The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-07

ENGLISH OPINIONS az AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
The English journals have never been remark
able for the clearness of their insight into our
political affairs This has not prevented them
expressing their opinions in regard to them
with dogmatism and positiveness which ought
only to be the result of accurate Information.
The absurd mistakes into which they have been
betrayed from time to time have latterly sag
gested the expediency of their sending over
correspondents to keep them accurately posted
as to the course of events. Thus far, il must
be owned, the result of the experiment has not
been very successful 1t has served only to
Illustrate the force of the old Latin jibe-i,cas
non iuceado-for since they have had their
own correspondents here they have shown
themselves more befogged than ever. When
the last arrived of these gentlemen, Mr.. Rus
sell, of the London Times, was in New York,
few weeks since, he could see nothing but
apathy prevailing amongst us in respect to our
troubles with the South. People only occu-
pied themselves with their business. their stocks,
their dinners, music, the Opera. dancing, &c.
AS to lighting for the preservation of the
in the nature Of New Yorker wiring again
from Charleston, Just previous to the attack
upon Fort Sumter he sums up his views of the
then condition of things with this pithy and
emphatic declaratioI:-"T great republic is
gone" The fact was that the great republic
had not at that time even begun to move.
1t is pity that Englishmen. when they come
here, do not give themselves time TO inyesti.
gate and reflect little before they rush into
the expression of such hasty and decided
opinions. VI the correspondent of the London
Times had only waited a few weeks longer he
would have seen that New Workers, when
the occasion calls for it, can ouit their
business. their stocks, their Opera and their
other amusements aud freely offer their lives
and fortunes for the defence of the coun-
try. lie would have seen further that New
York gives the tone to the whole North. and
that it was owing to her example and influence
that the Presidents appeal to the general
patriotism met with so prompt and energetic a
response.
The English journals would do better IL they
took their impressions Of American affairs from
such American journals az are reliable from
their circulation and influence. The extent OF
the latter is always sure evidence of their ac-
curacy and trustworthiness. Their manner of
using our newspapers shows how utterly at
sea they are in regard TO the political situation
here. their own correspondence, as we have
shown, only making their confusion worse con-
founded. In copying, for example, the latest
news Afgpm the NEw York HnR,np. should IL
not Rpcn to Jump with their views, they
usual qualify it by stating tina, they have re-
ceived late ldvices contradicting what hey
have taken from our fes. The consequence
is that on every fresh arrival they are com
PEELED to contradict their own contradiction
and re-establish the accuracy Of our statements
This is bungling sort Of journalism and il is
no wonder that its effect should be 10 perplex
and bewilder the English mind in regard IL the
true bearing Of political events in this country.