The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-13
THE UNITED STATES IN ENGLAND.

bers in Kentucky and Missouri. K.
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THE UNITED STATES IN ENGLAND.
Our country is occasionally referred to by
English statesmen in kindlier and better
| spirit than characterizes the leaders of the
London Times on American subjects, and our
files brought by the steamer of last week fur.
nish two instances of this kind-one by the
Hon. w. Z. Gladstone, Member of Parliament
and the other by Lord John Russell. Mr.. Glad
stone was delivering lecture at Chester, on
"the Colonies" when he spoke as follows in
reference to this country:
He called that the silver age which i'm.
mediately preceded the American war. The
notion of commercial monopoly prevailed in
those days. and the squabbles among different
countries for the possession of colonies and
their commerce were very sharp. The history
of that war was an exceedingly interesting one,
for it taught great moral lesson to the people
of this day. 1t left US saddled with something
like l60,000,000 or l8O,O00,0O0 of permanent
debt more than we had when it began, and
England had felt it severely, for it loaded her
with disgrace greater than she had ever been
called on to bear, in the abandonment of Amer
lea under the pressure of American and French
armies. Before the colonists were meddled
with, their attachment to this country was very
great; but when they saw disposition to de-
prive them of their time-honered hereditary
privileges, when they saw Englishmen inclined
to stint their brethren who had crossed the At.
lantic in their liberties and rights, then I'M
doubleday a bitterness of sentiment grew up.
which was not the fault of the Americans. but
the result of the circumstances of the time, and
aggravated by the long struggles which follow
ed. When the independence of America was
acknowledged, the affection of that country to
England had received great blow. The name
of England was allied with oppression, and,
consequently, there arose an arrangement of
feeling with America, the traces of which were
not entirely removed, even by healing inHu.
ences Of time. He wished to impress that fact
on his hearers-that the true value of colonies
lay in the unity of character and affection.
There were 3O,OO0,000 of people constituting
the great American Republics it was really
very doubtful whether the influence of England
In Europe and in the world at large was
greater, because there were 100000 of Eng
lishmen in America, or less. In some respects.
it took from, and in others it added to, the
value OF England as member of the great
family Of nations. But suppose, instead of a
bloody struggle, and violent liberation of the
ties that bound the colonies to the mother
country, America had continued to grow as a
colony under the benefcent influence of Eng
land, or had separated from England if her
growth had required it, as friend from friend.
breaking only the link of administrative con,
nection, but retaining the warm affections of
her heart, and the recollection only of benefits
received, did they not think that then the ex-
lstence OF an American country, allied to US in
language and laws, would have amazingly in
creased our influence? Cheers.
How, then, did that war arise, and whose
was it? 1t originated in an attempt to levy
taxes upon the people of America, not for pur-
poses exclusively English, but to defray part
OF the expenses of the war into which the Eng
lish had entered, for the benefit of America as
well as themselves. Some individuals thought
that the war was not the error of the English
people. There must be no mistake upon this,
tor, If one thing was more clear than another,
it was, that the British people almost to a man
were united in the prosecution Of that war. All
wars had been popular in this country during
the first two or three years, but the American
war was particularly popular. This was proved
in the case Of Mr.. Burke, who was elected in
IVA for Bristol, and rejected in 1880. On that
occasion he defended his conduct, and had to
acquaint them why he had not visited them in
Bristol as often as they thought he ought to
have done. In the first place, he pleaded the
business he had done for them in London. and
then that the state of feeling in Bristol with re-
spect to the American war was the reason whv
he could not visit his constituents. Before the
people knew which way the force of arms was
tending, there was q difference of opinion in
Bristol, especially as that city had large bust
ness with America; but directly it appeared
that the English were successful in the field,
the party against the war were put down. 1t
must be recollected that, when the English met
the Americans in the field, they were successful
IN war, and this implied no reproach to their
American brethren, because they had no adj
vantage OF military organization. 1t was not
want OF success IN the field that defeated ms in
the American war; it was that they were no
nearer to the subjugation of the country bv
gaining the battle, for the great obstacle tn the
English was in the heart of every man, woman.
and child; and, therefore, driving soldiers out
OF the field was not making any advance-thev
only gained the ground they encamped upon.
Mr.. burkes speech at Bristol, to which he had
just alluded, showed the state of public feeling
at the time; but when misfortune threatened
us, when France took up arms, and Spain fol.
lowed her example, and Russia and other
Powers of Europe indicated their adverse dis.
positions, then indeed the public mind recover.
ed its balance. Mr.. Burke found the people
| not dlslncEned to hear the common sense of
tae matter, and he was able in 1880 to show
his face among his constituency The case of
the American war was one upon which thew
might look back with the greatest advantage,
for 1t certainly read to us a lesson for all oen,
erations and times, most emphatic lesson of
clrcumspection, of moderation, and of caution y
Lord John Russells reference to the United
States also occurred in lecture delivered by
MN at Exeter Hall, London, On the Obstacles
that have retarded Moraland Political PROGRESS u
The allusion is brief, but in good spirit.
Before many years are passed, there will be
In Great Britain and the United States of
America 80, 20, or so millions of free people.
May we not hope that these kindred nations
each speaking the English language-each de-
irving its pedigree of liberty from a common
ancestry---each inheriting the English Bible
each reading Shakespeare and Mi1ton-each di.
viaed INTO many denominations of Christians,
but each allowing complete liberty of Worship
will unite in the glorious task of peaceful cor
quest and bloodless victory? Loud cheers
At least let us indulge in this high hope. If
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