THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 232, 10 January 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10,.1860.

The last news received from Europe, although containing no item of immediate importance, is yet sufficiently grave in character to cause serious apprehensions to the student of politics. The natural or geographical distinctions of countries have long since ceased to carry much weight in a Congress. Of all European countries, England is the most distinctly marked, and might, from her insular position consider ! herself free from any liability of being involved in a general war; but she has also possessions acquired by the hand of force, which it takes the same power to defend. One of ehese is Gibraltar, and our last dates speak of the Spaniards as anxious to dispossess her of this rocki We may well afford to smile at such a threat on their part, but as a straw will shew which, way the wind blows, so will even an insignificant threat sometimes foretell the approaching political storm. Spain is at war with Morocco, and France assists her. If ever there was a war which could easily be carried on single handed it assuredly is a squabble between the almostextinct empire of the Moors, and her old antagonist, Spain. When Boabdil | breathed II ultimo suspiro, which named ! the hill on which he sat, the Mussulman power took its last gaze upon the gorgeous fabrics it had erected, and bade farewell for ever to dominion on the European shores. There was small need therefore for Louis Napoleon to follow the example of Charles le Martel, and assist in a second crusade ; against the Saracens. There must be some deeper and more powerful motive which has urged on this alliance than any love for Spain. The outrages committed by the French army during the Peninsular war are not yet forgotten by the Spaniards ; the old hatred of France is as strong as ever in the minds of the peasantry from Biscay to Andalusia. An alliance between these two powers is far different to that which took place between France and England, who* though old antagonists, were at least rivals in the arts of peace. Liberty, the watchword of every change in French rule, is the acknowledged birthright of an Eng«lishman, and where emulation for the foremost place in the temple of Science is the study of the two peoples, they are easily knit together. Not so Spain. Of all the bigoted nations of the earth she stands preeminent : from ranking as the first power of the earth, she takes now but a second-rate position. No one of the five great European powers would dream of consul ting her on any matter of importance; her very existence is ignored at a Congress. What then can be the reason for Ms sudden affection which France has found for ber ? We believe that we can supply aa .a&swer, and that is, Tangiers. It must noi be forgotten that almost simultaneously with the news of this Franoo-Spaniard alliance came the announcement that France had ceased to act with us in the 'Chinese seas, and though still in terms of amicable relation with us, it has become the monthly expectation to hear that those relations are brc&es off, and war is declared; in that case we can .e.asiiy see a reason why a French army should appear on one side the straits of Gibraltar. Under pretence of aiding Spain, she may establish herself for ever at a spot which would enable her to divide with us - the sovereignty of the Mediterranean. She has a large seaboard already bristling with forts and armed harbors, whilst we have none, and Tangiers would almost equal .o#r Gfb,raltar. To fully explain the value of this point it is necessary to point out the peculiar current which sets in there, Vessels entering from the Atlantic have of necessity to make and keep close along that shore; in the s&m manner all leaving, have to keep the Gibraltar side, It is not a question of choice as to where $ey shall steer, they must place themselves uiider,the ; guns of one of the two forts, and any power in possession of these .virtually commands the, whole foreign trade of the Mediterranean ; it is a toll-bar where levies can be made, and any exactions inforced, henpe we see the more clearly some motive for this new friendship. Within the last two or three years the policy of France has been of such a character that it is difficult ever to say what her next step may be. The recent visit .of King Leopold to the Emperor at Biarritz is full of meaning. Small though the kingdom of the one compared to jtljjQ empire of the other, Leopold holds a jjigh place in jtj^e rank of politicians. His prst alliance with.tfre (jlau<ster pjf England gajve hini a ppsjtipn' 'at \onqe, ; a.n4 his second alliance ' wis *>W daugHter ' of; Friroee eonfirma<J tUisj #njd ;for' him

to visit the man who occupies the throne of his father-in-law is; sufficient to awaken many surmises. Perhaps from no one coulctLouis Napoleon receive so much sterling advice as from a monarch who has in his life-time seen some of the most remarkable convulsions of kingdoms, and the moderatibri of the King of the Belgians is well known. He may be empowered on the part of other powers to suggest, and be, in fact, a species of ambassador. Coupled with this visit we find the Princess Frederick William leaving her husband and newly born child to visit her motherfat Windsor,' Is it possible that there was some foreshadowed event, which no other messenger could be entrusted with. She came and within a few days left again; something of high importance must it have been, when the young mother left her child. The glass is dark, but the clouds have a lurid aspect; the air is still, but fancy paints the thunder of a coming storm; if, which heaven avert, our fears come true, the war this time will not only be fought on the.fields of Europe; we shall hear the roar of artillery in the South Seas, the naval station France has made in New Caledonia will send forth destruction to our trade, and devastation to our homes. Let us look to it.

On Saturday the Dart afrivea^frtom Sidney after a passage of twelve days. She brings a full cargo, amongst the particulars of which we notice several items of tea and sugar, and fifteen tons of flour. There are also twelve horses on board, eight of which are for Port Cooper. Mr. H. Kedwood returns to Nelson by this vessel. Our Sydney papers are to the 24th ultimo, from which we give extracts.