The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-09-09
From the Daily News, Aug. Is.
The London Daily News OH Earl
Russcll's Letter.

Lord Russell, in his reply to Mr.. Seward
assumes an air of very conscious superiority
in referring to the policy of the cabinet on the
American war. lie directs attention, in a
tone of rather lofty self graduation, to the
maguanimous conduct of the British govern
ment in having maintained strict and i'm.
partial neutrality, Notwithstanding "tho in.
suits constantly heap ID upon the British name
in speeches and newspapers" in the United
States. We cannot well appreciate the mag
nanimity ofsuch a proceeding, nor do we
think it very digniied to claim credit for sup.
eror virtue on any such ground.
In the first place, there has really been very
little seriously 10 complain Of in the general
tone of feeling toward this country on the
other side of the Atlantic. Violent and in
temperate things have NJ doubt ueen said and
written in the excitement of the contest; but
after all, these hostile demonstrations are few
compared with the speeches and writings of a
better and more friendly charater. But had
they been far moro numerous it is surely
hardly consistent with dignity and self respect
to make any reference 10 such temporary
ebulitons of feeling in an official Dispatch
The formal intercourse Of responsible govern
ments is regulated 10y the maxms ard usages
of international law, by recognized principles
Of public right, not by the fluctuations Of popu
lar feeling.
These maxims Of public law remain as The
guides Of public action amidst all the various
changes of opinion; and it is but poor boas.
for any government 10 say it has not been do
TERED by unfriendly criticism from doing its
obvious daty toward friendly power Be-
sides, in this particular case, Mr.. Seward
might well reply in the words of the foreign
secretary's own Dispatch: "As to the course
of opinion in this country, the president (thc
foreign secretary is aware that perfect free
dom of comment upon all public events is in
this country the invariable practice, sanction
cd by law, and approved by the universal
sense Of the nation.
Rsceat events have, however, furnished
Mr.. Seward with another retort more pointed
and direct is not more conclusive. Whatever
insults may have been "heaped on the British
namo" in America, no public man Of charac
ter and position on the other side of the At
lantic has yet that we know OF reviled the
whole British nation in the presence of the
leading resprescntve of tho American gov
ernmeni, aod with the hearty support of the
learding organs Of that government. An Eng
lsh member of Parliment, has recently called
the people Of the Norhern S.ato "the scum
and refuse of Europe" in the presence Of the
prime minister Of England, aud at public
banquet given in honor; and the journal that
specially represents the minister applands the
speaker and the speech to the very echo.
This journal indeed, goes out ofits way to
emphasiz, tho insult by endeavoring to mag
nifty the Importance Of tho speaker: "Mr.
Reebuck," says the ministerial organ, "does
net, indeed, speak with tho authority Of a
minister, or with the practical responsibilities
of political office; but he is an old aud dis
tinguished politician, ,he representative of
an importont community, AMI reno sned for
his fearlessness and indepen lence. II is this
distinguished politician" whom the muis-
terial organ delights to honor, who calls the
Americans ''the scum ard refuse Of Europe"
After this, we stall, hardly, perhaps, venture
Oh any further official complaints Of the in
suits heaped on the British name in speeches
aud writings on the other side OF the Atlantic