The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-29
mr.. Cobden on the Amey,can war.

MIs COO0en on the American war; ~
On Wednesday, Oct. 80. Mr.. Golden ad-
dressed large meeting of his constituents at
Rochdale. The room which will hold about
3.OO0, was crowded. The Mayor presided, and
the Mayors from several of the neighoring
towns, a large portion ofthe principal manu-
acturers, and mass of operatives we're present.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Golden re-
ferred as follows to the American war: 'iIa+ 2.
We are placed in this tremendous embar-
rassment in consequence of eivilwar in Amer.
lea. Now don't expect me to be going 10 ven-
ture upon ground which other politicians have
trodden with, think, doubtful success or ad.
vantage TO themelves; do Il not think
am going to predict what is going to
happen in America, or set myself up as a
udge Of the Americans. What wish to say
is few words to throw light on our, relations
as nation with the american people. l have
+, doubt whatever that if had been an
American | should have been true to my peace
principles, and that should have been among
perhaps o very smau number who had voted
or raised their protest 10 some shape or other
against, this civil war in America. There is
nothing in the course of war which reconciles
me to the brutalities and havoc of such a
mode Of settling human disputes: but the
question we have to ask ourselves is this
What is the position which, as nation, We
ought to take in regard,to the Americans
in reference to this dispute? 1t is mouse
arguing what was the origin of war, a or
TO advise its discontinuanee, We all regret
this dreadful aud sanguinary war, but
to attempt to scold the Americans for fighting,
! or to think of reaching them with arguments
when they are in mortal combat, million of
men armed, and lighting to- the death, would be
the greatest waste ofinteiiect we could com-
nit But tits said by some that this war will
soon be brought to an end in certain way.
Now have travelled twice nearly through
every Free State in America, i know most 'Of
| the principal persons engaged in the contest on
seth sides. I have kept myself pretty we'll
informed of all that has been going on in that
country, and though think l ought to be as
we'll Informed asthe average of my country,
men, cabinet ministers included, yet if you
were TO ask me how. this contest is TO end,
confess that should feel at a loss to offer an
opinion that would be w9sh the slightest at
tention on the part of my hearers; but this I
will say, that if aoere put to torture and com
PEELED to offer guess should not make the guess
which Mr.. Gladstone and Earl Russell have made
on the subject. Hear.1 don't believe, the
war in America is to soon be brought to an end
by a'separatiCn Of the South from the North
There are great motives at work among the
large majority Of the people in America which
seem to drive them to this dreadful contes,
rather than see their country broken into two
nations. Leaving the dreams aside, what sp.
pears to be in the present day the permaneu,
interchaDges among the races Of man? Ger.
/ tainly not desire to separate, but to agglom.
crate, to bring together in great concentration
different races speaking the same Language
and protesting the same religion. Wha; i,
going on in Italy? What is it that stirs The
. heart of Germany? What is it that moves HUI
gary: l, is the nations wishing to come TO,
gether. You find 10 Europe no instinct per
vading the the mas. Of mankind leading then
| 10 separation from each other, but there is
powerful movement al through Europe towart
the aggiomeration of the races of nations. Il
is very odd that statesmen here who have &
profound sympathy with the movement in Italy
i favor Of unity, cannot appreciate the force
of that motive in the present contest in Amer
lea. Three-fourths Of the whole population
in America are now contending against disun-
ion; they are following the instinct which is
impelling the. Italian, the German, and the
other populations of Europe; and have nc
doubt that one great and dominant motive on
their part is that they are afraid II they De-
come disunited they will be treated as the itai-
ians were treated when they were disunited,
viz, that the foreigner will come and set his
intrusive foot among them, and playsof one
against the other to the degradation and pos
sible subjection of the whole. Thesears pow
erful motives and if they are operating as
they appear TO operate, they may nay. Led g, ! .
predicted by some of our statesmen, but the
business which VIC really have here as Eng
,;sbmen is not to speculate on what American:
viii do. for they act totally independent Of US
lot ns rive them our sympathy while we la.
msnt over great misfortune, hut do not le
us attempt to scold, and worry Ind dictate Il
them. or even predict for them what will hap