The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-17 00:00:00

late, and may lead to many a quarrel, but in this
I as well as in all that relates to Fenianism there is
reason to believe that we may count ou the friendli-
ness and courtesy of President Johnson's Govern-
ment. If it were not so, we should look upon the
consequences of the change as likely to be trouble-
some, if not dangerous.
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN TIMES. —As inter 7
national journalists we endeavour to take impartial
views of the public men and things of the
present times. Our position is especially Anglo-
American, so that every matter of general interest
pertaining to both England and America may
well
be expected to come under review. We speak of
English affairs from an American stand-point, and
of those of America as they appear in England.
By this means our readers will get a correct aspect
of every national question, and can the better
form their own estimates of its merits. It
It has long been charged on the public speakers
and writers of America that they are prone to in-
dulge in what is called the c, spread-eagle" style.
Nor can we deny this charge, as illustrated 1n
certain flagrant instances. The abuse is as readily
admitted and deprecated among well-balanced
minds in America, as it can be in any other coun-
try. But we wish it to be distinctly understood
that this sort of nonsense is by no means confined
to American authors and orators. Even learned,
dignified, solid old England is no exception. Of
the truth of this we have abundant proofs all
around us. We need go no farther back than the
description of the scene in the British House of
Commons, of Monday night last, on the-occasion
of the introduction of the new Reform Bill. The
Telegraph of Tuesday opens the journalistic drama
in true " spread-eagle" style. The Right Honour-
able Chancellor of the Exchequer is thus made
to tread the Telegraphic boards : " Hushed in at-
tentive and respectful silence, and moved by an
enthusiasm that grew with the expanding growth
of the speaker's arguments, the true and genuine
Liberals of England hailed the birth of a bill des-
tined to develoVe amongst us blessings more diffu-
sive and prosperity more exuberant than have
sprung from the great enactment which, thirty-
five years ago, conferred upon Lord John Russell
a fame whereof last night some faint echo seemed still
to reverberate through the walls of St. Stephen's'',
and recall the shades of those who have passed away-
The simple fact that Earl Russell was present,
and which could best have been stated in a few
words, is thus heralded forth with a grand flourish
of trumpets :—" And as if to live his old triumphs
over again, and to gain vicarious fame from the
eloquence of his successor, foremost amongst the
audience was seen the well-known face of Lord
Russell, eagerly watching the advancement of a po-
policy which, more than one generation ago, he had
himself begun." The noble Earl is then represented
as going through the startling operation of seeing a
ghost :—" It can scarcely be supposed that Lord
Russell contemplated the scene of yesterday without
strange memories and haunting voices of the past. •
With but little effort of the imagination he migh.t
have conjured up the stalwart form of Sir
Charles Weatherall, springing to his feet to
try conclusions with Mr. Gladstone." The
The idea of such a spirit with a " stalwart form,,,
" springing to his feet," is absolutely overpowering.
It was well that the vision was confined to Earl
Russell, in his quiet corner; for if the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had seen it, in the heat and burden
of his speech, there is no telling what might have hap-
pened. A portion of the people deeply interested is
the Bill, who had come to hear Mr. Gladstone, are
thus telegraphed to a wondering world There
were yesterday found humble listeners, who had
gathered at the door of Westminster Hall at
six o'clock in the morning, and who had waited,
the livelong day in anticipation of getting a se/
which would place them within earshot of one 01
the greatest masters of Parliamentary eloquence
that ever made the rafters of St. Stephen's ring
Mr. Gladstone's figures of fact are next compared
with figures of music :—" He has taught us, by the
dexterity with which he manipulates figures as
easily and delicately as Thalberg fingers the notes
of a piano, to be critical and censorious in
cases where the inferior performance of a humbler,
artist would elicit from us rapturous applause:
Did spread-eagle fancy ever go on a wilder flight!
The Government" blue-book" thus gets a " first-
rate notice" :—" One of the most important,
CX-
haustive, recondite, and accurate blue-books which
this century has seen was upon the 10th of March
laid upon the table." The finishing touch—the gran'
flap finale of the outspread wings—is thus given
" Among Mr. Gladstone's hearers of last nigh'
there could scarcely have been an individual who
failed to perceive with what grace and ease
the accomplished orator threw off the burden
of two hours of elaborate details and pon-
derous statistics, and soared to the height of /as
exquisite and noble peroration." We re-
peat, in conclusion, our admiration of the
abilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer;
We honour him sincerely for what he has said and
done for the promotion of the rights of man. But,
after such fulsome adulations as those we have
quoted, let us hear no more, at least for the present,
about American "spread-eagleism." Even Artemus
Ward and Josh Billings must " pale their inef"
" fectual fires," and surrender the palm to our con-
temporary the London Daily Telegraph.