FRANCE EQUIVOCATING.
THE Times asks if there is anything in the present condition of France which can account for remarkable proceedings in that country ; and although the leading journal astonished the world on Thursday by putting this question, and suggesting certain forcible reasons for the inquiry, it did so with some reserve, by no means making the worst of the case. The " enormous prepa- rations" which France is making for strengthening her ma- chinery of war, by sea and land, can scarcely be explained on any intelligible ground, save one. It may be confessed that the maintenance of domestic tranquillity requires a large army, but how does that apply to the fleet, to the defensive fortifications at Cherbourg, or to the replacement all over the French coasts of the batteries which garnished them during the first Empire, or to the accumulation of a great naval force in that port? Again, what foreign prince is threatening the French Government with in- vasion ? What surplus revenue has France to throw away ? The answer to each of these questions is obvious. Even with the ut- most straining of able and obsequious finance Ministers, the finance of the Empire can only by courtesy be said to make both ends meet. The two last contrivances for reviving the pub- lic funds of the Government, and what we may call the public funds of the commercial powers in France, the share property in the market, have both been failures ; for since General Espinasse's suggestion that the real property of the corporate charities should be converted into French Consols, and the telegraphic advertise- ment of the forthcoming restraint on the issue of new shares, we have heard nothing of those financial coups d'ttat. According to the statements of our Ministers, the misunderstanding respecting the Conspiracy Bill has been satisfactorily explained away on both sides. Montenegro cannot demand that France should possess an army of 600,000 men, or a fleet rivalling in strength that of Eng- land, a power which has to defend possessions in every part of the world. Austria is not threatening active hostilities, and if she were she might be laughed at. Notwithstanding the English marriage, Prussia is not likely to be troublesome. If Russia were to threaten, France knows that she has England to fall back upon. It is impossible that the Emperor, or the most timid party in France, can be anticipating an invasion from England, when we have on our hands a China war, have not yet done with the Indian mutiny, and have our commerce to guard all over the globe.
It is impossible to review these circumstances, which prove that France is threatened with no danger from without, and not to perceive that the same circumstances may be construed into evi- dence of an opportunity for France, if she were to contemplate some grander coup d'etat than ever beyond her own frontiers. The state of the French empire admits of many conjectural inter- pretations. Some report that the Emperor is not so strong in health as he has been, and does not exercise his wonted control
over those who are second, or third, in command. The disap- pointment of the commercial, the uneasy aspirations of all classes; may perhaps necessitate some diversion. The army itself is in want of employment. Some suppose that it is not under emu- mend ; others imagine that its excitement is not unlike the wine and sandwiches of Satory, supplied from the same imperial source, but on a grander scale. Something like the Sepoy chnpatties is said to be circulating in the French army ; it is the toast " To the Cause," which is reported to be drunk with enthusiasm at mess-tables. What cause ? And whatever may be the conjec- ture respecting other persons, we cannot forget certain established facts in regard to Napoleon. At one time, not a century ago, he made many besides Louis Blanc believe him a Socialist ; he made all France believe him a Republican ; he has made England be- lieve him a faithful ally. Taciturn by nature, he seldom speaks, until after the event ; he always acts before he speaks ; and wit regard to his greatest enterprises, his actions, unlike most men's, have always immensely exceeded any previous warning.
It is perhaps one of the incidents of a feeble Government, which is obliged " to do the polite" at home and abroad, that we have to be satisfied with certain matter-of-course diplomatic "assur- ances," when we ought to have positive facts on unmistakeable authority to explain these unintelligible preparations. The refusal to explain could only bear one construction, and we ought to be in an equal state of preparedness.
The subject ought not to be left to purely. official assurances, or to the " energy" of a Government which is distinguishing itself in standing by while other persons conduct legislation in Parlia- ment. The enormous preparations in France have attracted at- tention in other places besides the City. Since the Government has not proved itself to be performing its duty, others have been
i impressed with the necessity of taking the initiative. A quiet agitation on the subject has already begun, as is usual in this country, to assume an organized form. The grand objects are, to supply the deficiency which Sir Francis Head pointed out, and the Duke of Wellington admitted, by stationing a thoroughly efficient Channel fleet at once at its proper post ; by manning our ships promptly, which can be done if the market price for sailors be offered ; and by instantly taking such measures as would call out the Militia and enable the whole body of the people to supply the place of an absent army.
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