The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-21

The Dimculty with EngIand-Bushels Of
Apologies, hut the Question Not Settled.
We publish in another column an important
article from the organ ofLord Palmerston-the
London Post-on the subject of the recent British
outrages and the principle of the right of search
This foxy old statesman has always been
noted for his clustering policy when in power;
but be has been equally remarkable for his
toadyism and trucking spirit when opposed
with frmness, and when out of place. These
characteristics of the ex-MiAister will explain
the otherwise inexplicable admissions in the
article we to-day reprint from his organ. In
view of the fact that he sent out the gunboat
feet to Cuba last fall for the express pur-
pose Of doing what they have so thoroughly
done, the admissions of the article in question
would be doubly remarkable, if We could con-
that England, except by treaty, would not,
more than the United States, permit the
belligerent right of visitation and search to
be exercised in time of peace" and advocates
that this rule of public law be consistently acted
upon by the government of the two countries.
And it adds: ave have strong faith in the mu-
tual good sense and forbearance of the people
of England and the United States'
We have not the slightest idea that Palmer
ston is truthful in these expressions. No one
of the living statesmen of England has been
more pertinacious than he in endeavoring to
coax, argue, bully or delude those of the United
States into consenting to the exercise of this
claim by England; and none have exceeded
him in the pertinacity with which instructions
have been issued, as Earl Hardwicke confessed
in the House of Lords, to British cruisers to
board and examine into the nationality OF YES
sells at sea. Effort after effort has been made
by every successive American Minister in Lon
don to induce him when in office to admit the
plain principle now enunciated by his organ,
but without success. Now that he is out of
Office be pretends to be convinced of its truth,
and ready to concede it. As for his strong
faith in the mutual good sense and forbearance
of the people of England and the United States,
he may well entertain it, for no man has abused
both more than he. But for our part we
have no confidence in the possession of
either of those good qualities by the court
cabal Of which Palmerston is the willing
tool. They would be glad to sever every inte-
rest that now binds the two nations together,
for the base purpose of bringing England under
the Coburg rule and placing her in perpetual
alliance with the despotisms Of the Continent.
1t is this fact that may yet turn this question
of the right of search into the far greater one
whether England's sympathies with republican
America shall be broken up forever, and Eng
lishmen Converted into ardent supporters Of the
theories OF European despotism.
This is one of the high reasons why the ques-
ton of the right Of search should be settled
now. We dc not want u simple apology from
Lord Malmesbury, and fictitious order for the
discontinuance of British visits to American
ships in time Of peace. The files of our State
Department are crowded now with such apollo
gies and assurances from British Ministers.
Yet, Notwithstanding all this, there has been no
cessation Of these acts The course Of the
British government In this question has no
parallel in diplomacy, except in the falla-
cious promises of Spain to England that
she will stop the slave trade in her do
minions. Every six months since 1912 our
government has received from the Britth GO
vernment an apology for the exercise Of this
unlawful right on the coast of Africa Within
the last eight months the British government
has dismissed three naval officers from their
commands upon complaint Of the government
at Washington for this very thing. Yet, on the
heels Of all this, Palmcrston orders bis Mosquito
feet to 90 on worse than ever, and transfers
the scene Of his insolence from the coast Of Afi-
ca to our own shores. The last British apology
crossed the Atlantic simultaneously with our
first complaint Of the recent aggressions in the
Gulf.
We repeat, we want no more British apollo
gies. We have bushels of them now; and IL
Congress was in session II should call for list
of them from the State Department The whole
country would be amazed at the length Of the
record. What we desire is, that Great Britain,
In conjunction with the United States, shall en-
ter upon q formal declaration and disclaimer
which shall settle the International law of the
right of visit by armed cruisers at sea, on the
basis Of the resolutions passed unanimously by
the Senate few days since. This Is what
Mr.. Buchanan should urge at once
upon the British government and II IL is not
acceded to, he should be prepared to come before
Congress at Its meeting with list Of the outrages
committed and apologies made by the English
government since 1912, accompanied by mes
sage showing the hollowness of these apologies.
Already the governing classes and the journalists
of England have talked themselves into the be-
lief that the stories Of the captains who have
been overhauled are all exaggerated and mostly
false, and that mere indiscretion OF naval
officer has been committed, which q polite apo