The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-24 00:00:00

'DIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 24, 1866.

cellor of the Exchequer for the declaration of an economical
policy which he had just made, and he assured the right
hon, gentleman that he and many of his friends "below
the gangway" would be happy to co-operate with him in
carrying out his views.

Mr. B. HOPE then rose, and directing attention to the
subject of the National Gallery, invited the house to agree
to the resolution which he proposed, that it was desirable
to erect a new gallery on the site of Burlington House

and the extension of great principles, cannot afford to say
in the glowing language of Longfellow,—
" Thou, too, sail on, 0 Ship of State !
Sail on, O Union, strong and great,
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
We know what Master laid the keel,
What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail and rope;
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope."
- -

On the north of the 49th parallel, tho lakes and the

River St. Lawrence, the United States, as we are all aware,
is bounded by the British North American possessions,
which stretches across the Continent from ocean to ocean,
and contains a population of over four millions. On the
the south lies Mexico, a nation whose history for the past
half-ceutury has been a story of revolution, anarchy, bri-
gandage, and bloodshed. The present attempt to foist a.
monarchy, supported by European arms and monarchical
protection, will inevitably result in a disastrous failure.
Its annexation to the United States would probably be the
greatest boon that could be conferred on the people ; its ulti-
mate absorption and redemption by her is only a matter of
time. The throne of Maximilian is being undermined,
and his power scattered by the echoes of the Prussian guns
at Koniggratz. Ile passes away as a Kaiser.
What is the lesson that Europe must learn from the varied
incidents of the past five years? Why, they must be con-
vinced that America has established her position as one of

the first powers on the earth—that their people are giants
in arms—their battles have evinced their bravery, their
patriotism, their endurance, and their greatness ; all these
qualities have combined to draw a tribute of respect from
the first of living warriors. Look at her navy !—it has
no parallel ; to-day it is the best and strongest that floats
upon ocean, sea, or river. Again, their Government has
proved its solidarity, their people their homogeneousness,
their land its inherent vitalisation. Aware of their colossal
power, capable of advancing their policy, extending their
territories, and alike capable of defending friend or punish-
ing foe. Like Cincinnatus, we see them retiring from the
smoke of battle and the field of carnage to devote their
best energies to the arts of peace. Have they not digni-
fied themselves in the eyes of the watching world ?
During the unfortunate civil war there was of necessity
a diversity of opinion in reference-to the aim and purpose
of those in arms. Englishmen are by instinct, sympathy,
and education Abolitionists ; the mass, not waiting to argue
or reason, cannot comprehend the holding of a fellow-
creature in bondage. They will not listen to the defence
of a necessary evil ; they unhesitatingly sided with the
Union, and not only on that ground, but on others. Eng-
lishmen love peace; they like events to come along life's
path regularly, not roughly. The daily salutes that echo
through the City Hall Park in New York would disturb an
English merchant out of his usual equanimity—he doesn't like
change ; even the peaceful departure of the Gladstone Go-
vernment from power was a source of nervousness for
weeks for fear of a general election and its attendant ex-
citement. Much more does it affect him when bloodshed
accompanies a revolution in a country with which he has
extensive mercantile relations. Violent change in the form
of Government and the disruption of an empire is horrible
in his eyes. History records the sad memorial of civil war
and the terror of revolution among great nations—the
breaking up of Alexander's Empire—of the Roman Empire
—of Mahomedan unity—of Papal unity at the Reformation
—these are the only parallels to the drama that was open-
ing on the American continent. John Bull comprehended
it at a glance, and took sides with the attacked. The
Hon. D'Arcy M'Gee, Minister of Agriculture for Canada,
in one of his speeches delivered in September, 1861, says :
"In the first stages of the contest it seemed to me and others
that the public sympathy in this country was altogether
with the North, the newspapers did much to turn back
the genial currents of that sympathy." There can be no
doubt that he uttered the sentiments of an immense majo-
rity of the people of the Canadas. In England I know that
the universal sympathy was with the North. I remember
well how the volunteers poured across the Canadian fron-
tier by thousands, not only men but officers of high grade,
with their horses and equipments. Many of the latter
waited upon the President and offered to raise British
legions ; at least three thousand men were enrolled in the
city of New York for the defence of the Union. I speak
knowingly, as one of my sons, who gave his life for the
cause, assisted in the formation of one of these regiments.
Unfortunately an occurrence took place which revolu-

tionised this friendly feeling and changed the sympathy
of many. The Trent affair fell on the heart of England
like a thunderbolt ; passion overcame judgment; the press

fanned the flame ; the old traditional policy of America,
which in 1812 she had fought for, was violated by her own
officers ; they seemed supported by the people and the press.
On this side of the Atlantic they did not understand
America ; they did not seem to realise that the people
across the ocean were engaged in a life-and-death combat ;
they did not know that men, maddened as they were by a
whirlwind of passion, forget nice boundaries, and failed to
recognise the law of Vattel or the treaties of nations.
England looked at the fact and acted accord-
ingly ; she prepared for war ; the dockyards dis-
played vigour and activity ; the Guards left for Canada ;

the Secretary of State of the United States saw the error
at a glance; the remedy was at hand; the anger of the
British lion was appeased. But during the time which
elapsed from the forcible removal of the Southern Com-
missioners and their rendition, the opportunity fl'ering, ijk
was seized at once, and the subtle poison of opposition was
allowed to permeate the public mind ; while a portion of
the press inflamed their partisans, public opinion was di-
vided, and their views soon took shape. The ever-to-be-
remembered serio-comical battle of Bull Run made the
American soldier the laughing-stock of Europe. Tort
Donaldson, Corinth, Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
South Mountain, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Rich-
mond, and Petersburg had not been fought. What a glo-
rious redemption Were they!
The thunder of Dahlgren's, Parrott's, Wier's, James
Brook's, and Rodman's guns, from turret ship, from para-
pet, from casemate, in barbette and from iron monster,
had not as yet sent their thunders echoing to the walls of
the universe.

