The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-16
THE CRISIS IN AMERICA.
Views of the English and French
Press.

The Catholic View I'm France ON Our
National Crisis.
TRANSLATED from lie Monde, Of Paris, Jan 23 for the
NEW YORK HKRAID.]
The secession Of South Carolina those States which
win probably follow will seriously embarrass England as
it viii compel her TO sacrifice either her interest or her
principles.
This rupture OF the American Union does not cause
more uneasness at Washington than London, and the
Times, which declared impossible in Its issue of the
26th Of last November exercised ABOUT the
question than any other English journal "whaOAre we
TO dor" says the grave Saturday Reriec ave in
terrible dilemma. Shall listen TO humanitarian
sympahes or to our patriotic eengss In other words
shall we listen to interest or dutyY'
The Times repeats the pertinent interrogatores
so does John Bull; does the Examiner does the
Morning Post does the entire English press; and yet
satisfactory reply comes from any Ths0 study this
Of conscience they endeavor TO square their ne-
rest with their duty they resoucly blind themselves
the consequence OF disunion they hope for reconca
ton In word, they hesitate not TO say that they
will listen rather TO interest than duyto the interest Of
England rather than to the voice Of humanity We know
beforehand that England will never take up position
furious TO her interests humanitarian In her hands
is an offensive weapon, not a suicial dagger.
ynsand ocsv ahhors u ua - rna ms
slave States she draws her principal Materials partcu
larry cotton, tho manufacture Of which gives employ
Whilst the confederation existed in its integrity
che could not lose character by trading with
Inc o Of o shs wac carried wh os
intercourse thus the abotionss quieed their CON
science for they did not recognise slavery directly
did they draw their profit directly from slave labor But
things are about to change. IA the Southern
confederation is consolidated abe win demand from Eng
land recognition OF her independence and is not pro-
babe that 10 obtain This recognition she will abolish
slavery within her borders since II for the purpose OF
preserving this institution that she has seeded
more probable that she will her right 10 pro-
cure slaves Can England recognise such a confedc-
rationY Will Che new nation make concessions TO her on
s sns p0 h she never VIII Bu; England Yields on her
ment Of tho slave trade-it will be reccg
milton at OF the Legality Of that Infamous traffic
will be pronunciation Of the policy which she has fol-
lowed for than sixty years and In the opinion Of
the Saturday Rstse,o will be virtual abandonment Of
the high position che held in the philanthropc league
But cotton is king and his voice must be heard and
his arguments not wanting in force Five millions
Of Engshmen live by manufacturing cotton, and of the
500 GOO bales OF cotton imported into England 10o
oc0 are imported from the United statcs-the slave
statesthst Is to say six seventies Of the whole consump
tion, and consequently six seventies OF FIVE millions NJ
would be left without means OF support from day to
day II England refused to recognise the South
what a calamity this would be for England,
which has already much misery In her midst, II -four
more millions OF working men, put at the lowest cal
cuation were suddenly thrown out Of employment mo
greater calamity says the Saturday Re1e,c, not even
tho famI In Ireland, fell upon nation than that
which would follow the destruction the Interrupt.
ton Of this colossal branch Of industry Knowing this
the people Of the Southern States calculate that the mere
threat OF depr1vatlon would knees.
There s prejudice sentiment that could
such imposing necessity IL is impossible to
ceve that any meeting could dream of protesting against
the recognition OF the confederacy when they
reflect that the immediate consequence of refusing
to recognize II would be to destroy an immense
amount Of capital and parayze the labor of FIVE mil
lions OF men, This avowal Is terrible Some say,
II the Southern States refuse 10 sell their cotton
could we not snsats rebellion among the slaves and
thus destroy ths rspcry Of these ntractablc savchod
ers2 Undoubtedly, replies the Saturday Rspieg; but
would be thing the better OF III The Shareholders
would he ruined there would be slaves, but
there would be cotton. Others again object,
and say that the growers Of cotton rs much into
rested in selling a. we are in buying IL. That Is true
Bun then II remains to be who could hold out the
longest and in this view tho Southern States are with
regard to England In good position as they with
regard 10 the Northern States Besides England not
the only country that draws s supply N cotton from the
United States, and II other nations continue 10 trade
with her the South will be enabled to prolong the
struggle and England will ruin herself In vain endca
vors. II Is a serious and complicated question
The Times well understands the gravity Of the ques
ton but endcavors 10 look hopefully upon the future
knows that Of the 900 bales OF cotton consumed
in England 100 600 from the United States whilst
Brazil supplies only 20 900 Egypt and the West Indies
~ 600 and Hindostan 80 600. Thus sec, SAYS the
7mes that cotton Ia not cultivated IN the United states
pnly u u net indigenous TO America. Africa and
le Lasl Iu.s could produce sufficient for lhc consunp