The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05
WASHINGTON, ID. c..
For the National Era.
THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE on ENGLAND.

The English population of this country has
something better to do than to employ their
time in answering all the absurd defamation
INDUCED 10 with respect to England by large
portion of the American popular Press; but
as the writer of the European Imbroglio,"
in the New York Tribune Of June 5th, in
answer to yours of June I'd, appears to be a
more than ordinarily accomplished Anglophobe,
permit me TO take part in the controversy. The
American public will do justice to the econom-
ical extravagance Of the Tribune. l do not
opine that the 100000 serf system of indus
try and prohibitory duties will find many real
admirers among the influential portion Of this
community. The Tribune says:
"The best thing that could happen to Turkey
would be for Russia to swallow her up"
Now, the true motive for Russian aggression
was, that Turkey was progressing SO rapidly
that Nicholas feared Z" the sick man was get
ting to stand too firmly upon his legs. The
recent frman of the humane and enlightened
Abdul Mejid, giving to Christians and Jews
civil equality with the Mahommedans, speaks
for the swift spread of liberal ideas, and the
decadenccof the barbaric system Of military
rule which the Tribune would like to reintro-
duce into Turkey at the point of Muscovite
bayonets.
Bot, waving the question of the abstract
benefit TO Turkey, which would result if Russia
were 10 Swallow it up granting hypotheti-
cally that such would be desirable event in
the abstract, not only for Turkey, but for the
whole civilized world-what follows? Does it
ensue that that fact affords any justification for
Russia's violent seizure of the provinces of Mol
davia and Wallacha? Is international brigand-
age to be sanctioned in this age, in the midst OF
the old and settled communities of Europe? See
what such principle would lead to Let it be
deemed better that Belgium and Switzerland
should be swallowed up" By France. Would
that Justify violent seizure of Belgium and
Switzerland? Napoleon Ill needs no better
plea than this for continuing the occupation of
Rome. Ii were better, suppose, that Cuba
should be "swallowed up" by the thirty-one
States. Would that Justify ilibustering as
sault upon Cuba This jejune principle would
bring all back to barbarian brigandage and
the ninth century again. Here is the weak
point of the TriGtnes logic, even when taken
upon lis own ground. The Allies are combat.
ing for International latc, against lawless pira-
cy. If Moldavia or Wallachia wish to exchange
the lenient rule of the Sultan for the suzerainty
of the Gar, well and good but as they are per-
verse enough not TO appreciate the blessings
that would accrue to them under Russian rule,
Russia has no right to compel them to become
the victims of her ambition. even though it be
for their own good. Tried by this test, the
house Of cards raised with SO much labor by
the Tribune falls to the ground.
am glad that the question, as accepted by
the Tribune, is whether the "outward action +"
of England as community has helped to civ
ilize" the world? The rank and file of Anglo
phobes on this continent, (more distinguished
for their turbulence than their intelligence
shrek and gibber at the very name of "civili.
&c L. 4,
for an Anglophobe to acknowledge the benefit
of " civilization IN the abstract 1t is dan
gerous concession for such a man to make
Those who rave at the very idea of "civiliza
tion," who detest Shakespeare because he was
an Englishman, and warn you from books
printed 10 London, hold more logical position.
The Tribune does not profess to hate England
because she has thrown off the allegiance of
the Pope, or because in past times she has
been the bulwark of Professionalism. or because
in the present age she led the way in railroads,
the penny postage, the transatlantic steam
packet lines, or in the exhibitions of industry
for all nations. This is a great deal, and places
this writer far above his fellows The mere
fact, that the question IS stated, is conclu-
sive- on the point that the Anglophobe of the
New York Tribune is one of the most accom-
plished representatives of his class.
You, sir. have credited the Northern country
with the fact, that she has been the most sue
cessful founder of colonies over the surface of
the globe This seems a bitter pill for our An
glophobe; so he gets clear of it by saying, the
colonists were individual Englishmen, flying
from the oppression OF the English community.
For the sake of argument, be il entirely as he
would make out. Is it no honor TO England to
have reared such individuals, and to have nurs-
ed the arts, laws, language, and ideas, which
the colonists bore away with them? Are not
the French Hnguenois an honor 10 the French
community, even although France expelled
them from her bosom? And may not modern
Englishmen take pride in the Pilgrim Fathers,
and our great foretathers of the seventeenth
century, because they were prosecuted in their
time? That we are prodigiously proud of them
L do not affect to deny; aud, believe me, their
spirit still lives il the English community. As
to Australia. which was not peopled by politi-
cal or religious exies, it is said, mo portion of
credit is due to the community" (of England
In 1852 alone, the British Isles sent out 81. 900
of her population to the gold fields, to build up
civilized community in the Southern Hemis-
phere. L must beg TO think that in so doing
the British community had deserved well OF the
friends OF civilization the world over Why is
New Zealand SO conveniently omitted from the
formidable indictment? AT the Cape, Great
Britain is frequently in hot water with the CAT
fresi so is the Dutch Republic, and so on this
continent are the American people with the
he'd men. Set off the Cherokees against the
Catres. Those who live in glass houses ought
not to be 50 ready at throwing stones. do
not wish to press any charge against either the
English or American people on this head /;
when a civilized people comes in contact with
aborigines, their mutual relations are very sell
dom what we all should wish them to be-
Now as to Ireland " England has made it
desert. Did you ever see desert so green
This Sahara Is all an emerald oasis! Did YOU
ever know small desert contain 6,5OO. 600
inhabitants, and those mainly agricultural I?
Why, Ireland is more densely peopled to the
square mile than any other purely agricultural
country in Europe. As to the change of land
under the Encountered Estates Act, it happens
that the Celt is regaiaing possession of the Land
from his vicious and goodfor-n nothing landlords.
The proportion of English and Scotch settlers
is inconsiderable; they are happy change
from the old proprietors. / speak from the
knowledge of the published reports of the Com
mission; and the feeling in Ireland, with respect
to change of property, is the reverse of VIVA,
this writer would have you think, except among
the bankrupt proprietors themselves.
As to Irish intellect, intellect, it is true Ire
land produces no more Currans and Grattans,
any more than Scotland produces Wallaces ano
Bruces. The necessity that gave birth to this
type belongs TO the past. Irish genius contrib
utes It's fall quota to the general indistinpuish.
able current.of British intellect Ny opinion
is, that Ireland never could boast in the las,
century 1.-THE of the literary and artistic tai.
emit she does now. We are told TO look 10 th,-
humiliation of the people of ireland as
nation" Well, SO have the people of England
been annihilated - as a nation and the psonl.