The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-09
"Chlldren and Fools Should Not Play with
Edged CO0ls,. The Consequence.

"ChiIdren and Fools should Not Play with
Edged Tools The Consequences.
While our confidence continues that in the
end our relations with England will not be
much damaged, and that common sense and
mutual interest will be the real arbitrators
upon all points in dispute, We cannot help the
expression of our disgust at the manner in
which President Pierce has conducted our
foreign diplomacy; nor can we shut our eyes
to some Of the possible consequences. We will
presently look at some of these; but we cannot
do so without first expressing our most unmit-
gated disgust at the contemplate uses the Pre-
sident has made of his elevated position, nor
at the grievous wrong he has done that gene
rous people, who, overlooking his obscurity of
character and position, confded their welfare
TO his supposed honesty, and believed that his
freshness from their ranks would be guarau-
zee OF his virtue. But unhappily, TO obtain q
denomination to the Presidency has been his
sole object from first to last. This has been
the key to all his conduct. This explains the
whole policy Of his administration. For this
the game has been played of seeking the sup
port of the South by endeavoriug to extend
the area of bondage; of the North, by sanction
ing the rowdyism of that potential class who
control elections with the club, and are will
ling to attack any country or any party in the
expectation Of plumber. For the purpose
Of catching in his net all kinds of ami
mails that float with the tide, till they
are washed ashore and purify in their own
slime, he has thrown out all kinds of bait
q difficulty with Spain, a loud talk at Cuba
cannonade at Greytown, little low Dutch
with Holland, a capture of steamer in the
port Of New York by Admiral NcKeon,a fur
ry with French, and confession to the Padre
Will; telegraphic muster of the new steam
ers to proceed to San Juan after the Eurydice
had ceased her song Of wailing over flibus-
teriEm in Nicaragua, and departed; the dis
mssal Of Minister and three Consuls, after
bearing with their misconduct for months of
Sundays; the wonderful management Of the
Kansas affairs and the picturesque and beauti-
full dissolving views taken of the Union, in con-
seqence, by the various operators; the great
skill shown in attempting to sit on two stools
at once-a hard and . soft one-and coming to
the ground after the manner of such attempts
are memorable and never to be forgotten
evidences Of the superlative skill and foresight
of that "great and godlike administration"
eulogzed by the great and notorious Captain
Paul George.
But the Convention has met. The Bourbons
Pierce has gained nothing He is not even
decently laid out.
On the bare ground exposed he lies,
With not friend to close his eyesl
But, joking apart, let US see what we have
gained by these splendid operations of the
President. He has completely ruined him
self, and perhaps jeopardized the country.
It is believed that Mr.. Dallas will be sent
home, as indispensable to the wounded honor
of England. This will leave the parties 60 far
even in the dispute. But in the meantime
and we are almost ready to stake our saga
city on the result-we shall see military and
naval movement which will show how basely
Indifferent our government is to our own inte-
rests at the moment when it is readiest to "cry
havoc, and let slip the dogs of war" 1t is
well understood in Canada that fifty thousand
men will be sent there from England on the
first opportunity, and the leading Canadians
have pledged themselves to raise 100,0 900 mill
tia, and arm them with the MIME rifle. This
is what some of the mos. respectable men in
the provinces have said in this city within two
weeks. And what is also worthy of note, is
that these very persons have been at the same
time selling out their American securities We
know of other instances where foreign capital
lists have been suddenly doing the same thing.
And, let us ask, what is to prevent the arri
val of hundred gun boats in the st. Law
renee, or their ascent to, and occupation Of
Lakes Superior, Erie and Ontario; and with
the new and powerful guns which have been
used go fearfully in the Baltic, commanding
those lakes in spite of our remonstrances or
exertions, while at the naval station of Pere
tanguishire they will find every provision for
repairs and maintenance?
Would tbe possible, after sudden movement
of this kind, for us to construct single vessel
of war, or single FORTH cation, within reach
Of this Baltic fleet in peto, lying off Sackett's
harbor, or Oswsgo, or Buffalo, or any other
port on Lake Erie? 1t would at least be diff
cult; and whatever the final result Of the con-
test might be, we should come to it only after
the destruction of some of our noblest and most
prosperous cities Of the West, either by the
ravages of war or the decline of commerce.
All these things are possible; and what is worse,
We must admit that they are contingencies no
longer under our own control. 1t does not
now depend upon US whether our difficulties
are to be serious or light, but on the manner
in which the English people receive the arrow
we have sped them. The Nicaraguan difficult
ties have almos. settled themselves by the
establishment of the government of Rivas, and
England will gain by this settlement almost ~
much as we. But the Champion affair is point
of honor, and no one can tell how sharp it may
become.
But let us look again. Suppose while the
20 To Io lot; ha IN