The tale is all told now, in blood and glory.
Never did attentive eyes watch or eager ears listen with
more solicitude for the sight or sound of peace than the
people of this isle.
But America has a complaint against England ; they
charge her with a want of neutrality. It must be granted
that her position was a delicate one. The European
Powers had declared a state of war, and acknowledged the
South possessed belligerent rights. There is no doubt
that the manufacturers here did supply the South with an
immense amount of war material, but the Government
could not be held responsible for the operations of indivi-
duals when they had law on their side. If it had not been
for the purchase of 276,000 rifles at Birmingham and Lon-
don during the year 1861 the North would have been
without arms. When. General M'Clellan took command of
the Ohio Volunteers there were no muskets to be had to
either drill or arm them. The Government of the United
States sent agents over here for the purchase of muskets,
rifles, sabres, cartridges, ceps, saltpetre, accoutrements,
artillery, and even steamships and launches, besides cloth
and blankets. So great and so pressing were these orders
that the rivalry between the North and South ran rifles up
from 40s. sterling to 70s. It must be remembered that
during the war there were many, many houses in
New York and Boston who loudly proclaimed
their attachment to the Republican party, but were
engaged in furnishing boots and other things by way
of Halifax and Bermuda to the Confederacy. Business
men put national principles in their pocket when profit is
in question, and having the articles for sale they asked
not the object of 'the purchaser.
But America evidently recognises this fact. The great
Lone of contention is in reference to the Florida, the Ala-
bama, and the Shenandoah. That the Rritish Government
ought to have stopped them there can be no doubt, if they
were aware of the character of the -vessels. It is assumed
that they could not interfere with the business of a private
firm upon mere suspicion, but that they must have posi-
tive proof. I care not what may be the argument, what
may be the line of defence, or what legal technical excuses
may be made. The ships which destroyed so much American
commerce, and almost drove it ofr the ocean, were built by
British ship-builders, were partially manned by Englishmen,
and sailed from English ports upon their errand of desolation.
These acts lie heavier upon the American heart than any
committed during the war : they will remain there till
reparation in some form or other is made.
England had the courage to refuse to co-operate with
France in recognising the South. America owes her a
debt of gratitude for that.
But how stands the position to-day ? A plot, whose
ramifications extended from the centres of great cities to
the remotest villages and hamlets, whose members were
bound by the most sacred oaths—whose supposed wrongs
had imbued them with a terrible earnestness to free their
country, was organised in America. Every evil passion
was aroused by exaggerated stories of misgoyernment and
oppression ; the minds of the ignorant were inflamed with
great promises never to be realised, and secret agents were
scattered on both sides of the Atlantic to encourage the
dissatisfied; and with bribes to purchase the loyalty of the
wavering. I do not exaggerate when I say the people of
England never comprehended what a danger was at one
time hovering round us ; they do not know to this day how
widespread Fenianism was in the very metropolis. In London
there were hundreds of men who bad joined the circles, and
in every city, both small and great, its agents were
busy at work. At least Three Hundred Thousand men
in America were' ready at the first sign of victory to rush
into the mad conflict for the " Green." Money poured in
by millions of dollars. Officers tried in war, and under-
standing its science, were ready to lead them en. The
United States never had a better opportunity of taking
signal vengeance for the raids of Canada into her towns ;
she never had a better opportunity of reciprocating the
Alabama policy. Her day of triumph had come. I care
not what people may say. I know that the Canadas would
not have been ours a fortnight if America had willed it.
British power exists upon that Continent only on suffer-
ance. So long as there is peace, the British North Ameri-
can provinces may flourish ; but let there be war, and the
retired soldiers of the past campaigns would gather, thick
as the Huns, sweeping with resistless power everything
before them. How nobly, then, has the Government of

the United States behaved! They not only prevented
bloodshed to any extent, but they acted as the watch-
guard to Canada; they used the strong power of the mili-
tary arm ; and not only that, they gave permission for tho
Governor of Canada to supply himself with arms and am-
munition from the United States to defend the frontier.
Such conduct has saved this country millions of money,
and it has proved that the people across the water are
as magnanimous and as generous as they are brave and
heroic.

There never was a time when England could entertain
the claims of the Alabama and Shenandoah with a better
grace. America has asked for an arbitration. Surely a
great nation like this can afford to abide by the decision of
an impartial judge. What are a few millions in compari-
son with the inestimable blessing of a lasting peace and
an enduring friendship.
I earnestly hope, Mr. Editor, that you will continue to
enlarge upon this theme which I have so loosely treated.

In another week we may have the news of the success-
ful laying of the Atlantic Cable, and I trust sincerely that
it may ever bear messages of amity and good-will between
the two peoples. The dynasties of Europe are tottering
and tumbling about us ; the map of Europe will soon be
changed. England may ride her ship of State amid these
angry storms in peace. But let her remember that no
alliance can ever endure which is not founded on mutual
concession. Let her wipe out her indebtedness, committed
as she is, by endorsing Messrs. Alabama, Shenandoah, and
Co., and then we shall have an alliance founded upon
honest, sincere, and lasting friendship.
Gresham House, London. T. RAWLINGS, F.R.G.S.