Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-07
MOrtester Daily SPY,
THE EUROPEAN PRESS.

Correspondence of the Evening Post
PARIS, March 20, 1852
The Evening Post Of the Sd of February
contained some remarks upon the course OF
the European press upon the American crisis,
in which you express good deal of astonish.
ment at the general prevalence of tone favor
able 10 the south You think there must be
something behind the scenes" to account for
it, and you suggest the "venality" of a large
number of writers in London and Paris
probable explanation of the mystery. The
south has paid people to write smart para
graphs" and the north has not ct UOila tout.
l think can, by the aid of my own expert
ence throw little light upon the matter, as |
happen to know something of that portion both
of the English and French press which is ia
vorably disposed to the northern cause but
my solution is neither so damaging to the
character of the English press, nor so compli-
mentary to the north as the one you suggest.
There is large number of writer's for both
the English and the French press who are not
only devoted to the northern cause, but anx.
ious to serve it from their own conviction of
its justice, and without the smallest hope of
any consideration or reward whatever if the
north would only take the trouble to supply
them with the materials, or with encourage.
ment, or with recognition of any kind what
ever-wOuld, in short, do even one 1.-THE of
what the southern emmisarles are doing every
day. | venture to say that, considering the
Importance everybody in the north attaches
to English and French opinions of what is CO.
ing on, aud the range and Indignation inspired
by the sophistries and calumnies of the Times
and Herald, Of the Beresford Hopes and Greg.
orys and the real substantial danger 10 the
cause of the Union which the distortion of the
public mind here may produce, the utter in
difference which you all over there seem to
feel about the manufacture of public opinion
here is perfectly astounding.
REBELS AND LOYAL MEN IN EUROPE.
Ever since February of last year Yancey
and Mann and the rest of tie tribe have been
laboring in London might and main for the
delusion of editors and politicians talking to
them in season and out of season, dining with
them, winning them, and, though last not least,
covering them over with facts figures and doc
uments The fact that, in defiance of the
damning record of the last thirty years, they
have actually persuaded majority OF English.
men that slavery has nothing to do with the
war, is the best possible proof OF their skill
aud success. The NORTH on the other hand,
though what EngiShmen and Frenchmen
think of the matter is Of vital importance, has
LETT the moulding of their opinions to Provi.
dence. What little has been done by Amer.
as the French say-tine moral sentiments and
lofty decl mation--to the London American
but who on earth reads the London American
except nOrtherners, WHO are already devoted
hear and soul 10 the Union No Englshman
ever sees it. But ior the use of those writers
of the English press who are really anxious to
learn the truth, neither advice, nor instruct
ion, nor documents, nor authorities, nor fla It's
nor figures haveSupplied. don't think, an
til MI. Weed went to England, the slightest
attempt was ever made to communicate with
them; and how much he has done | cannot
say.
SCARCITY OF DOCUMENTS.
70 give you an instance OF what mean, let
ME remark that during the Trent affair, when
it was most desirable to put the English public
in possession of the political antecedents of
Messrs. Mason and Slidell, to expose the de.
votion OF these two "felows" to slavery and
filbuStering, and all other bad causes and
knavish schemes, it was impossible to obtain
single report or document for the purpose. |
hunted Paris through in the vain attempt to
get hold of the Congressional Globe. There
is no such thing here The legation possesses
it as far back as 1858, but this is all. don't
believe there is copy in London, either, and
all that has appeared in the English or French
press on the subject was drawn from the menu
DRY OF Mr, Bigelow and one or two Others and
was consequently of necessity imperfect and
ineffective Within the last week | have, in
the same interest, been in want of the reports
Of the various departments made at the be-
ginning of the present session of congress-
These are not to be had anywhere Through
the kindness of a friend in New York, | have
received the Message and Documents" but
if l am not very much mistaken it is now the
only copy in Paris. With regard TO all other
sources of information touching the rise and
progress of this great struggle, there is almost
the same tale to be told Americans who have
followed it day by day for years, in the papers
at home, until their brains are saturated with
every fact and phase of it, can hardly imagine
the difficulties in which honest English and
French writers and orators who never devoted
an hours attention to American politics until
tort Sumter tell, are now fioundering.
ERROR OF FRENCH STATESMEN
l was recently invited, with one or two 9th.
ers, to meet M. Emile Olivier, the leading
democratic member of the Corps LegiSLatif, for
the purpose of supplying information for his
speech on American affairs. found he was
under the impression that the Morrill, tariff
was one of the causes of secession, or at least
that the southerners had a show of reason in
saying so, as they do say so here every day.
He was astOnished to learn that it was created
after secession, not before, and that, instead of
its causing secession, secession caused it, He
asked for the dates and other details in sup
port of this point, but we could not furnish
them; and | confess | don't know where they
are to be found in Paris. He then said. and
said truly, that all the southern takers ora.
tors, and spouters, both in Europe and at
home, have constantly alleged, since secession
began, that free trade, and free trade alone.
was their aim, and that slavery had nothing
to do with the rebellion.
The obvious reply was that these speecbes
and articles since the separation have been
composed Tor the European market; that TO
learn their real object we must examine their
doings and sayings for the twenty years before
secession. He asked us then TO furnish him
with the speeches of DAVIS or Toombs, or
Mason or SIidell, or any leading spirit OF the
conspiracy prior to January, 1860. We could
do nothing of the kind. lie remarked, in con-
cusiun, with great justice, "that the north
seemed to him extraordinarily negligent; that
it extended no kind Of help to its friends; that
FrenChmen anxious TO serve its cause with
pen or tongue, Instead Of being sought out by
Americans and supplied with needul inlorma-
ton, being canvasstd or solicited, are obliged
TO seek out the Americans, and when they
have found them can only get general state
ments." All OF which is true.
TONE OF THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH PRESS.
The outbreak of this war found the English
and Frencl press in state of stupid impair
TALLY. They did not know much about the
merits of the quarrel, and their sympathy for
oppressed free-traders was counterbalanCed by
their hostility to slavery. The southern ennis.
saries got hold of them first, and let in south
ern light on their darkness Their fidelity to
the seeessionist cause since is due partly TO
ignorance, greatly TO evaporation bred by
naII eur OF mutual abuse. and pnnd deal