The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-09
AChange OF Tome I'm the EngIish Pr-ss-
Can pMlmerst0n be Trusteds

AChange or Tome I'm the EngIish PresS-
Can Palmerston be Trus&eds
| According 10 the sdvices received from Flu
rope by the Canada the tone of some portion.
al least, Of the English press has undergone
of the Island of San Juan.
| 1t IS but short time since the English jour
nails were exceedingly clamorous that the
United States should be brought to its marrow
bones. and after crying peooavi to John Bull,
forced to give up the island which Gen. Harvey
has sent posse of soldiers to occupy. Now
they are not quite so ready to make fight on
the subject, and begin to consider that it is
merely question Of justice, which can easily
be settled if both parties will examine it with
calmncss and decide with reason. This is pre-
cisely our own opinion in the matter and our
only doubt is whether England will be dis
posed to admit the force Of reason in the dcci-
sion of the dispute, If we are to judge
from the antecedents which history presents,
we must incline to the belief that she will not.
Whenever aquestion of territory has come Up be-
tween England and any other Power, the policy
Of the British Cabinet has been to play the
game of .hold fast what you get and catch what
you cam" This has been eminently the case
whenever Paimerston' has been in the British
Foreign Office. and We are not disposed to think
that he will depart from it now.
We need not appeal to the conduct Of Eng
land with other nations in territorial questions
to prove the truth of our position. The cita
ton Of her territorial disputes with us is quite
sufficient After the success of the Revolution
she for q long time evaded the fulflment of
the treaty in regard to the stipulated delivery
of the Western forts, positions which now lie in
the heart of the Union on the banks of the
Ohio. After she was forced to comply with her
engagements, there were brought up numerous
points of dispute all along the boundary line.
She claimed large portion of the State of
Maine. afterwards famous as the AroostOok dis
trict: the northern lines of New Hampshire and
Vermont were questioned; Rouse's Point, in the
State of New York, was claimed, and there was
trouble about the islands at the outlet of Lake
Ontario, and others all along through the lakes
and portages up to the Lake of the Woods, till
the line struck the forty ninth parallel Of lati
mde. For long time she pretended that
our boundary did not cross the Rocky
Mountains, ard that we had no rights
at all on the shores of the Pacific.
Her constant argument was that she needed
these strategical points to protect her from
some imaginary future invasion, which in real
ity could only come from the United States.
AT iast when she did consent to the defining of
the boundary line, she would not carry it any
farther than its commencement. at the Lake of
the Woods. on the forty-ninth parallel. From
there the. dispute left open, tho British
Cabinet making stand on the Columbia river
until they obtained the extension of the parallel
line to the Pacific, and now her old policy
breaks out in q claim to the last island upon
which she can possibly raise question.
If any other man than Lord Palmerston were
at the head of the British government we
might incline to the belief that the question
would be examined with calmness and decided
with justice. But he is SO fond Of poaching on
other peoples manors, and of kicking up q
dust in foreign questions for the purpose of
hiding from the people Of England his short
comings in the domestic policy Of that country,
that we are much inclined to believe that
neither reason nor justice will have much
weight with him, until he clearly perceives
that by persevering in his obnoxious
course he is likely to be forced to
come before Parliament with a new war
budget with its array Of increased taxation and
further public debt. Perhaps the course which
the English press are taking may lead him to
reflect more seriously on the subject, and to in
innate to his organ, the London Post, that
milder tone might just as we'll be adopted. The
best interests of the two countries and of the
world require that there should be peace be-
tween the United States and England; but this
can only be preserved by an adherence to the
dictates Of common sense and common justice,
and that Lord Palmerston should cease to look
upon q quarrel with US as the best means for
covering up his shortcomings at home. If he
insists upon war, to blind the English people
and keep himself in Office, he can have it by
following the course he began in this San Juan
question.
The BEAUTIES OF Our CRIMINAL LAws-OF-
TENDERS At LARGE AND WITNESSES IN JAIL-A
curious and remarkable illustration of the beau.
ties Of our criminal system was afforded the
other day in q case that came up before the
Court of General Sessions. One of the horde Of
ticket swindlers who flourish in the community
was arrested some months ago on charge of
cheating poor German out of two hundred