THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARYS 28, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 246, 28 February 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARYS 28, 1860.

The news received by the European mail is much as we predicted, at least as regards the grand question of peace and war, which rests between the principals—England and France. To say that the aspect of affairs has materially improved, is too much, except in the unanimous and vigorous prosecution of arming on the part of England; for the ominous calm ofthe thunder-cloud, charged vvitr. electricity, for the moment pervades the atmosphere of Continental Politics. The storm which has gathered has not burst, but gives no sign at present of passing over. Warned, but not alarmed by the energetic steps taken by England in self de'ence, Louis Napoleon, who knows full well that the only chance of a successful war with England is one conducted on the " coup d'etat" style, thinks it well to assume a soothing attitude, and when given an opportunity by the absurd conduct of four Liverpool merchants, declares in the surprised dignity of innocence that he cannot understand two great nations living in mutual fear. Doubtless not, when one is an aggressive and the other simply a defensive power. We were arming too fast, one thing alone could check it—duplicity—and pray heaven our national characteristic of truthfulness shut not our eyes 10 such obvious endeavors at treachery and deception. If prepared, no war with France is to be feared: our soldiers and our sailors are at least equal to the French in courage endurance and physical power; our engines of war are said to be superior, and the facility of making them acknowledged so, as is also the wealth and determination ofthe nation, pervading all classes alike, while our obstinacy has almost passed into a proverb— a monomaniacal wonder! The French Press, too, has had a hint given it to change its tone towards England. Of course the effect was immediate, and English institutions are the theme of praise—rather a dangerous topic in contrast to their own. Louis Napoleon never has had a ground of complaint against the English press half so strong as the English Government have against the French tirades of the press against England, for the Emperor's Government assumes to itself the responsibility of everything published by the French press. Not so in England : there our press is free and as independent of the Government as Louis Napoleon is himself. Several ex-Lord Mayor's of London have had the honor conferred on them ol the " Legion of Honor." Surely the said Leo-ion will have to change its name soon, or retain it on the yt facus a non lucendo" explanation. Is that the intention of the Fiench Emperor, or is it that Napoleon, who believes in Fate to lead him victorious to London, cannot trust Fate as a Soyer, and thinks that as

" Memory and Forecast just returns engag," the memory of the vanity-tickling badge will repay his forecast .with a return in the form of a turtle-soup dinger, at the Mansion house on his first arrival oa that interesting occasion ? —or, that as they justly claim to be the representatives of comfortable diners, it ie his way of telling the English people to go and do likewise and get into that soporiferoias state a good dinner envolves, and then he will be,able to come specially over to disperse hjjs decorations wholesale amongst them ? The decrepid Spaniards are fighting the semicivilized Moors, and find they have, quite enough to do, and the world (does not seem to set a high value on the lives of either. But the Italian drama still keeps possession of the stage of European politics, and the first act has closed in the ratification ot the treaty of Zurich, and in .Vj, Buoncompagni being appointed with the assent of all parties, Governor-General of Central Italy.

The curtain has by this time again risen, and the scene is Paris. A Congress was to meet early in January, and England has consented to join it. It iijelades representatives of the five great powers and those of other powers who took no part in the Congress of Vienna in 1814. Lord Cowley, our Ambassador at Paris, assisted by L rd Wodehouse, our present Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, was to represent England. Whatever may be the results or the effects of i{\& no-results of this Congress it is impossible yta conjecture, and probably the French Emperar.is the only man who is (n a position, <to.conjecture, as he alone knows his own intentify^.. yA$ England has eoriseuted to send a representative to the Congress^-iis;to be presumed,she.e,nte|^ such a Congress determined to insist on the maiftveaance of treaties, or to a»ree to such

