Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-19

AMERICAN SYMPATHY AND THE
EUROPEAN wAR.
1btAc Editor cfiAe London Tines: SIN. As
an American citizen feel called on 10 reiuie
charge made By You in your impression Of
to-day regarding the sentiments Of your country.
men towards the Powers engaged In carrying
on the present war.
After reviewing the details Of the attack upon
Pctropaulowsh by the Allied squadrons in the
Pacific, and indulgng in the expression Of your
very just indignation towards the American
pilots who were to conduct the land party 10
the fortress, but who either from treachcry or
some other cause not explained, led them into
"chaparal," where, as you say, "the Russians
simply massacred them, }" you warn your readers
that "lit'e confidence must be placed Ia any
supposed sympathy Of race, Of religion, OF con.
situations, or any thing else between us 1.-THE
English) and the Americans. Now, sir, re.
gard it as extremely unjust that, for the actions
of a few ignorant and unlettered sailors, the
whole nation should be stigmatized az 90 su.
prcmely selfish and devoted to individual or
national interest "a to exclude oil holier and
loftier sentiments
Notwithstanding the insulting snecrs and
contemptuous remarks INDUCED in by many Of
the English who visit our shores, there il a
feeling of the most sincere sympathy peryading
all classes throughout the United States for
Old England, the home of our ancestors, and
the mother Of our yet infant nation. must
beg to differ from you as to the envy with
which we regard this country. There is a
| rivalry, but it is of that generous kind that II
mutually beneficial. 1t is rather o generous
emulation than an envious jealousy.
Every true American--every one who has
drop Of Anglo-Saxon blood in his veins--will
hear with heartfelt pride Of the successes, and
with sympathetic grief Of the reverscs Of Old
England; and read in your print Of yesterday
that my countrymen are not combining them.
selves TO mere protestations Of sympathy, but
are presenting more positive and material
proofs OF their sentiments. Some, acting
through motives Of policy, and others merely
for the sake of opposition, will advocate abe
cause of Russia; but the majority of the respec
table and educated Americans will incline to
the cause of the Allies. Many causes conspire
to render any interference on our part in the
difficulties of the Courts Of Europe unneces.
sary. Our geographical position would seem
to prevent any intermeddling in continental
questions. Our institutions are Numerically
opposed to those of all the great continental
States, and. there is consequently no sympathy !;
and, viewing it in selfish light peace is so
absolutely necessary for the developing Of the
as yet unknown resources of our vast country
that the American Government will endeayor
to avoid any unnecessary collision.
am, sir, yours respectfully,
An AMERICAN WHO is PROUD OF ENGLAND.
London, Nov. "a.
The writer of the above letter takes it upon
himself to answer for the American people,
and assigns them position with reference to
the European war, that is entirely the reverse
Of that they really occupy. He does not inform
the Times of the source from which his infor.
nation was derived, but be undertakes to
assert very positively that "every true Ameri-
can" will hear "with heartfelt pride, Of the
success, and with sympathetic grief, Of the
reverses Of old England"
No writer was ever more mistaken. AS we
have more than once endeavored to show, the
sympathies Of the Americans-even Of the
respectable and educated American" are with
Russia. That this is natural and proper, we
have so often attempted to demonstrate, that
we shall spare ourselves the trouble Of pre-
senting new reasons or Of repeating old reasons
in support of our opinion. The Ignorant and
unlettered sailors" Of whom the Tines cores
pendent speaks, are much fairer opponents OF
American feelings and American interests, than
"an American who is proud of England" shows
himself to be.
But the correspondent Of the Times is right
in saying that many causes conspire to rem.
der any interference on our part in the Difficult
ties of the courts of Europe necessary" lie
might have gone further and said--improper
/! and impolitic. We have our own destiny to
care out, and when the old nations Of Europe
who, in times Of tranquility are accustomed to
boast Of their superior civilization and enlight
eminent, get into difficulties and endeavor BY
soft Establishments to seduce us into them, we
should laugh at their very polite praise, as we
sheer ut their unjust structures. Let the, AFRO
CANT and effete nations of the Old World fight
their own battles. We should have nothing to
do with them. We have enough to do at home.
We 90 further and say that we have nothing to
do with the settlement Of their quarrels. The
Office of arbitrator is at best barren and n
thankless offce--but it would be supremely re.
diculous for Republican America to undertake
to adjust the disputes between European des.
potisms that are striving to perpetuate tyranny
and to destroy liberty. This is not struggle
of the people, but contest between ambitious
and jealous despots. Ifthey are so much our
superiors in civilization and knowledge, as they
claim to be, they ought to have sense enough
to know how to settle their disputes. If they
do not wish to settle them, then let them fight
TO their hearts content
Let those who sympathize with England and
vindicate the cause in which she has embarked,
reflect upon the inconsistency in which she has
involved herself by forming on alliance against
Russia. such reflections will be aided and en-
lightened by the following historical references,
for which we are indebted TO n friend in whose
accuracy we have great confidence. We pre-
...t tLo,,, ,,;tbout ha vino tho nr,porfurity of