The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-26

another column will be found slashing re-
joinder from Col Shaffner to the late unjustif-
able and unbecoming attack made upon him by
the London Times. It will be recollected that
the original statements, which drew forth this
philippe from our London contemporary, con-
tanned certain assertions of fact founded on
Colonel Shaffner's personal observations in
Russia. Most of those statements were, Of
course, highly unpalatable to the enemies
of that country, because they contradicted
Impressions industriously circulated by the
English press with view to mislead the pub
lie mind on the issues involved in the Eu-
ropean contest. Had Col Shafners narrative
been OF he prejudiced and unfounded chsrac-
ter which the Times would wish to imply, the
proper course would have been to expose its
fallacies, by bringing the evidence of other
travellers to bear on it. The truth would have
been elected by such comparison, and the
propagators of falsehood shamed. Unable,
however, to meet argument by argument, or to
reason calmly on q subject in which its
passions are enlisted, the Times came
out with an article against our coun-
tryman, as remarkable for it's want
of candor and honesty as for the execra-
bly, bad taste in which it was penned. As is
usual with that paper when it has no case to
make, it sought to avoid the issues raised by
Col. Shaffner by overwhelming him with ridi-
Guile and abuse poor reply to statements Sc
riously put forward, and which have been cor.
roborated, in many instances, by facts which
have since transpired.
In his letter of to. day Colonel Shaffner re-
iterates the assertions made in his former COM
munications, and exposes the value Of those
glowing bulletins of victories which the Eng
lish have been in the habit of putting forth
since the commencement of the war. He proves
that Russian trade and commerce, SO tar from
having suffered by the blockade of the Allies,
have, on the contrary, considerably increased.
Besides this, an enormous impetus has been
given BY the war to the manufacturing indus
try of the empire, which promises, in short
time, to suffice for all the wants Of its popula-
ton. The feelings of the Russian people, SO
far from being respondent and averse to the
continuance of the struggle, are, he says, uni
versal}y bent upon sustaining tn honor and
territorial independence Of the country. But
one sentiment pervades them, from one extre-
nifty of the empire to the other and that is
an implicit faith in the sacredness of the
cause for which they are fighting. The charges
of cruelty brought against the Russian troops,
be says, come with very bad grace from
people whose system of warfare has always
been marked by the most cruel atrocities. As
proof of this he cites the barbarous excuses
committed by the British during their wars in
India and in this country, and which were re-
peated under the most revolving circumstances
at the capture Of Kertcb.
We have stated enough to show that formi-
dable as shs assailant, Col. Shaffner has plenty
of Yankee pluck in him, and is not to be
frightened from telling his mind by the "thun-
der" Of the Times. He facetiously informs
our contemporary that it is his business to deal
in that article, and that it is only wasting the
electric current Of its wit upon him when it
thinks to scare him by weak flashes like that
of it's late article. The allusion may perhaps
serve to remind the Times of fact which it
seems to have forgotten. Col. Shafner occu-
pies prominent position at the head of some
Of our largest enterprises, and however much
it may suit our contemporary to throw discre-
dit on the evidence of a man Of his standing,
it will fail in its purpose here. lie has sue
cessfully defended himself against the charge
of having any interested motive in the state
ments which he has published in reference to
Russia and until it can be shown to the Ame-
rican public that be has gone out of his way
to pervert facts, they will be disposed to ac-
cord to them greater credit than to the preju-
diced and oft disproved assertions of English
writer's.