mortification of them only as is requisite to remove national oppressions and 'drily to recognise the annexation of Lombardy to Piedmont, and other changes violating the treaty of Vienna by a revision of it. Austria had neither the right to cede nor France to annex Lombardy to Piedmont without the consent of the other parties to the treaty of Vienna, because it was in direct violation of it. The best friend to Italian freedom and union, is England, and whatever tends in that direction, which at the same time can ensure their permanency, will have her hearty support; but the efforts ofthe people themselves are the most effective means, unassisted by extraneous force, except under very exceptional circumstances. Moreover, Italians should not deem England lukewarm in their caust for not assumiug arms in their favor at any moment the least convulsion takes place. They should be aware that it is this very non interlerence by force, as a rule, which creates the power of England accumulating wealth by peace —the sinews of war; for whenever war is forced on her, her recources being exhaustless, it is no longer a simply defensive but becomes a defensively aggresive war, that is, that all objects which the opinion of the B itish peopie pronounce practically just and requisite of solution in the Euiopean system will be attained, and arms never laid down till they are. We have had enough of little wars; England cannot afford them, and moreover has not the patiencn to afford them. Irish (mis-named) patriots have been busy : the rebel Mitchel, safe in France, hasbeen publishing epistles of rabid folly and nonsense against England, and, an audience in Dublin was found, who listened not only with paiencey but enthusiasm, to the hopes expressed by Smith OB ien, on the good chances of a war with England on the part of " the avenger of Waterloo." Such are the men, (one of whom has availed himself of the elemenev of his Sovereign, and returned to his native land), the English Government were accused of treating almost with inhuman barbarity ior banishing them where they ought still to be. In pleasant contrast to this want of patriotism appears a letter to his soldiers of General Garibaldi's, on his resigning his command for a time. We have seldom read a more dignified answer (we use the word answer advisedly), more solid counsel, or manly views which no more pa: take of the brigand he had been accused of being than the great Washington's. Our readers will turn with a sympathetic interest to theperusal of this letter of a man destined possibly to be Italy's Washington. Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sardinia have joined France in demanding ofthe Porte to grant a fi man to the Suez Canal Company. The meaning of this is obvious—England has opposed the scheme simply, as the Times olise yes, on practical grounds; and as it is of no use whatever to Fiance, Russia, Austria, or any other country, but England, they think she must have some deep design in refusing, therefore they would insist on obtaining it. The Times chuckles, and has hit the right nail on the head; a st»aw shows how the wind blows; ergo, thejealousv this matterdisplays. The Poite, meanwhile has deferred the matter to consult the English Govern-

ment."

Turning from the old to a newer world— the St. Juan dispute—which bore so threatening an aspect, has. owing to the dignified forbearance of the old country, assumed a more favorable complexion : the adventurer, Harney, has been replaced by an accredited officer of the United St ites—General Scott— and the island is declared neut<al territory. An offer is said to have been made by the latter General, likely to be accepted, and we doubt not, that neither country will have the inhumanity or madness to plunge into a guilty war which will spill floods of kindred blood, ruin both countries, and, finally, in its eventual consequences, possibly enslave the Anglo-Saxon tace. Thi-* latter, indeed, is welcome news; for although disputes, hotly ca-ried on by the United States a-*e of almost daily occurrence with Great Britain, and we ar& getting pretty well used to them, this differed in several points from previous ones. A body of fill, bisters invaded English territory,' and declared it American, and refused'to budge. England, however good her intentions, and great her forbearance, could not have yielded on such a point; her honor, nay almost her independence, demanded she should not; and however disastrous such a war would be, still, it is a less evil in the \qx>.i run, and has in it, at least on her part, nothing of dishonor, criminality, or inhumanity, and \ye verily believe it would be repudiated by the majority and enlightened portion of the American community.

That the plot, is thickening, and that we are on the eve of eighty changes, at least in Europe, each successive mail bears more strong and marked testimony—for good or ev il__but. seemingly still for the advance of civilization. As tim« moves on, with it advances cjyilisation in perfection and in diffusion, and ymx by year is more: and more spread through the furthest confines of the globe whoever the British race have found their way. Let England, then, h&ye faith in her mighty mission to civilise the globe, nor sUiQiber within reach of the assassin's knife, but arm and maintain a hundred sail ol the line, which will enfoice peace and treaties and ensure liberty and civilization.

(T,he fCaicKBT C/?a^knge.—The challenge published by the IJfelsou Mechanics' Club against an devm chosen .frotu tlie other ejyhs in the province, has Mt hp,en prodycHw.pf anyyeyent, as the time during wimk the challenge .remained open , has expired without my fiejjpose. This .seas.>n has not been so marked for enthusiasm jn' the, pursuit of this manly game as the iast, W .hop this proceeds from accident. | Cricket.-^-Qu Friday, the 16th March, a match •fill take place in■ Toi-Toi Valley between the Waimea East and the Nelson Mechauies^ Clubs, the ?e.p? jptpl* to<-$« f\m at Waimea $.st.

Election.—The vacancy Hiat has occurred in the representation of the Waimea South district will occasion a nomination of candidates to take place on Monday, March 19th, at the School house, Spring Grove. Similar proceedings will have to be repeated at Motueka, in consequence of the resignation of Mr. Wilkie

Nelson Savings' Bank.—We call attention to the advertisement of this establishment which opens, for business on Saturday next, the 3rd proximo, at 6 o'clock p.m. Mr._ Henry Hamilton Knowles, of the Union Bsnk, is the accountant appointed to the financial management. "