New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-01
GREAT BRITAIN.
ENGLISH PUBLIC OPINION.
From An Occasional Correspondent.


From An Ocoasioual Correspondent.
LoyDos Jan. II, 1852.
The news Of the pacific solution Of the Trent con-
fict was by the bulk of the English people saluted
with an exultaion proving Enthusiastically the unpopu-
larity Of the apprehended and the dread OF its
consequences IL ought never to be forgotten in the
United States that at least the workmg classes OF
England from the commencement to the termination
of the difficulty, have never iorsaken them To them
it was due that, despite the poisonous stimulants
daily administered by vena and reckless press, not
one single public war meeting could be held IN the
United Kingdom during all the period that peace
trembed in the balance. The only war meeting con-
yened on the arriyd Of the la Plata, in the cot
ton saesroom Of the Liverpool Stock Exchange, wac
a corner meeting where the cotton obbers had IT all
10 Themselves Even at Manchester, the temper Of
the working classes was so we'll understood that All
insulated attempt at the conyocaion Of war meet
ing WAS almost az soon abandoned as thought Of.
Wherever public meetings took place in England,
Scotland Ireland they protested against the rsoid
wsrcres Of the press against the sinister desgns OF
the Government, aud declared for pacific settlement
Of the pending question. I'm this regard the two last
meetings held, the one at Paddington, London, the
other at Newcasile-upon Tyne, are characteristic.
The former meeting ap?lauded Mr.. washington
Wilkes augmentation that England was not war
anted in finding fault with the seizure OF the South
ern Commissioners; while the Newcastle meeting al
most unanimously carried the resolution-frsty that
the Americans had only made Themselves guilty OF
iaufrl exeIciee Of the right of search and seizure;
secondly that the captain of the Trent ought to be
punished for his violation Of English neutrality, rs
proclaimed By the Queen. la ordinary circum-
stances the conduct Of the British workingmenm light
have been anticipated from the natural sympathy
the popular classes all tho world ought TO feel
for the only popular Government in the world.
Under The present circumstances, however, when
great portion Of the British working classes direct
ly and severely suffers under the consequences of
the Southern blockade; when another part is ind-
rectly smitten by the curtaiiment of the American
commerce, owing, ss they told, to the selfish
protective policy" Of the Republicans; when the
only remaining democratic weekly, Reynolds
PAPER has sold itself 30 Messrs Yancey and Mann,
Aud week after week exhausts its horse-powers of
foul language in appeals TO the working classes 10
urge the Government, for their own interests, to war
with tho Union-under sach circumstances, simple
Justice requires TO pay tribute 10 the sound stt-
tude Of the British working classes the more 30
when conrasted with the bypocritical, bullying
cowardly, and stupid conduct of the official and we'll
TODD John Bull.
What a difference in this attitude of the people
from what il had assumed at the time of the Russian
complication Then The Times, The Post, and the
other Yellowpushes Of the London press whined for
peace to be rebuked by tremendous war meetings
all over the country. Now they have howlcd for
war, to be answered by peace meetings denouncing
the libertcide schemes and the Pro-Slayery sympa-
thy Of tho Government. The grimaces cut by the
augurs of public opinion at the of the pacific
luton of the Trent case are really amusing.
In the first place, they must needs congratulate
themselves upon the dignity, common sense, good
will, and moderation daily displayed by them for the
whole interval Of month. They were moderate for
the first two days after the arrival of the La Plata
when Pslmsrton felt uneasy whether any legal pre-
text for quarrel was to be picked But hardly had
the crown lawyers hit upon a legal bubble, when
they opened chsrivari uDheard of since the anti
Jacobn war. The dispatches Of the English Gov
eminent left Queenstown in the beginning of De-
cember. No official answer from Washington could
possibly be looked for before the commencement Of
January. The new incidents arising in the interval
told all in favor Of the Americans The tone Of the
Trar satlautic Press, although the Nashville affair
might have roused its passions was calm. All facts
ascertained concurred to show that Capt. Wilkes
had acted on bis own hook. The position Of the
Washington Government was delicate. Ii il re-
sisted the English demands, it would complicate the
civil war by foreign war. II il gave way il might
damage its popularity at home, and appear to eede
TO pressure from abroad. And the Government thus
placed, carried, at the same time, which must
enlist the warmes, sympathies of every man, not
confessed ruiian, On its side.
Common prudence, conventional decency, ought,
therefore, to have dictated TO the London press, at
least for the time separating the English demand
from the American reply, TO anxiously abstain from
every word calculated to heat passion, breed il'w,
complicate he difficulty. But no. That mex
"pressiby mean and groveling" press, as William
Goblet and he was cOnH0isSeu', Calls II, feaiiy
boosted of having, when in fear OF the compac'
power of the United States humbly submitted TO the
accumulated Sights and insults Of Pro-S'avery Adj