Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1861-09-07
HONOLULU, SEPTEMBER Z, 1861.
Ghe polpnesian.
Spirit Of the English Press the American
Troubles.

1PH'' Va sA1S 49,
The London correspondent of the San Francisco
Bulletin of August 20, writing under date July
Goth, says;
Far and wide the Message itself has been not
merely '' read, marked and inwardly digested,'
but it has been openly and eagerly discussed by
all the organs of public opinion throughout the
country, and by every man and woman who think
themselves entitled to express an opinion on the
subject. On Change, l fear / must say, it has
been received with some misgvings, for the funds
fell shade or two but then those misgivings ap-
ply only to monetary prospects, and the fall must
also in some degree be laid to account of the ru-
mors ahoat regarding the i'll health of our dear
friend and ally the French Emperor. L cannot do
more than give glance at the opinions put forth
by the leading London papers, but on subject so
momentous | am sure your readers will not fall to
feel an interest in the expression of British views,
however condensed these may be.
Allow me, then, to take up the Times hrst-lt
may be said to represent the floating opinion OF
the English public-the views OF the great mass
who take no trouble to think for themselves, but
who borrow their views ready made from the col
umns of the leading Journal. The first thing to
stagger the Times is the enormous amount OF the
demand made by the President. For Young Re-
public the sage of Printing House Square inclines
to think you are coming out very decidedly strong
stronger even than many solvent Well-to-uo ues'
potism in Europe would venture to do The sum
the leaders in the Federal Government ask, Is more
than Britain was called upon to put down when 1t
entered upon its great contest with France. The
Times. however, throws no doubt on the wiling
ness or ability of the North to bear the strain, but
it decidedly nclines to the opinion that the quarrel,
after ALL must be 's settled by other arbltrament
than that Of arms - and in late article IL re-
marks that, ultimately IS ank recognition oil
the Southern States must be the issue OF the con-
testp OF the Presidents sincerity the leading
journal speaks we'll, and commends the Message as
:. an unpretending and business-like justification
| of his uast policy'' But the Times, IN common
with some of the other journals, condemns the
wearisome waste of argument expended In proving
| the South to be wrong. The time, 1t argues, Is
now past for discussing the right OF the South 70
secede-it has seeded and the only question worth
considering is, how is that secession to De met.
Not that the Times approves the act OF secession,
while it certainly very plainly disapproves great
many of the acts of Mr.. JEFF Davis and his eonied-
crates but it treats the question one OF revolu-
| ton and contends it must be met as revolutions
| have been met heretofore-that is, if it is worth
the while of the North to put it down, and 1t can
put it down, we'll and good if not, don't waste
words on abstract rights, but settle the matter In
q practical way.
The DAILY Ne.cs, as 1 have more than once
pointed out, is more decidedly pronounce IN favor
|
The Message 1t very strongly cOmmends for the
plain determination it evinces to put down rebel
| lion. The whole tenor of the document Is accepted
as a plain proof that compromise Is not to De
thought of on the part of either the Government
the people in the North. Taking brighter view
of matters than the Times, the NelcS dwells strongly
| on the prevailing opinion among leading Northern
men, that it will by no means be necessary to over
run the South in order to crush out the revolution
Ii dwels strongly on the conviction that powerful
party in favor of the Union will be found In the
South-powerful for its wealth and intellect-and
that the loss of one decisive battle the part of
the Confederate leaders would probably rum them,
and turn the tide of Southern opinion against the
| Government inaugurated at Montgomery. Failing
the realization of this hope of Southern support,
the paper refer to maintains that it neverthe-
less the plain duty of Mr.. Lincoln to do his utmost
to maintain intact the authority that had been con-
6ded to him. and which the people OF the North so
generously, nay, so layishy, prepared to support
Ii assumes that slavery must go, however the con-
test may ISSUE If the North is successful, 1t can
no longer tolerate the continuance OF system
menacing to the very safety of the Republic. If
the South keeps its footing, slavery it eontended
must perish through the insecurity of slave property
| in the neighborhood of so many free States.
The Morning Post, (Palmerstonian) suggests
that as England got rid of slavery for 500 ,OOOt
the sum asked for by the President would pr
amply sufficient to compensate the planters Sou
| for every chattel'' they now hold in bonst
ace and that, as the removal of slavery would
end the difficulty, the money would be well spent
in doing good Decd and securing, without blood
she'd a peace resting on very tangible OASIS.
| With the Times the Posi- agrees IN Its condemna-
tion of Mr. Lincolns wordiness, which 1T attributes
to the fact of his having been lawyer-a reason
it assigns for the length to which President s
| Messages in general run. the chair at Washington
being generally occupied by lawyers. The quarrel,
according to the Post, is now quite removed from
the region of reasoning it is a mere question oil
men, money, and military ability. North and
South it maintains, can never again be united as
they were at any former period, as the present
contest must leave a gap no after ARRANGEMENTS
can fill up. No hope is entertained by the Pos'
that negotiations could effect anything at present
The South. it declares, is mad on the subject of
slavery and the North cannot forgive the treachery
practiced by the South in its mode OF seeding.
For all these reasons and for others besides, the
Pamerstonian organ expects that the news from
your quarter will be of rather sanguinary hue
ere long-a fact which it, in common with all the
press of Britain, very sincerely depi0res
One of the strongest articles on the subject ap-
pears in the columns of John Bright's paper, the
| Nar. John seems furious that he can no longer
hold up the American Union as a model tor all the
Governments of Europe to initiate. In particular
does he seem to have lost his temper because ne
cannot point to the States as country oil ight
expenditure, no standing army to speak OF, and no
national debt His organ denounees the loan, con-
demns the large demand for military service, and
propheses no end of evil as consequence OF the
course upon which the North has entered. With
a logic that could only occur to a man of John
Bright's peculiar idiosyncracy, he Il am assuming
that John directs the pen of the writer falls foul
of Mr.. Lincoln and bis Cabinet as the sole cause OF
the present grave position of affairs. He main
tans stoutly that the South had perfect right to
do as it has done and that Mr.. Lincoln s reasoning
against the right of Secession is only worthy OF
High Tory of the right divine stamp. As to
the Presidents hope that the laws and Constitu-
ton of the United States will be administered as
Loc. hn that the hone Ia antirelv nrnund-