Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-27
Position of the British MIuIstry.

1t is easy to discover, from the tone OF the
British press and the reports of debates in
Parliament, that party issues are to be made
in England in respect to the policy TO be
pursued toward this country. AS is the
case in America, whatever position the
Government may 2asume upon any exciting
question, will be attacked by the opposition;
and will be a point UPON which TO agitate for
the overthrow of the ministry and the bring
ing in of another.
The elements Of the issue are already ap-
parent. The disposition of the Government
IS appears by the responses made by Lord
Palmerston and Lord john Russell in the
House of Commons, and especially by the
recent official proclamation, is TO adhere
strictly to the principles Of international law
as applicable to the circumstances; while
the basis OF the opposition movement will be
the immediate interests of the people, ire.
spective of any considerations of justice or
consistency. The war farms in the United
States is reflected in a war of parties 10 Great
Britain; nor is it by any means impossible
that, if the one should continue long enough,
81 CnaQgc IN lu6 6umluASlIA biOH Will 10
brought about by the other.
Certain Of the people and the presses Of
the United States are disposed to complain
because the British Government has not
come quite up to their wishes in the policy
il has adopted-that it has not put itself in
the position of a friend to the Union and an
enemy to the Confederacy. They do not
remember that q British Administration,
like an American one, has its own place to
look after-ihat il is all the time beleagered
by a watchful and inscriptions opposition,
constantly seeking the means to place it
in false positions, or TO exhibit 1t in an I'M
favorable light to the people.
This state of things has undoubtedly i'm
pressed upon the Administration, as a meas
ure Of self defense, the necessity Of assuming
no position toward the Union that 1t cannot
defend upon the plainest principles Of inter-
national Justice; and for this it is rather to
be commended than condemned. To open
the door by any act Of Partially to the
North, for the party TO come into power,
whose organ, the London Morning Herald,
declares that " il the cotton is not to be got
by fair means, zoe must not SerIpk 10 use foul
means, or the daily bread of four or FIVE
millions of the working population will be
stopped" would be to us, at this time, a seri-
Gus misfortune.
The opposition party in Great Britain, ID
not a thing to be dispised. 1t has in its in
terestB several Of the ablest and most ipnu-
entiAl journals of the realm; nons of which
make any Hcruple to employ every available
meAnS-by appeals to past acts and present
interests-to arouse the prejudices and slim,
ulAts the passions of the people. It want
power; and, so that this is acquired. care
little for the justice Of the measures by which
IL IL obtained.
Besides the opinion ofths Administration
that there are more hopes Of safety in q pc
sition defensible upon sound legal principles
there are other motives which probably
operate to place IL where it Is. The peopl
Of the British Canadian Provinces, as Is vel
known, sympathize strongly with the North
and would be inclined 70 resent any actiol
of the home Government that looked Ik
fhvoriDg Southern pretcnsionst even :
the remuneration Of their allegiance, An
. junction Of their political fortans
with those Of the Union. ThuA while th
9oVernment has upon one side the Pressur