The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-07 00:00:00

ES S, AUGUST 7,185 R

AN AMERICAN COMPLIMENT TO

PRACTICAL SAGACITY.
NEXT to the pleasure of being praised by one
whom you have praised, and of receiving com-
pliments for which you have sedulously laboured,
must be ranked the gratification of having
your motives appreciated and your conduct jus-
tified by an intelligent, however undistinguished,
friend. Our leading contemporary appears to
have lately received this gratification,—at a
time when the gratitude of men in general
makes the Times express itself in mournful
periods, and complain that newspaper art is long,
but its popularity fleeting,—that the public in the
streets, to whem it has directed its loudest tones,
does not regal d, b. stowing their fickle attention
upon newer preachers—and that educated people
have grown tired of its habit of prophesying,
and besides are so unjust, that when it is useless
to make any further appeal, the approval of even
one discerning and appreciative contemporary
must be unusually consoling. This approval, in
addition to the satisfaction which the Times
seldom fails to repose in itself, it is enabled to
report as conferred upon it by its namesake in
New York. The sagacious journal which bears the
name of the New York Times fully recognizes, at
a time when a great many people in this country
are beginning seriously to doubt, " the practical
sagacity "of our leading contemporary. In our
last week's article we reported the complimentary
manner in which the editor of the New York
paper had expressed himself respecting the
intellectual splendour of the Times; and this
week we are made aware of American opinion in
a distinct leader, a paragraph of which has been
imported into this country.
The "practical sagacity " of the Times is,
according to the American judgment, resplendent
in the light which it has lately thrown upon the
slave question, and particularly in its opinion
expressed respecting Cuba. "We are not sur-
prised," says the editor of the New York Journal,
" that the practical sagacity of the Times enables
" it to see the Cuban question in its true light."
It has long been known that America, in the ful-
filment of her destiny, must have Cuba; that in
taking possession of that pleasant island she only,
in a manner, recovers lost property,—Cuba, no
doubt, having at some early period of the earth's
history formed part of the American mainland,
and, in consequence of some universal confusion,
becoming detached and wrested away from its
rightful owner—a source ever since of as much
pain and loss to the United States as to any
sufferer would be the loss of an arm or foot, or
to a belle the loss of her favourite jewels. For
love of Cuba America is restless and sleepless,
does not enjoy her turtle-steak or sherry-cobbler,
cannot " chew " or "liquor," and in general
passes very desolate nights and days. The
shadow of Cuba, like a phantom, pursues
America. It cannot saunter through a sugar-
plantation, look at a tobacco-field, make a mental
estimate upon cotton, or lay down in an uneasy
position anywhere, without being haunted by
Cuba. The figure of Cuba is like Hamlet's
ghost ; it waves America on, and leaves it no
choice but to follow.

" The practical sagacity " developed in the
English Times, examined and approved in the
New York Times, " enables us to see " the ad-
vantages which would accrue to England conse-
quent upon the recovery by the United States of
Cuba. England, the New York paper argues,
can " gain nothing by endeavouring to limit the
" growth of the American territory or the in-
" crease of the American power." America, like
England, is a greal industrial and commercial
nation, and must extend her limits. It is a waste
of diplomatic effort for an English Government
to attempt to limit the frontier of America
towards Mexico or Central America—vain to
attempt to stay her republican desire to fold in
an affectionate embrace long-lost Cuba, or to
educate poor and sadly neglected .Japan. The
arms of America, says the New York paper, are
like the arms of England—only extended for the
sake of peace. The impulse of America towards
Cuba is purely an impulse of benevolence, mixed,
however, with that constant regard which she
feels for the interests of England.
Why not let America take Cuba, when it is
the interest of England to let her take it? The
commercial argument put by the New York
Times is strong, if not convincing. " The in-

