The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-17
ADJUSTMENTS TO- MORROW EVENING.
New York, Sunday, June ~, 1870.
The British Press and the British AristO-
cracy. OH the AstOr Place Massacre.

cracy, on the AstOr Place Massacre.
One of the most interesting, at all events one OF
the most amusing, features of the English news
brought by the last steamer is that which is pre-
sented to us in the comments of the London press
on the massacre IN Astor Place. At last, something
good has, 1t appears, come out of Nazareth The
slaughter of twenty-five citizens of New York, and
the manning of fifty more and upwards, in order to
avenge the wounded honor of an English play
actor, has aroused the British press to degree
almost of Hbernan enthusiasm. John Bull Tor
once forgets his phlegmatic dignity. The United
States is not SO despicable after all. We have at
last obtained name among the nations of the
earth. The New York Massacre of the Tenth OF
May has done for us that which Thermopyla did
for Greece. We have now something to boast of,
and London penny-a-ners must, hereafter, really
acknowledge our claims 10 the highest distinction
The Mexican war was wretched, miserable, in
significant, paltry affair. 1t cod-blooded
cowardly, atrociOus, unprovoked assault on a few
miserable devils, unable to make any resistance
Of course it was; for said the truth-loving jour
mails of London But the affair at Massacre Place
God forgive us! we mean Asor Place-was grand,
magnificent, heroic achievement almost worthy of
John Bull himself. We have at last found an Ame-
rican General worthy OF British endorsement.
Taylor, Scott, Wool, and the whole precious
bunch of them, not to be named In the
same day with the ilustrious Major General
Sanford, who encountered an enemy Of twenty
thousand, and wholly routed them with an army
of one hundred men-killing twenty-five and
wounding fifty more. Always ready to offer no.
mage to distinguished military skill and proves,
John Bull is in perfect ecstacles with the immortal
General Sanford. He and his troops are lauded to
the skies and while Taylor and Scott are treated
with appropriate contempt and disdain, the New
York hero-our hero-our Sanford-the same
whom we have all seen, men, women an boys,
again and again tempting fate in that perllous
march from the Battery to the Park, and from the
Park to Union Square-he, the renowned leader
in the never-tobe forgotten affair of the Tenth of
May, is placed only little lower than old Wei
lington himself! Doubtless we shall soon hear of
the presentation of all of ribbons, and ORDERS
and decorations, to Sanford and his heroic staff
corning John Bull
Again-with what characteristic candor andgood
Judgment have the London journalists sought for
the real facts of this case, adopting the views and
echong the sentiments of those whose utter in
competency reliable authorities in any matters
appertanng to American affairs or American So
cIety, is so thoroughly understood by here upon
the spot! Almost every fact in the case has been
distorted by the writers in the Times, and other
journals. The whole wretched catastrophe grew
out of the impairment interference of few indi-
viduals, wanting in common sense, prudence and
correct feeling, who undertook to force an obnox-
ious actor upon certain portion of the playgoing
public, coupled with the folly, rashness and weak
ness of the authorities who converted the thought
less and disordery conduct of few scores of boys
into what they chose to consider formidable riot.
But the Times, true to its instincts, exaggerates
this outbreak into an incident of SURPRISING gram
deur. 1t sneers at the Montreal mob and the
burning of the Canadian houses of Parliament, but
exhausts euloglum upon the glory and excellence
of the Aston Place tmeute and the smashing of
dozen windows. Nay, the revolutions on the con.
tinent of Europe-the dethronement of Louis
Philippe-the struggles of the Hungarians-the
flight of the Pope-all, all are mere bagatec, COM
pared with the splendid action, the terrific revo-
luton, the grand affair of the Tenth of May at
Massacre Place
The whole West End of the English metropolis,
has, indeed, been thrown into most agreeable
American name. Proud beauties in splendid draw
ing rooms, actually condescend to smile as they
listen TO the recital of that glorious slaughter
Bloated lords and scrofulous lordlings do exhibit
some signs OF animation as they stammer forth the
details of that heroic killing Of twenty-five persons
in As,or Place, New-York, and the woundlng of
fifty MORE for the sake of two pay-actors! The
creatures have heard that there is aristocracy in
this obscure city, and the word sounds like music
in their ears. They think there must be something
in it; for the blood of human beings has been shed
in its neghborhood, partly through its agency, and
at all events, without moving it to tears. The
West End and Astor Place have therefore some
thing in common. Why should not the aristocracy
OF the British metropolis, in these circumstances
convey to us some token of their appreciation of
the conduct Of the authorities on the Tenth of May
Probably, by the next steamer, we may hear of a
great meeting at the West End, with the Duke Of
Dundeihead IN the char, and dozen equity Mar
quses and Ears as presidents and secretaries,
passing resolutions expressive of their delight and
satisfaction on account of these occurrences Pray,
why not
las alas we may in very bitterness of heart
ridicule the manner in which the British press and
the British aristocracy have received the woful
tdngs Of the scene at Astor place but we cam
not abate one o or title of the tragic interest of
that direful business In vain, too, does the Lon
don Times attempt TO put false gloss on the
matter. Taking, in this as in all other instances
in which it deals with republicansm, its facts,
views and impressions from the wrong quarter,
II makes the same mistake with regsrd to that
1t does with regard to the French republic. In the
temporary clogs and hindrances which, to some
extent, impede the progress Of democracy in
France, The Times affects to behold the downfall
Of iL..i rcLLllc The aalr ,laca ~