The New York herald., 1862-03-16
European Intervention I'm Amcrfca--Its
Serious and Humorous Aspects.

Serious and Humorous Aspects.
The author of "The Comic History of Eng
land" died too soon for the completion Of his
literary labors. If he had survived the Anne
rican rebellion be might have added to that
eccentric work the most amusing and mlrth
provoking Of it's chapters.
When We review the conduct of the English
government and press since the fall Of Sumter
In April last, we are led to ask ourselves
whether the waggish spirit of Mr.. Gilbert A.
Beckett has not been travestying the whole his
tory OF this sventful period. Surely never did
any retrospect Oft peoples sayings or doings
partake more of the character of burlesque.
The French cut queer capers during the frenzy
of their FIRST revolutionary mania; but the worst
Of their antics were not to be compared to the
jubilant saturnalia with which English aristo-
Gratis. tory journalists and Lancashire cotton
spinners celebrated the, to them, certain de-
struction Of our republican institutions. Not
content with this, they set in motion all the con
trivances by which speedier impetus might be
given to our approaching downfall The very
men who had for years been waking the echoes
Of Exeter Hall with their abolition sentiments
went about speechifying to the English opera
tives on the advantages they would derive
from the disruption of the great American con.
fedsracy and the recognition Of the new slave
Power leading members Of Parliament were
bribed to the advocacy Of similar views
by promises Of large interests in new
steam lines and other commercial enterprises
to be started as soon as the rebel confederacy
made good its independence; and TO render sue
cess more certain. the leading organ Of English
opinion, the London Times. was subsidized by
Southern gold. as . rscompense for the en-.
croachments made on its circulation and adver-
tising business by the penny press--a fact TO
which we owe the presence amongst us Of that
Cassandra in breeches Dr. Bull Run Russell.
Up to the time of our disastrous defeat at
Manassas we received at the hands Of our Eng
lish contemporaries merely Misrepresentation
and abuse Then came the worst feature Of ALL
No sooner did the magnanimous British Lion
see us fairly on our backs, and apparently help
less, than he took to bullying us. And how
he did strut and swell and talk big on the
strength Of our supposed feebleness. With the
army which We had been collecting with 80
much difficulty routed. and our capital in i'm.
minent danger Of capture. it was safe to expend
upon US the full measure Of his inso!ence. Die
tation as to what we should do to accommodate
British views and British interests was now but
a step. To the HERALD belongs the credit of being
the first TO- detect the true purpose of these blus-
tsring demonstrations. If the nation had exhibit
ed any evidences of fear it would have been lost
in the estimation Of all the other European
Powers. Whilst, therefore, our craven hearted
abolition contemporaries who had brought the
storm upon us were shivering and covering
before it, we hurled back defiance in the teeth
of the hire!ing bullies Of the English press. 1t
was we'll thai we did so. II proved to the world
that cur domestic dissensions had not weak
ened the national spirit, and that we were
ready TO encounter any odds, no matter how
great, in defence OF our rights. Hence the gene
raj apprehension that the Trent ssair would
lead to war with Great Brtain-a fear which
agitpted that country 10 its very core. and
which rendered it but too glad to renounce its
aggressive attitude for one more suited 10 its
proiessed position Of neutrality.
Considering how suddenly all this was done,
and how much like to sucking doves
our recently bitter assailants Of the Eng
lish press have become, il is natural that
o good deal Of surprise should be expressed
at the remarkably shifting character of English
opinion and feeling When the Prince of Wales
was here, we were John Bulls "very good
cousins:r when the rebellion broke out we
were the scum of the earth, and the Southern
chivalry the salt. Hey, presto, the cards arc
again changed. Now the cold shoulder is given
TO secessionism, and Mason and Sldel are no
better than a couple Of nggers. Does not all
this partske of the broad character OF farce?
II has unqucstiopably converted The scorn that
English Journalists so freely lavished upon us
into conIemptuous ridicule against themselves.
II has done more. II has as cHectually killed
the hopes and expectations of the rebels abroad
as il the old flag had tecn already recstablished
DYER every portion Of Southern territory.
European Intervention in Mexico is not
likely to prove any more fortunate or dignifed
in It's achievements than the beginnings thus
frustrated in our own case II was entered
into in bad faith between the contracting parties
and il would be wonderful il Il were to end in
anything but failure. The molodramatic Don.
the mcrcurial Frcncbman and tho arrogant
supercilious Enslisbman are al excellent ma.
terials for another political comedy, and we
ere much mistaken Of this Mexican pot,pouyri
does not render them the laughing stocks of the
world England and France, We fancy,
are beginning 10 be sensible 10 the
absurdity aud inconvenience Of the posi-.
ton in which they have been placed by
their Spanish ally. This is probably the OK.
plana!on Of the convention just entered into
with DcbladC, and which would argue dspo.
s,ion on their part 10 adjust amicably with the
Mexican government the points OF difficulty
AZ ..