" terest of the English in our acquisition
" is nearly equal to our own."
tempting, such an approximation
But not to be bewildered in our judgmem
have a commercial calculation, such
require in these days, and then possibly
be guided to a right conclusion.
Here at any rate is a bold one
" trade of Britain is with New York,
" Baltimore, may go to show what
" become with Havannah when Ha;
"be an American port." Has America
hitherto very reciprocal ? Nitnporte.
argument be not conclusive, there i
argument derived from a consideration
terests of humanity. "As far as they
" thing is to be gained and nothing
" wresting that island from the
" Spain."
The practical sagacity of our leading
porary enables him to see clearly the
this commercial argument, and to
belief with reference to the interests ,
The Times believes that in case Cuba
the protection of the United States '
" will enter into an understanding to
" slave trade." To this expression
New York paper merely makes ,
" with or without such understanding,
" English may rest well assured." Why should
they not, remembering past assuranc
everybody knows the inconvenience
into any understanding. Unforeseen
stances may, and do, sometimes happen
prevent nations from observing engagements
have entered into. Our easiest course
Let Cuba be taken ; let commercial 7
be at an end; let us follow our manifest ,
let us leave humanity to the satisfaction
general assurance, and do our best, if w-
accommodate our belief to the practical
and commercial belief of the Times

LORD JUSTICE KNIGHT _
A RUMOUR, uncontradicted if unconfirmed,
running the round of the daily papers,
Court of Appeal in the Upper House
to be strengthened by the elevation
Justice KNIGHT BRUCE to the
Of the truth of this rumour we -
with confidence. We should, however.
to learn that such a
_promotion
contemplated. It is no affront to our
to say that they would be the better
fusion of younger blood. None of
true, have yet outlived their intellectual
but the advanced years of several make
and severe judicial effort undesirable '
though not impossible • while others, .
tively in the vigour of life, are not qualified
abilities and by recognized professional
to review the decisions of such men _
equity judges. And., admitting a reinforcement
to be required, we can name no one r^
than Lord Justice KNIGHT BRUCE to
•

ation of justice in the last resort.
Simultaneously with the rumour
have said, we shall rejoice to see v,
has appeared in the Law Ma'azine
article on the " judicial qualities, abilities,:
formances " ofthe eminent Judge in question.
may be one of the shadows which coming
cast before them, but, apart from this,
merits notice both for its justice and
We cannot, indeed, wholly agree with .
opening remarks as to the fitness and ,
of discussing the judicial merits of living
on the Bench. If such discussion is to V
at all, it must not be limited to remarks
or chiefly laudatory, but must now and '
with those cases, happily so rare on
Bench, where the interests of justice
moral or intellectual shortcomings ,
Probably, if we were framing a Utopia,
exclude such discussion altogether. .
tern are, this is rather a mitigation of
evil than the introduction of a new
their merits should be " freely,
" spectfully, discussed," "in a put
"tended chiefly, if not entirely, for
"eyes." In such a publication there
security for decorum, with every chance.,
petent and impartial criticism. Certainly
article before us contains nothing
offend the most jealous stickler for the

,onuTs
sio
bi
fo
yni
nwotfeeCrmeusabatyl
Tempting, too
udgriaeut,
.et us
ach as nations
:—" What the
ork, Boston, or
what it must
Havannah shall
America been
pork. If this
ere is another
ition of the in.
they go, every.
)thing lost by
dominion of
ading contem.
the cogency of
to express its
is of humanity,
aba come under
m that country
to prohibit the
a of belief the
answer that,
rstanding, the
' Why should
nces? Besides,
ice of entering
•eseen circum-
happen which
;agements they
:ourse is clear.
rcial monopoly
aifest interests;
tisfaction of a
t, if we can, to
sctical sagacity
3!
' BRUCE.
meonfirmed, is
papers, that the
louse is about
ation of Lord
the Peerage.
e cannot speak
3wever, rejoice
on was really
)ur Law Lords
:ter for an in-
of them, it is
ectual powers.
make frequent
able for them,
hers, compara-
ot qualified by
anal eminence
as our present
reinforcement
e more worthy
to aid the ad-
:sort.
r which, as we
verified, there
for August an
ilities, and per-
question. This
coming events
his, the article
id moderation.
ith the writer's
and propriety
living worthier
s to take place
marks wholly
and then deal
a the Englist
T suffer by thr
Apia,gs
B ofuwt a i
we
88hilm°dulgated.
of an existinl
new one that
, though re
üblication in.
)r professions.
re is complete
lance of com-
Certainly the
which could
'the dignity cd