The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-31 00:00:00

Mr John Bright on the American Conflict,

The following is the text of the letter addressed by
Mr John Bright to Mr Horace Greeley :
Rochdale, Oct. 1, 1864.
Dear Sir,—For more than three years the people of this
country have watched with a constant interest the progress
of the great conflict in which your people have been en-
gaged ; and, as you know, some have rejoiced over the tem-
porary successes of the enemies of your Goernment, end
some have deeply lamented over them.
At this moment we tarn our eyes rather to the political
than to the military struggle; and there is, with us, the
same difference of opinion and of sympathy as regards your
coming Presidential election that 1: as been manifested in
connection with your contest in the field.
All those of my countrymen who have wished well to the
rebellion, who have hoped tor the break up of our Union,
who have preferred to see a Southern Slave Empire rather
than a restored and free Repeblic, so far as I can observe
are now in favour of the election of General M'Clellan. A'l
those who have deplored the calamities which the leaders of
secession have brought upon yJur country, who believe that
slavery weakens year power and tarnisbee your good name
throughout the world, and who regard the restoration of
your Union as a thing to 1)0 desired and prayed for by all
good men, so far as I can judge, are heartily longing to the
re-election of Mr Lincoln. Every friend of your Union,
probably in Europe, every speaker end writer who bas
sought to do justice to your cause since the war began, is
now hoping with an intense anxiety that Mr Lincoln may
be placed at the head of your Executive for another terra.
It is not because they think Mr Lincoln to be wiser or
better than all other men on your continent, but they think
they have observed in his career a grand simplicity of pur-
pose and a patriotism which knows no change and which
does not falter. To some of his countrymen there may ap-
pear to have been some errors in his course. It would be
strange indeed if, in the midst of difficulties so stupendous
and:so unexpected, any Administration or any ruler should
wholly avoid mistakes. To us, looking on from this dis-
tance, and unmoved by the passions from which many of
your people can hardly be expected to be free.-regarding
his Presidential path with the calm judgment which be-
longs rather to history than to the present time, as our out-
side position enables us in some degree to regard it— we see
in it an honest endeavour faithfully to do the work of his
great cfflce, and, in the doing of it, a brightness of per•
sonal honour on which no adversary has been yet able to
fix a stain.
I believe that the effect of Mr Lincoln's re-election in
England and in Europe, and indeed throughout the world,
will be this—it will convince all men that the integrity of
your great country will be preserved, and it will show that
Republican institutions, with an instructed and patriotic
pnple, can bear a nation safely and steadily through the
most desperate perils.
I and one of your friends in England who have never lost
faith in your canna_ I have spoken to my countrymen on
its behalf; and now in writing this letter to you I believe
I speak the sentiments and the heart's wish of every man
in England who hopes for the; freedom and greatness of
your country.

Forgive me for this intrusion upon you; but I cannot
hold back from telling you what is passing in my mind, anti
I wish, if possible, to send you a word of encouragement,—
Believe me always, with great respect, yours very truly,
Joratzf BRIGHT.
Horace Greeley, Es q., New York, U.S.