FRENCH AND ENGLISH FEELING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1403, 3 February 1860, Page 5

FRENCH AND ENGLISH FEELING.

The most important question ojf tbe day is JHfl the feeling which is springing up amongst out HH French neighbours, inimical to England— a feeling to which the events of every day are imparting additional intensity, and which is Hfl beginning to give seiious uneasiness to states* IH men, commercial men, and all who desire the HH continuance of peace because of the numerous HH and untold blessings which it brings in its train. HH It is hardly possible to contemplate a more HH serious event than a bloody and destructive war HH between the two most powerful and civilised (Hi nations in the world,— a death struggle, the HH effects of which would dislocate society through HH all its ramifications, and involve — on the part of HH both Powers — a contest for national existence. j^H Revolting as the prospect is, we may as well look it sternly in the face and that the proba. bility is not deemed remote is evidenced by the fl^H formation of rifle and artillery corps throughout HH the length and breadth of the land. In fact, the military spirit of the English people baa never HH been so intensely aroused since tbe early part HH of the present century, when our fathers were HH in hourly expectation of a descent on these HH shores, and held themselves ready to repel it, BH with brave hearts and sinewy arms. A Napp- HH leon was then the idol of the French people j^H and .army, as a Napoleon is now, and the same dread of the uncle's policy which prevailed on IB this side of the Channel at the time referred to H^H is awakeued by the equally dark and mysterious proceedings of his nephew. It is really laineotFiHl able that a feeling so disastrous to the best in- fl^H terests of both countries should be found to Hrn have taken possession of the public raiad at HI this time of day when science has done and is HH doing so much for human progress and enlight- HH enment, — when the marine steam engine, the HIB locomotive, and the electric telegraph have so. j^^fl amazingly quickened the intercourse of nations, |Hi and almost annihilated time and space, ia order, as it was fondly hoped, to make different HH races respect and love each other in the spirit HH of our common Christianity. H^l That a hatred of England is daily on the in-igH crease in France is a fact, we fear, which ad«jj^H mits of uo doubt. It comes to us from so many HH sources, and is confirmed by so many dissimilar HH authorities that we are bound to accept it as &fl^| truth. The London Times of tbe 15th says; HH "We do not lay particular stress on any ane^H conversation, either at a military festival, when^H the tongue is loosed by wine, or in a railvrayJHl carriage, where the speakers are unknown to^^fl each ; but from information derived from a vast^H number of independent sources, we entertain^H no doubt that a feeling of hostility more bittei»H than bas existed in France since the peace of^HJ 1815 is at this moment entertained towards thisHH country. Tbe Frenoh. press — so guarded onHH all other subjects — is on this outspoken. TheflH moderate and reasonable Journal det D&batsQ/j^ contains attacks on England such as nevet^H before — in moments of the greatest irritation — HH have appeared in its decorous columns. I >ae HJH Gazette de France lacks language to expreso^H the bitterness of its detestation ; and the Univer&^M is still more virulent than the organ of the^H Legitimists. The talk of the army and navy isHH of revenge for victories 45 and 55 years old andHH their firm belief, as well as tbeir ardent wish i^H that in a few months the signal will be given fo^H the invasion of this country. The inabitanta o^H the departments from Brest to Calais experience^H a revival of tbe hostility of fifty years since, and^M strange to say, burn with ardour for a war ?HI which they must bear the burnt We believe thi^^H to be a fair representation of the present state of^H France— nay, mote, we believe the EroperorHH Napoleon himself would, if the question qould^H be put to him, admit it to be so." QH With such overwhelming proof of the exist-^H ence of this hatred, is not (this the time to ast^H ourselves whether we have not been mainly^H perhaps unconsciously, instrumental in raisin^^H and aggravating, the feeling we now deplorel^H Ouv readers will do us the justice to admit that fo^^H years past we have been regretting the style °wM criticism in which the roost influential portioifiH of the press of this country has indulged respectflH ing the present ruler of the French people. H^H has been pursued relentlessly from the time oj^H the coup d'etat to the present hour by writereflH whose pens when speaking of him and hu^H doings always appeared to be steeped in gallgJH There was a slight lull during the time that he^H was our ally against Russia, but that war over^H the course of ill-natured commentary re-com-^H menccd with additional acrimony, and it rosc|H to such a height during tbe present year thatflH all the leading men in the House of CommontHH were compelled to rebuke it, including LordJH Palmerston, Lord J. Russell, Mr. Bright, and^H Mr. Disraeli— men who take opposite views oJH almost every public question were united oo^H this, that the peace ot the country could not be^H preserved if these personal attacks on the Em<^H peror of the French were continued by our OW 4^H newspapers. \Ve have never been warra^H admirers and apologists of Louis Napoleon, but^H lie has always acted loyally and faithfully td|H us, and he would have been more or less than^H human if he had not felt attacks so long P er ~^H severed in, and so malignantly sustained. -The^H difference between French and English feelind^H now is, that we dislike tbe Emperor as a|H ruler and a man, and they hate us a^H a people. Our unanimiability refers to U "^H individual— theirs to us as a uatiqa-y-aod^H what our public writers levelled at the hb'adoffl^H their Governmeut they have received not VR'^H naturally as intended for, themselves. If should unhappily eventuate between the iwO^H countries, which' have so many intercuts incomt^H mon; and whibh' we kope Heaven in. its meicj^H may avert^xe shall, sustain, no doubt, our olid^H naval and military prestige; but this wil) be s^H poor return for the fearfol^xpenditujejif bboa^H and treasure that will be wasted. *^H