The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-25
War with England.

In another place we publish various extracts
from British journals, brought by the Allan
tic and Asia, on the subject of the appre-
hended rupture with this country. 1t would
seem as though these journals had set themselves
the task Of writing down America, and seeing
how much mischief they can produce-how
much bad blood they can stir up. We should be
cory to think it was SO. Only q short while
since, when the Russian war pressed heavily
on the resources of Great Britain, the language
Of the British press was friendly in the ex-
treme to the United States; it would have been
better-better for England, better for our com
mon interests, better for the British reputation
for sincerity-if the sudden alteration Of this
tone had not followed SO very closely on the an.
nouncement of a probable peace with Russia
There is in this country deep latent respect
and regard for England; but it is undeniable
that those friendly feelings have had much to
struggle against OF late years-sy vitu-
peration by an influential class of British
writers, habitual contempt on the part Of the
London press, very general injustice at the
hands Of British governments and officials; nor
is it to be questioned but these Influences have
produced their natural effect in alternating
some, in breeding Indifference in others
It was gladly hoped by those who see the
suTest guarantee of human progress in the
union Of the Anglo-Saxon family, that the al.
tered tone of Bri tiah writer's, contemporary with
the breaking out of the Russian war, was the
first symptom Of a new era Of good feeling aud
common sense. They could not now abandon
that hope without pain.
1t has long been q trite remark that we un-
derstand European politics far better than
Europeans understand ours. The British Jour
nails, though they are the best informed il
Europe, blunder frightfully, ludcrously, aud
ia this instance michievously ia attempting to
discuss American affairs. Que and all they
confound the principles of small State polti-
clans with the foreign policy Of the Urited
States; they mix up Mr.. F orney and Mr. Seward
and Mr.. Marcy in general ollapodrida; they
have dim notion that slavery is q sore point
here, and that they can annoy Americans By
poking at II; they have been told that tue
Know Nothings are opposed to foreigners, and
that the election Of the Know Nothing Banks
w tuC DpcdhctehiP Va VIZ AAouoS lwAiSu cua-
bles him to control the foreign policy of the
country is likely to interfere with the vote
Of the supplies, IL sure to lead to foreign war,
and may upset the American government alt,-
gsther, and oblige the President to resign
Office, and send in the name of his successor to
Congress-; and laundering on in this way,
they csntrive to make very bad quarrel out
OF the most frivolous Misunderstanding in the
world. They read In the American papers that
Franklin Pierce is wretched President, with
out vigor or moral courage, or strength, or
popularity and hence they foolishly argue
that becsnse It devolves upon his asministra-
ton to enuhciate American policy at this
crisis, it Is safe to defy him, and to cell upon
the American people to keep this intriguing
President Of theirs in check.
All this is ruineas nonsense. Franklin
Pierce is better known and appreciated here
than he is ever likely to be in Europe but
low as be has sunk in public esteem, bis un-
popularity makes not the smallest diS8ence
in the way tie people regard the pubic mea.
sures which public sentiment oblges him to
undertake. 1t is we'll that the people OF Fog
land should uuderstsnd that on the two ques-