Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-12-30
gUssELL's PREDICTION.

The following passage in one of the recent
letters of Mr. London Times Russell has occa-
stoned considerable feeling and criticism in
this country =
GAS write, there is rumor that Messrs
Slidell and Mason are to be surrendered. If
it be true, this government as broken up There
is SO much violence OF spirit among the lower
orders Of people, and they are so Ignorant OF
every thing except their own politics and pas
sions, so saturated with pride and vanity, that
any honorable concession, even in this hour OF
extremity, would prove fatal to its authors. 1t
would certainly render them so unpopular that
it W ouId damage them in the conduct OF this
civil war;
itIDs press e the United States had not be.
ggn 81 descvibing this insolent hireling OF
British toryisua is a parsonage of considerable
imporiance, mere would be much less DISPOSE
lion to take notice of what he says. He never
deserved that favorable introduction to our
people, and he is quite incapable of deserving
it. His ignorance OF the general condition and
character Of the American people occasions
very great surprise in many OF his critics, but
it should not be deemed surprising. He did
not come to the United States to observe men
anu tnlHBS WIN CduuOi. OuSH a SouiSS vi
proceeding might add TO his knowledge and
change some of his opinions. Eng.ishmen
seldom come to this country to learn any
thing, and many of them seem incapable of
learning, so completely are they under the
sway of self conceit and the style of ill breed
ing that gives full scope to the most insulting
arrogance. This Russell was hired TO come
here and traduce our institutions, and he is do
ing what he can to earn his wages.
1t may be said in behalf of the London
press, which has SO many startling editorials
on the ''mob" in America, that The writers
probably know no better. They can no. write
on the geography of the country without
falling into some of the most ludcrous mis-
takes that were ever printed; and why should
we expect them to write with intelligence
when they discuss the character of our people?
They show a bad temper in what they say,
but they misrepresent partly because they are
not well informed. In Great Britain very
large proportion of the people are uneducated,
ignorant, and not far above barbarism in their
style of life. In the provincial districts of
England, ireland, and Scotland there are large
masses of people in no respect superior to
the s7rfs in Russia and scarcely equal to the
"poor whites" OF South Carolina. Many
Englishmen who write for the newspapers,
assume as matter Of course that a majority
of the people in the loyal states here are in
the same condition, and that by means of our
democratic institutions the country is entirely
at the mercy of an ignorant and violent mob
composed of such semi-barbarians. Russell,
who has visited almost every part of the coun-
try, should know better. But John Bull in
London would not be himself, if he could adj
admit or even see fact that shows him to be
SO much more destitute of civilization than
some Of his neighbors
The action of our government in giving up
Mason and Slidell will give English toryism
another opportunity to discuss the American
"mob" London Times Russell has prepared
his readers to expect the immediate dissolution
OF the government. 10 deliver up those men,
he said, would cause such an outbreak of vio-
lence "among the lower orders, that the gov
eminent would fall into ruins immediately
If he believed what he said, he is now, Of
course, watching with sleepless eyes, by day
and by night, to behold the great crash and
describe it. And if his readers have believed
him, they, too, may watch with anxiety for
the ruin that is to come, and thereby get a
more accurate estimate of his real value as
reporter and prophet.
D.rr "A Ia Rrrp Tba