The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-31

The administration Of President Lincoln has
authoritatively proclaimed to the world, that
the idea ID not, never has BEEN and never will
be entertained by our government, that dis
solution Of the American Union can take place
under any circumstances whatever; that such
thought has never been entertained by any
patriotic statesman, on this side of the Atlantic;
and that 1t must not be cherished by any Power
abroad, DESTROYS of maintaining with us friend
~ relations. 1t is, nevertheless, evident that
the politicians Of Great Britain are completely
befcgged respecting affairs in the United States.
The aristocracy and governing classes of Eng
land, blinded by an insane and traditional
jealousy of democratic institutions, cannot dis
miss the theory that republicanism is foolish
experiment, which .must inevitably result In
anarchy, or In a military despotism. Hence the
irresolution, weakness, and hating course of the
Palmerston Ministry, as indicated in the Queens
proclamation, in the speeches of Lord John
Russell and Lord Palmerston, in Parliament,
and in the instructions that are reported to have
been given to the vessels composing the feet
about to appear in American waters, It is the
beginning of a hazardous game, pregnant with
future complications and embarrassments,
which must eventually react fatally upon
Great Britain herself, as the Revolution of ITS
reacted later upon France, deluging that king
dom in blood.
The ministers Of Louis XVI. delayed for long
period, before they decided to interfere actively,
in behalf Of the revolted colonies, against
the efforts of George Iii. to suppress insurrec
ton among his American subjects. Thirst for
vengeance and bitter hatred against their old
rival, only displayed themselves, previously to
ITS, in affected neutrality; and when, two
years earlier, the Marquis de Lafayette, re-
solved to draw his sword in the cause Of our
liberties, ostentatious orders for his arrest
were given by the Court of Versailles, though
with such concealed appreciation Of his mission
that he was enabled to leave for South Caro-
lima, with eleven other officers, entirely un-
can news created in France" says the histo
rian, "a great sensation;" but, for o while, a
rigid policy of non-interference was pro-
claimed, with just such Machiavellian pre-
tence of sincerity as England will cover her
intentions with, respecting tho Confederate
States, till it shall be convenient to throw off
the mask, and send British Count d'Estaing to
open a new chapter in our civil war. Only
four years after the close Of our Revolutionary
conflict, the seed sown by it in France, pro-
duced its fruit. The assembly Of the notables,
at Paris, February %, 1887, was the first step
towards the overthrow of the Bourbon dy-
nasty! So quickly do dragons teeth, once
sowp, spring forth from the soil! The Court of
London has begun to treat affairs between the
United States and its disloyal subjects, exactly
as the Court OF Versailles treated the relations
between the colonies and the mother country,
in 177G; and there are far greater probabilities
that the countenance ii appears willing to give
to rebels against free government, will end
in a terrible CONFUSION in the British empire,
than there were, three. quarters of century
since, that the generous aid rendered by
France to US, would oulminste in Robespierre
and the Reign of Terror.
The aristocracy Of England rejoice in the
disorders and calamities that have befallen
the United States; but at the same time, the
rived from both sections Of the American Union,
IeRders it dangerous for her to quarrel with
either. Every desire exists, on the part of
Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston, to
widen the breach between the North and the
South; but they experience difficulty in adding
fuel to the fire, in such manner that the con-
Aagration will not extend to themselves.
Hence the shortsighted though cunning make
shift Of recognizing the Confederate States as
''belligerents," and of thus virtually declaring
that the war Of the loyal against the insurrec-
t'onary members Of the confederacy, is between
equal and Independent Powers. Hence the
cayil OF Lord John Russell, respecting the ''ef-
fciency" of the blockade against the South
ern coast, and the hint that ii may possibly not
be respected. Hence, also, the care, in the
Queens proclamation, to characterize the Wash
ington and Montgomery governments as "the
two contendiDg parties phrase which oc-
ours several times in that hypocritical docu-
ment The tendency of such compounding
between justice and respect for international
law, and sheer hostility towards nation which
has grown to be first class Power in the world.
under the egis Of free institutions, is manifest.
II will lead to crisis In England Itself, of
which the first symptoms are already I'M
nistakeable. No one can peruse the
journals Of Manchester, Liverpool and
other districts interested in the main
tenance OF the cotton trade without per-
ceiving that a ferment has arisen, which could
only have been quelled by such loyal, and
sincerely upright condemnation Of the South,
on the part Of the British Ministry, as consist
ency, and the circumstances of the case de-
handed The ball has been set in motion By
its own blind folly, and no human being can
tell whom II may destroy before it shall have
ceased to roll.
The course of the Washington government