The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-02
ENGLAND AND INDIA.

Ever since the formation OF our constitution
there has been among us those who entertain feel
ings any thing but friendly or impartial towards
Great Britain, as nation, and who cannot refrain
from giving vent to their joy whenever she ap.
pears TO be threatened with danger or serious
trouble. So strong and inveterate this feeling
during General Washingtons administration, and
so warmly did larger portion Of the American
people sympathze with the revolutionists Of France
even after the horribly bloody character of the
revolution had been displayed, that it required all
of his frmnes, all the influence Of his exalted char
acter, and the prestige of his ilustrous name, to
prevent the United States from making common
cause with France, assuming an attitude of hos
tty to England, and thus being drawn into the
great vortex of European war, as the ally of the
former if not as her vassal u
The abuse and vituperation heaped upon Wash
ington's head on account Of the course he pursued
in keeping the United States clear Of the storm
then raging in Europe, no one who has not made
that portion Of our history subject of deep study
can have any conception Of: and in passing, lett be
remarked, that the most bitter Examinations, the
most invenomed shafts hurled at him on this and
other accounts, came from his own State Vir-
ginia.
| That it was natural the old feeling Of hostility to
| England, who had so wronged us, should still re-
main, cannot be denied but we had gained our
object; we had defeated and taken prisoners her
armies; we had compelled her 70 acknowledge
our independence and our equality with her as
nation; why then foster preudices and il-feeling;
why harbor spite and malice towards her, our
national mother? We had treated her as an enemy
in war; why not in peace, as friend?
That this old feeling has been kept ranking in
the hearts Of portion of our people, that it has
often been appealed to, encouraged and increased
by ambitious and selfish politicians for selfish pur-
poses, there can be no doubt; but we must at the
same time say that it has been from time to time
greatly increased by the illnatured, the haunting,
jeerng, and sneering remarks Of British travellers
in our country, and portion of the British press
| the LONDON Times, and Quarterly Review, especi-
ally.
But our growth, prosperity, strength, and posi-
ton among the powers Of the earth, are such that
We can afford to pass these by the idle wind, as
the effusions of spleen they should neither dis
turb our severity nor, above all provoke retalia-
i
we endeavor to cultivate a more kindly, and let
us say, manly feeling towards our sometime mother
since change has been manifested on her part
towards us, and she is becoming proud Of her off
spring and soicitous to strengthen the bonds which
still bind us to each other not few nor unmport-
| ant.
| Not being among those who rejoice at the mis-
fortunes, either Of England France, or any other
European nation, we have no sympathy with those
| who now exult over and berate her, as does the
New York News, in the following language
cat this moment England stands weaker than
ever before. Her grasping and monopolzing pol
icy has alienated from her every ally but France,
and the faith of the French Emperor is like the
Spring ice not to be trusted. There is good rea-
son for believing that the intrgues Of Russia have
increased and fomented, If they did not cause this
mutiny in the East, as they unquestionably did
| provoke the war with Persia. Sustained by the
secret military emissares of Russia and the stealthy
ntrigues set on foot, the whole Southern half OF
Asia is now a vast battlefield, where England may
contend Unfortunately, and after hundred victo-
ries perish by exhaustion. Here seems to be the
| great danger"
This sort of language finds no response in our
bosoms The following, from the National Intel
ligencer, is more in accordance with our feelings,
sentiments, and belief:
DEcADEScE OF ESeLAYD."--We observe that
| several of our contemporaries, in commenting ON
the difficulties and dangers which at present en-
viron British policy in the East are auguring the
inability OF that Power to retain her historical DO
sition among the nations of the world, and profess
TO descry in the Indications afforded by her poti-
| cal condition and her public economy the marks OF
| approaching decadence." The war with China,
the Indian mutiny and the late diplomatic rupture
at Constantinople have certainly followed each
other in a succession quick enough to embarrass
/ a country possessed Of resources even the most
| gigantic, but we have failed as yet TO discern in
the tone either OF the British press or In the con-
duct Of the British Government any tokens of
alarm for either the perpctuity or the integrity of
the British Empire. With the selfreliance inspir-
ed no less by the long duration OF her national ex
istence than by the consciousness of present vigor
England seems, for aught that we can perceive, to
be looking forward with quite as much of trust on
the future as she has done in the palmiest DAYS of
the past.
Certain il Is that the British Premier, in late
speech, seems to give little countenance or sup.
port to these sinister vaccinations, and, SO far
from sharing in such alarm seeks rather TO repress
any undue solicitude, in Parliament or elsewhere
with regard 10 the extent Of existing necessities
and the rescanne with which they are to be met
by the Government; and the statement he makes
| of the dispositions that have been taken and the
arrangements that have been made to sustain
British interests at the several points where they
are now involved would seem to give little evil
dence Of either dependency or decay
We cannot readily bring ourselves to believe
that It furnishes any proof Of American patriotism
| to rejeice in the midortunes of our neghbors in
the great Commonwealth of States, and least of all
in the misfortunes Of people with whom we are
L la Tod bvo
institutions, and interests. Nor can we imagine
the grounds Of satisfaction which any can find in
contemplating the decline and fall" of a country
now 80 opulent In arts and in arms, and of which
the "decadence" would be sure token and pre-
sage of disaster to ourselves and to all mankind.
In favorable contrast with that of the Editor Of
the New York News, is the following language of