The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-01


. selection Of extracts from the London
P'ndh upon the American rebellion, which
furnish additional proof, if further evidence
|swere required, Of the an;mus of certain por-
lstion ofxhe English people toward loyal Ame-
Ericans in their efforts to preserve the Union and
Z the constitution, under whose benign Influences
we have become great and powerful nation.
7 1t cannot be denied that Mr.. Punch has
said some smart and humorous things; but
aside from an occasional scintillation Of
wit, and the reproduction of hackneyed Illus
trations Of London cockney life, his illusions,
as general thing, have been exceedingly dull.
John Bull, however has innocently persuaded
himself into the belief that they are witty, and
we have no disposition to quarrel with him for
| indulging so harmless an opinion. But we can
not animadvert in too severe terms upon the
course which Mr.. Punch has pursued in taking
advantage of our present difficulties to perpe-
I trate his witticisms in the shape Of doggerel
verse; for in doing so he has not only shown
I himself ungrateful, but devoid Of those finer
Feelings which distinguish the human from the
tbrute creation. While we all appreciate the
smart retorts and the brilliant sallies
f-2f wit that enliven the social circle,
we instinctively shrink, in obedience to
a law 81 mind, from the preparation of jokes
and the exercise of spirit of levity in the hour
Of affection; and whenever we see man 80
destitute of the instincts Of our common nature
as to make sport of the misfortunes of his fell
lows, we pronounce him to be unfit to mix in
civilized society. And this is precisely what
Mr.. Punch has done. In this hour of trial to the
republic we do not seek for British assistance,
nor even for active sympathy, but we have a
right to expect from Juhn Bull the same treat
ment that he received at the hands of Brother
Jonathan in the time of his extremity. Does
Mr.. Bull forget the sympathy which was
evinced for him by Jonathan when he had his
troubles in India? Were the American
Journals filed with sneers, and jokes,
| and witticisms when England was almost on
| the eve of ruin, in consequence of the
| terrible mutiny in India? Did the American
| people puzzle their brains in constructing mise
rable poetry rdiculing the perilous position Of
the British government? Not so; but, On the
contrary, the whole body Of the American peo
pie sympathized with the mother country by
turning aside from their secular avocations to
pray for the suppression Of tho rebellion and
the success Of the British arms in India. How
anxiously the American public watched the
career of General Havelock-rejoicing when
he met with brilliant successes, and
weeping at the recital Of his defeats and
when the intelligence reached us of his fall on
the battle field, the cOlOrs at half-mast on our
vessels, and other demonstrations of sorrow,
proved the high regard in which he was held by
Americans, not less for his valOr as soldier
than for those high moral qualities with which
he was 80 largely endowed. The feelings of
the American public were not only enlisted in
behalf of England, when her peace was threat
ened and her honor assailed by foreign powers.
but even during the Canadian rebellion she had
all the moral support which our government
could constitutionally give her.
1t should be known that Brother Jonathan
does not often cry; but Oh the occasions to which
we have adverted he really wept and prayed,
and expressed the deepest sympathy for Eng
land, while he complied with the instructions of
Holy Writ to "rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with those that weep" # this be so,
John Bull will not consider Brother Jonathan
unduly sensitive if he feels chagrined at being
requited for his voluntary and earnest sympa-
thy in the hour of trial by the preparation of
coarse witticisnls and machine verses. If John
Bull entertains the idea that the manufacture of
such doggerel will dissuade twenty millions of
Americans from maintaining their government
and preserving their nationality against the
combined attacks of disaffected citizens and the
covert and open attacks of foreign Powers, the
sooner he disabuses his mind Of such an
erroneous impression the better it will be for
himself.
THE SENTENCE OF COLONEL McCUNN--GENERAI
McCLEII.AN's REPRIMAND.--The Court Martial
which tried Colonel McCunn, of the New York
Thirty-seventh regiment, for unof:cerlike con-
duct in resisting the authority of the Provost
Marshal, found him guilty Of the charges, and
sentenced him to be reprimanded by the Com
handing General That reprimand has been
ro cd and moro aCvora thor rh dpDj-