WAR OF COMMERCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 232, 10 January 1860, Page 4

WAR OF COMMERCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

{From the Morning Herald.) M. de Morny, who declares with justice that he is.better able than any other to appreciate the loyal fidelity of the emperor and his pacific intentions, announces that the amnesty is to be regarded as the prelude of the system into which France is about to enter. Taken in connection with this province, M. de Morny's remarks on the manufacturing commercial war to be .waged by France against England becomes doubly important. Doubtless political freedom will bring an extension of commerce and increased prosperity. In such noble competition between the two nations, civilization will be in all respects assisted. Nothing will tend so much to render peace secure as a rivalry of this character. The greater the number on both sides of the channel whose interests depend upon the maintenance of friendly relations, the surer the pledge that peace will not be broken. Moreover, frequent intercourse tends to remove unfounded prejudices. The more the French and English people see of each other the better. For many years the commercial element in France has been rapidly gaining ground; hence the desire for that rivalry in the arts and in commerce to which M. de Morny alludes. It is true that the love of glory still possesses a strong hold on the hearts of our Gallic neighbours. They delight in arms and in fleets; are proud of a military procession or a sham fight, and rejoice to learn that ship after ship has been added to their naval armaments. They cannot therefore, deny to England the right which they claim for themselves. With an army of more than half a million of men, innumerable fortificat'- nd powerful ocean squadrons, they Cv. .... v. \j be surprised that we should devote attention to a single branch of the service. We have an extensive coast and numerous colonies to defend, and an efficient fleet is imperatively required for the protection of our commerce. Should, however, the French people at some future period consent to reduce their armaments, and content themselves solely with a commercial war, standing armies may undergo a considerable reduction, and the same imperative necessity for keeping up a large and efficient fleet may not exist. But whilst all our neighbours are armed to the teeth, England can no longer remain unprotected. Her conduct since the peace of 1815 shows that her aims are not of a warlike character. Indeed, so little has the intention of her statesmen been turned to war, that a few years ago this island and its numerous dependencies were almost literally and truly without the slightest means of defence. We could not have mustered fifty ships or 30,000 men for any emergency. Whilst we remained idle, other nations were diligent enough. Recent events have shown how suddenly Europe may be plunged into war, and how little the promises of governments are to be relied upon. In spite of the most solemn assurances to the contrary, hostilities broke out in Italy, and in a short interval several terriffic encounters ensued. Theso lessons cannot be forgotten.