Hence， it cannot be denied that a correct view of the wants andinterests of the Continent underlaid the Continental system ofNapoleon， although it must not be ignored that Napoleon desired togive effect to this idea (right in itself) in a manner which wascontrary to the independence and to the interests of the otherContinental powers.The Continental system of Napoleon sufferedfrom three capital defects.In the first place， it sought toestablish， in the place of the English maritime supremacy， a FrenchContinental supremacy； it sought the humiliation， or destructionand dissolution， of other nationalities on the Continent for thebenefit of France， instead of basing itself on the elevation andequalisation of the other Continental nations.Furthermore， Francefollowed herself an exclusive commercial policy against the othercountries of the Continent， while she claimed for herself freecompetition in those countries.Finally， the system almost entirelydestroyed the trade between the manufacturing countries of theContinent and tropical countries， and found itself compelled tofind a remedy for the destruction of this international trade bythe use of substituted articles.(1*)That the idea of this Continental system will ever recur， thatthe necessity of realising it will the more forcibly impress itselfon the Continental nations in proportion as the preponderance ofEngland in industry， wealth， and power further increases， isalready very clear， and will continually become more evident.Butit is not less certain that an alliance of the Continental nationscan only have a good result if France is wise enough to avoid theerrors of Napoleon.Hence， it is foolish of France if she raises(contrary to all justice， and to the actual nature ofcircumstances) claims for extension of frontiers at the expense ofGermany， and thereby compels other nations of the Continent to allythemselves with England.
It is foolish of France if she speaks of the Mediterranean Seaas of a French lake， and seeks to acquire exclusive influence inthe Levant and in South America.
An effective Continental system can only originate from thefree union of the Continental powers， and can succeed only in caseit has for its object (and also effects) an equal participation inthe advantages which result from it， for in that way only， and inno other， can the maritime powers of second rank command respectfrom the predominant power of England in such a way that the latterwithout any recourse to the force of arms will concede all the justrequirements of the less powerful states.Only by such an allianceas that will the Continental manufacturing powers be able tomaintain their relations with tropical countries， and assert andsecure their interests in the East and the West.
In any case the British， who are ever too anxious forsupremacy， must feel it hard when they perceive in this manner howthe Continental nations will reciprocally raise their manufacturingpower by mutual commercial concessions and by treaties； how theywill reciprocally strengthen their navigation and their navalpower； how they will assert their claim to that share for whichthey are fitted by nature in civilising and colonising barbarousand uncultivated countries， and in trade with tropical regions.
Nevertheless， a glance into the future ought sufficiently toconsole the britons for these anticipated disadvantages.
For the same causes which have raised Great Britain to herpresent exalted position， will (probably in the course of the nextcentury) raise the United States of America to a degree ofindustry， wealth， and power， which will surpass the position inwhich England stands， as far as at present England excels littleHolland.In the natural course of things the United States willincrease their population within that period to hundreds ofmillions of souls； they will diffuse their population， theirinstitutions， their civilisation， and their spirit over the wholeof Central and South America， just as they have recently diffusedthem over the neighbouring Mexican province.The Federal Union willcomprise all these immense territories， a population of severalhundred millions of people will develop the resources of acontinent which infinitely exceeds the continent of Europe inextent and in natural wealth.The naval power of the western worldwill surpass that of Great Britain， as greatly as its coasts andrivers exceed those of Britain in extent and magnitude.
Thus in a not very distant future the natural necessity whichnow imposes on the French and Germans the necessity of establishinga Continental alliance against the British supremacy， will imposeon the British the necessity of establishing a European coalitionagainst the supremacy of America.Then will Great Britain becompelled to seek and to find in the leadership of the unitedpowers of Europe protection， security， and compensation against thepredominance of America， and an equivalent for her lost supremacy.
It is therefore good for England that she should practiseresignation betimes， that she should by timely renunciations gainthe friendship of European Continental powers， that she shouldaccustom herself betimes to the idea of being only the first amongequals.
NOTES：
1.This fact is confirmed by Mad.Junot， in M閙oires de la Duchessd'Abrant鑣.-- [TRANSLATOR.]