, 1862-09-01
The London Daily News on Earl Rus
selI7s Letter.

Lord Russell, in his reply to Mr.. Seward,
assumes an air Of very conscious superiority,
III referring to the policy Of the cabinet on
the Ane1lcan war He directs attention, in
tone Of rather lofty gta'uiation, to the
msAnan5muns conduct Of the British govern
mcnt in having 11ainta1ued strict and im-
partial neutrality, notwithstanding 'sthe in
suits constantly heaped upon tbs British
name IN speeches md newspapers" in the
United States. We cannot well appreciate
the magnanimity Of such proceeding, nor
do we think it very d5gnided to claim credit
for superior virtue cn any such ground
In the first place, there has TT ally been very
little seriously to complain Of in the general
tone OF feeling toward this country on the
other side Of the Atlantic. Violent and in
tempernte things hare no Doubt been said and
WRITER IN the excitement Of the contest but
afttIa1l, these hostile demonstrations are few
compared with the speeches and writings Of =
better and more friendly character. But had
they been far more numerous it is surely
hardly consistent with dignity aud selfrespect
to make any reference to such temporary ebu-
litions OF feeling in an Official dispatch. The
formal intercourse Of responsible govern
ments is regulated By the ma1icls and usages
# international la#, by recognized princi pies
OF public right, not By the fluctuations popu-
lar feeling.
These maxims of public law remain as the
guides Of public action amidst ali the 7arious
! changes OF opinion; and it is but poor boast
tor any government to say it has not been
| deferred by unlriend1y criticism from doing
| its obvious duty toward friendly power.
| Besides, IN this particular case, Mr. Seward
might well reply in the words Of the foreign
secfesary's oWn dispatch: "As to the course
Of opinion in this country, the president (the
foreign secretary is aware thar perfect free
dom of comment upon al public events is in
this country the invariable practice, sanction
ed by law, and approved by the universal
SENSE Of the nationi''
Recent events have, however, furnished
Mr. Seward with another retort more pointed
and direct if Eot more conclusive. Whatever
| insults may have been It heaped on the Brit
ish na1ne'' in America, no public man Of cha
racter and position on the other side Of the
Atlantic has yet that We know Of reEiled the
| whole British nation in the presence of the
leading representative Of the American GOV
errment, and with the hearty support of the
Leading organs Of that government. An Eug.
4#h member Of Parliament, has recently called
ls&e people Of the Northern States ''the scum
refuse Ct Europe" in the presence of toe
in minister OF England, and at puDlic
baEquet given in his honor: and the journal
that SPECIALLY represents the prime minister
arp1ants the speaker aud the speech to the
| very echo.
Tlis journa1, iadeed, goes ont of its way tt
emphasize the insult by endeayoring to mag.
n'fY the Importance Of the speaker: +" MI,
RoebucR," says the ministerial organ, "doez
not, indeed, speak with the authority Of a
| mi1 ister, or With the practical responsibilities
OF 8 Political office; but he Is an old and dis
tlreuisled politician, the representative o.
an important community, aud renowned 70,
his fearlessness and independence. II is thi:
distinguished politician whom the minis
terfal orgsn delights to honor, who calls tht
Americans "the scum and refuse OF Europe =
After this, We shall, hardly, perhaps, venturs
on any further official complaints of the IN
cults heaped on the British same in speeches
and writings Oh the other side of the Atlantic