The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-26
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
THE BRITISH PRESS

The newspapers of London and I.iverpool, re-
ceived by the last arrivals, TEEN with their usual
and characteristic abuse of our country and its gov
ernment But whoever should suppose that they
expressed the opiniuns or feelings of the British
government, unless, perhaps, of some member of
it, like Lord Palmerstun, would COMM, as great
an error, as in taking for the public opinion of our
own county, OF the opinions of its government
the angry denulica,on or servile adnlation of our
own partisan journals. What American citizen
who knew anything, would estimate the Federal
administration, or its adherens, who of course
were The majority of the country at its election,
oy Inc statements of journals in sune of the great
c,'ies' and especially Bostpn, New York and
fhiladeiphiaE By snch an estimate, he well
might wonder AT their being at large from Stale
prisons VIII" could properly estimate that pur-
lion Oh The people. nearly one half, and their lead
efs' VINO oppose this administration by the state
Inen's and speculations of variuus other journals
And SO may we say of most Others of either or
any party. Exaggeration, mssatement some
,i'hes deliberate. more frequently Proceeding from
ignorance or prejudice, their predominant char.
acteristics, and render them blind gndes.
Precisely The same in character, though far
greater In degree, are the journals Of Eng -
Most OF them are Parlison at home, and every one
OF them is partisan and hostile towards The United
States Like the American artisa journals, they
1--we and thrive upon particular interests. But as
they address communities less enlightened than
those OF our country, they exaggerate and per.
vert with less danger and therefore much mure
sluprraive and reckless than our own partisan
journais. IL then american partisan journals are
noauhorlty Tor our own country hat reliance can
be placed ON British journals when speaking of
American affairs2
The British journals scod immoderaeIy upon
our successes in Mexico, and denounce our war
upon It's government of military anarchy. as a war
OF outrageous aggression characterized by all the
crimes of barbarians. But they console themselves
IN hoping that, terrified by the expenses Of this
war, the American democracy, by which they
mean mob. will soon abandon The contest, regard
ing every thing as secondary TO the saving Of dol
lars AS the English are eminen,ly trading ma
lion, and as the British press is thoroughly mbued
with the spirit of trade, this importation of surdij
motives To Us is both characteristic and natural
And g Wing" journal Of New York, after very
properly reProving the tone and spirit of the Eng
llsh press. conntenances this impuration by ad
hitting that the war is unjustly aggressive and
prOdigally expensive aud therefore unpopular.
We doubt not that English newspapers will
eagerly seize these American ADM siOns a 8 con-
hImatnn of their own charges against our coun.
try and its government. But here again they
would commit The same error that any Of their
readers would, in relying upon their own tpclsra-
lions against us. Any American journal or poll
'icIan, who should denounce The present war as
unpopular, would commit an egreginus mistake
concerning public opinion. Not only is the war
popular through conviction Of its justice and ne
cessity, but any American statesman who. in
Congress, should oppose any measure for lis
vigorous prosecution, would soon discover that he
had inflicted fatal wound upon his own popu
larity.