The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-16
Lord Psimsrston and ,xr. Marcy.

Now that the war rumors have passed away,
and Englishmen and Americans have ceased
to think about cutting each others threats, it
is curious to note what share in the business Of
embroiling the two countries properly belongs
| to the leading statesman Of each. It 50 hap
pened, cuTiously enough, that at the time the
Misunderstanding took place the Leading
| statesman in Great Britain was a thorough
| political adventurer, who has held all sorts OF
Offices, and protested all sorts Of principles for
the cake of Office and power namely, Lord
Palmerston; while the leading statesman in
| this country was Mr.. Marcy-of all American
| politicians the one to whom the epithet of ad-
venturer most appropriately belongs and the
one who has shown the most conclusively in
the course Of his political career that his ideas
! never rise above the spoils, and that be too is
ready at any time to form part of an admins
tration with men OF any, every, and no prnci-
pies at all.
Neither Palmerston nor Marcy are men whom
the public voice called to the position they
occupy. Palmers,on is an old hack politician,
trained to the regular routine of British Cabi-
net business; all who take an interest in Bel
tish politics will remember the murmurs
Of disapprobation which came from the
British press and people when he last
took Office. They wanted strong man.
fitted to grapple with the difficult crisis
in which England was placed; bat, owing
to the peculiar organization of the British
Parliament and executive departments, they
| could not find any one with strength and
! connections sufficient to form government;
| aud therefore old Lord Palmerston was pitched
| upon, as a nlnistre de circumstance Just in the
| same way, Mr.. Marcy was the last man in
America to manage the foreign policy Of Mr..
Pierce's administration. He had had no expert
encc in foreign politics. He knew nothing of
European affairs. lie hadneyer resided abroad
He was merely a fair average lawyer and
Judge; but he had, from his influence in his
| political party, established claim on the tr-
umphant democrats in 1852, which the Secre-
| taryship of State alone seemed adequate to
| satisfy. Many better men there were for the
| office; bnt New York required to be repaid for
her services at the election, and the only
| mode Of etlecting this, without utterly disor-
10 the Premiership Lord Palmerston, q
mnistre de Circumstance.
The parallel may be carried out still fur
ther Both Palmerston and Marcy are in
| triguers, and figure habitua}Iy in one or more
| characters at the same time. The former is a
prcfessed liberal of the largest sympathies.
| He il all Tor the people, all for free institu-
| tons and extensions Of The Suffrage lin bis
speeches; but privately, he is on very good
terms with the court, and pretty much the
friend OF the aristocracy at pinch. When he
goes down to his constituency, he addresses
the farmers in language that might fall from Mr.
Golden himself; when Prince Albert or the
aristocracy are assaled in Parliament, they
have no warmer friend or stouter defender
than he. Compare Marcy. To Judge Of his
democracy by his speeches and letters, Thomas
Jefferson himself had not a more vivid sense
| OF The rights OF man, or a more thorough will
TO abolish all the abuses Of nepotism, routine
and personal favoritism. Yet In his acts there
10 not more answering partisan of the
clique system Of government than Mr.. Marcy.
All he does Is by aud for clique. He has
round him select circle of domineerinp demo.
Gratis, and will recognise no one who does not
bow to them and accept their law. There i,
GOT an old nest OF nepotism in the country
WI .ch does not rely on Mr. Marcy for defence
TIE same similarity prevails In their policy