Important from Europe.
The foreign mails received by the
City of Dublin and North American are to the 8th instant.
The
London journals publish elaborate accounts of the capture of
Fort Fisher.
The same steamer that took out the news of
General Terry's victory conveyed the report of
General Butler's speech at
Lowell — a coincidence upon which the
Daily News comments.
It is added, however, that the explanations of
General Butler are interesting as giving some knowledge of the difficulties of the exploit.
The
News says:
‘
On the whole, though it is difficult to anticipate all that may follow from this success, the difficulty is rather from the number of consequences than from any doubt of the importance of any of them.
In its results it is a blow as staggering to the
Confederate rule as that which delivered
Savannah to its new masters.
’
The
Times says:
‘
The energy with which this enterprise has been prosecuted is creditable to the military administration at
Washington. * * * Thus, after long and laborious exertions, and an expense equal to that incurred in many
European wars, the
Federals may be said to have almost succeeded in shutting in their enemies from communication with the
European world.
The South has gradually lost port after port, and though cargoes will continue to be landed in obscure places along those hundreds of miles of coast, yet the blockade will be as effective as it is in the nature of such an operation to be. It will be seen then how far the
South is capable of doing without that with which
England has hitherto furnished it.
’
Important discussion of American Affairs in the Paris Press.
[From the
Paris Nord, February 5.]
Yesterday (the 4th) there was a meeting of the Privy Council in
Paris.
We are informed that the affairs of
America, and the connection they may have with the
Mexican empire, formed the principal object of the meeting.
France is not without some uneasiness as to the attitude the
United States may assume towards the new empire when the conclusion of the civil war has placed at the disposal of the republic a large and tried army, with numerous and skillful officers, and a four years struggle
has changed a State hitherto exclusively devoted to commercial and maritime interests, into a military State, disposing of immense forces. The recent resolutions of the
Washington Senate must have assisted in increasing this uneasiness.--Nevertheless, according to our correspondent, the discussion in which the Privy Council was engaged ended in this resolution,
that for the moment it would be wrong to give way to exaggerated fears, and that in the face of the pacific and conciliatory assurances which American diplomacy continues to give, the best course to adopt is to abstain provisionally from all movement, without, however, indulging in a false security.
[From the
Paris Presse, February 6.]
America has fatigued us for a long time past with monstrous telegrams, describing bloody operations, or sterile movements of armies.
All at once, however, two important pieces of news arrive to break the fastidious monotony of the military bulletins: First.
New efforts are making between the belligerents for the re-establishment of peace.
Second.
The Senate of
Washington, in the chapter of the budget relative to the allowance of consuls, substituted for the word "
Mexico," these other two very significant ones, "
Mexican republic."
These two facts are connected with each other, and touch
Europe directly.
If we look at the situation entirely from our own points of view we can but see in it the result of an inconsequence, the inevitable expiation of a fault.
But what good will be produced by retrospective recriminations?
We must take higher ground.
The
Monroe doctrine is more alive than ever in
America; it has been permitted to sleep during the war; we are seeing now its stormy awakening.
The day is not, then, far distant when the whole of
Europe ought to unite and turn all its pre-occupations towards
America.
Solemn hour — gigantic struggle which will bring the two continents face to face!
[from the Paris Patrie.]
That the feeling of discontent against us is strong in
America we know; that this discontent may have grave consequences we foresee; but that which may happen will be still less unfortunate than what would have happened if
France alone, recognizing the
South, had not only brought upon it the
North, but had exposed itself to Anglo-
Russian intrigues.
The consequences of the
American irritation will equally affect all
Europe, and it is for this reason that we strongly doubt that, in face of an adversary called
Europe, the
American States will dream of following the bellicose counsels which the journals which we have cited give them.
The Queen's speech.
The seventh session of the English Parliament was opened on February 8. The
Queen's speech, in referring to the
United States, states that Her Majesty remains steadfastly neutral between the contending parties.
It sanctions the proceedings of the
Quebec Conference, and announces that if the resolutions of the Conference shall be approved by the provincial legislatures, a bill will be laid before the English Parliament for carrying the union scheme into effect.
