeling manifested on Friday on receipt of the European news, such a contingency as war was altogether unexpected. Considering the excitement only, it might have been supposed that England and France were the belligerents instead of France and Prussia. The most vague apprehensions appear to pervade people’s minds. It is taken for granted, for instance, by a great number of persons, that England must be dragged into the quarrel; but though, for aught we know, it may happen, this is really not a' necessity. There has been a complete change in the foreign policy of Great Britain since the year 1789, Avhen, as Bitchie writes, “ Without a note of Avarning, “ without space given for repentance, “ the haughty aristocracy of France “ had to pay a terrible atonement for “ the crimes and follies of the past.” Eighty years have passed aAvay, and changes have occurred on the Continent that have severed English aristo cratic sympathies from its affairs. A new race of statesmen has groAvn up with ne>v ideas, and they have reversed the blind and foolish British policy that had been followed for 400 years. It was high time. The Avriter just named in a few Avords sums up its consequences at the close of the Avar in 1815

Europe hail gained nothing by the war ; legitimacy was again restored ; Constitutions alien to the spirit of the age were bolstered up a little while longer ; sceptres were again grasped by feeble and unworthy hands; gold and force had triumphed; Nai’OLKOX was sent to St. Helena ; a Bourbon once more inhabited the palaces of France ; Boland became the prey of the Czar. Across the fair fields of the South floated the eagle of Austrian despotism ; Norway was handed over

to Sweden; Prussia, for her share of the booty, was satisfied with tiro Rhenish Provinces, a slice of, the Duchy of ’ vars.w, ami half Saxouy ; and in defiance of the utmost .diversity in religion, in language, and ni race, Belgium and Holland were united under a common king. But to this latter arrangement there were insurmountable obstacles, Nature forbid the banns, and m 1830 the ill-fated union was dissolved We (Great Britain) came out of the struggle with the hearty hatred of Fnnce, the loss ot 700,000 British soldiers, and .an expenditure of nearly £800,000,000, and with an island or two not worth the trouble or expense of keeping.

This is a brief, but true description of England’s reward for taking part in the revolutionary war ; and of the arbitrary territorial division of Europe by the pious mouarchs who settled affairs on the Christian principles of the Holy Alliance in 1815.

Castlereagh, and Metternicii, and Alexander blotted out Poland, signed away nations and peoples, and acted, the robber’s part under the influence of Christian principles. “The holy religion of our “ Saviour was their guide.” So they said.

Nearly every quarrel that has taken place in Europe since that period, has been the consequence of this arbitrary arrangement. Men do not now-a-days submit to be parcelled off like sheep at the will of some imperious ruler, and naturally, when opportunity affords, rise up in resistance. Now what we wish to point out is the wide difference between the ideas of the present day and those of the past; and to give a good reason why Great Britain should not allow herself to be dragged into Continental wars. A vast amount of nonsense is talked and written about the decline of her power. We hoar every hour of the day some one talking of the prestige of the past, and how much greater England’s influence was in Europe a century ago than now. Perhaps, when the share of plunder that fell to her lot through the dictum of the Holy Alliance is considered, many will be inclined to doubt the degree of influence she then possessed, and every man of sound judgment will say that a determined neutrality in respect to Continental arrangements is the most dignified position to assume. We have said that most European quarrels since 1815 have arisen from the partition of Europe by the Holy Alliance. In reference to that arrangement, some years ago the present Emperor of the French strove to induce the monarchs of Europe to hold a conference, and pointed out to them the workings of discontent in the minds of the different peoples. France, in 1814 a conquered nation, was powerless to oppose the victors, and it may form some clue to the war policy of the Emperor, when it is remembered that, amongst other confiscations, the department of Mont Tonnerre, in the circle of the Rhine, and small portions of the departments of the Lower Rhine, and the Saar, were taken from France, and assigned by the Congress of Vienna to Austria, which made them over to Bavaria. The country thus wrested from France is very beautiful and fertile. Agriculture is carried to a high degree of excellence, and pulse, flax, hemp, tobacco, madder, hops, and fruit are produced in great abundance and perfection. There are also manufactures of wool, cotton, and hardware. Napoleon believes his mission to be to restore France to its ancient boundaries. He has more than once enunciated this idea, and no doubt he has seized the pretext of insult by Prussia to carry his determination into execution. In estimating the chance of England’s intervention, one matter deserves mention that will tend to shew how little it need be apprehended. Alison tells us that Alexander of Russia and the King of Prussia were opposed in their proposed arrangements by France, Britain, and Austria, and “ to such a height did “ these divisions arise that both par- “ ties prepared for war. Alexander “ ordered his armies, 280,000 strong, “ to halt in Poland ; while his brother “ Constantine published an address to “ the Poles, calling upon them to rally “ round the standards of the Emperor “ as the only means of recovering their “ nationality. Austria put her troops “ on the war footing, and the disarm- “ iug of France was suspended.” It will be thus seen that England was not a very willing party to the secret treaty afterwards formed, and the change in public opinion since that day has been in favor of most of the reconstructions of European kingdoms that have taken place. It is not likely, therefore, that England will interfere under present circumstances.