The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-03-20

- ~ %t--- NAN 3@-0
without the slightest reluctance, for it ha
always been a rule with US to open our columns
10 any replies to Us or TO communication which
appear in them. whether rejecting on our owl
words or those of others, if written in the SAINT
spirit As the remarks which may have calico
them forth. The labor of editing a newspaper i
n peculiar one. which few can realize, and many
of the articles are written with great haste, EN-
bodying often sentences or words which revision
or n moments reflection would have changed
Had the sentence with which our correspondent
takes umbrage been re-read, after having been
written, or had il even been revised carefully in the
proof, it might have been modified to read = and
it is not wise policy for England to go to war
with America. &c, which, while it robbed the
expression of its fancied harshness, yet conveys the
idea which we know was held by n portion OF
her own people, and uttered by the English pa
per referred to in our last, (the extract, we think,
was credited to Wilmer 4 Smiths liverpool
IimsS.) And no one knows better than our
correspondent that the comments made on the
news received, are generally q digest of it, as
found IN foreign papers, rather than the individ-
ual sentiments of the person who may chance TO
write them though in some instances, where
the reports are meager, as in that referred TO In
the next paragraph, there is room for exercise of
Judgment in assigning motives or arriving at
conclusions.
Respecting the Trent affair, when the news of
bold affair, justified only by the laws of might
and when n report of the release came. we were
the first to admit its correctness, basing our judg-
-. " e ~, l,,-. 6 .sLy
though as is well-known the California papers
received by that arrival all denounced the report
as a caRard, while three-fourths of our commu-
nifty were incredulous on the subject. To say
that we justified the seizure of the Rebel Com
missioners is not founded in fact, nor were we
=. surprised" at the surrender when made.
To the Editor Of the Commercial .7dreriiSer:
SIR In your last issue, in the article headed "a
secession flag hauled down. you say, We are sure
that no liberal minded Euglishman will ever take
offeuse at what we may say" | find. on referring
to your leading article of March s, that what you
did say was this:
"The Emperor Napoleon, who is really the master spirit Of
not go go to war with America without at least the moral
support and approval of France"
Perhaps l am not a liberal minded Englishman,
for | confess that l felt at least that if | or the other
DrltlSn TeSlIentS OF I1onOiulu ~ u DS
the above paragraph, it was not because the taunt
conveyed in it was not peculiarly well-caiculated for
that object. AS long as human nature remains as it
has been, the expression g you dare not will always
be one of the most provoking that can be uttered,
it be used between little boys just out of
heir petticoats, between grown men, or between
nations.
Still, for my own part, have no particular objec-
lion to your saying that England dare not so to war
America, if you think so, as freedom of speech
in the press and on the street has long been held
Is dear to every Englishman as it appears to be to
rou, (and as, it is to be hoped, it will remain to every
American) all L claim IS, the same freedom of
peech that you enjoy, and the right now to inquire
whether there is any truth whatever in your asser-
ion, or whether there is even the slightest ground
or such an imputation.
Were the facts regarding the position England
ook in the Mason and Slidell affair less notorious, L
night have been content to let your remarks pass, as
labored refutation, however true, could not have
old with much force on your countrymen or mine.
r on the community generally, for whose edifcation
our leaders are supposed to be prepared. 1t so
appens, however, that the whole of the events con-
ected with it, are so recent, 80 notorious, and so
nequivocal, that they have only to be alluded to, to
resent of themselves a thorough and complete re-
ltation of your assertions. So opposite indeed are
ne facts, that they place your version of the affair
q truly comical light.
Simply, then, two pa sepgers were forcibly and illegally
ander Of a United States ship of-war. The government and
Of Great Britain after learning and discussing the mat
T, came to the conclusion, with a unauimity seldom exceeded,
lat if the act were sustained by the American Government and
1t apoogized for, there was no possibility of avoiding war.
he British Government politely but firmly demanded the sur
.wspapers which arrived in England teemed with articles justi-
ing the act, and not only SO, but in all kinds Of ways adding
probably have to fight, and prepared accordingly for war,
nding troops to Canada aud ships to the North American
alton, and auNiously awaited the answer of the American Gov
nment. They were however rather surprised, and the major
mand of the British Minister, that they were received on
ard a British man-of-war, and brought o n to England.
Now l will venture to say that no British newspaper will so
forget ITSELF or be : q ungenerous as to assert that the Ameri-
and the British people Know that the Americans as a ma {
III, aud generally as individuals,
"Pare do all that may become " man.
ey will perceive that it was an act Of true courage in the
clustering and unscrgpulous but popular press and they
Il hope and believe, that the government must have felt them =
lie portion Of American citizens. |
ard to the press that had pandered to their weaknesses, ]
have To :" back down. So suddenly after so much bluster and 7
me TO say, Sir, judging from the style of your remarks.
you appear TO have shared in their modification, il you did
join in their buster, AMI rhat you have cast about to dis
uation against England, you could best relieve your disturbed I
ings. In the rash statement that England dare not' % to n
r you have been singularIy unfortunate. II you had said
It England hal shown unwonted readiness to ga to war with I
1rrct, you QUE al AL uIiHEtuitN u HAIutlHB. u Eo n
4 chosen. an equally unworthy motive, whilst You would not "
&c been compelled 10 mis-represcnt facts to Z We color to it, :
you might have said. a : others have said, that il was only
internal troubles OF America that gave rise to that readiness
il is n not uncommon weakness with some men when excited
in difficulty, to resort to inventions. when If they were col
ed enough to perceive it. the simple truth would serve their
better.
'erhaps, Sir, you may now retract your statement and fall
X on the idea here suggested to You, for the events are too
ent and notorious for you sill to insist that England dare =
" 20 10 wal, and It would, | fear, be expecting too much fr m
IT generosity CT your resolution. in the undignided position
which the impertincnt sCribblng IF your brother editors in Y
United States and your own have placed you and them in
Trent affair, to ask you To admit frankly the facts as they
ly appear. that England was not ami is not either anxious
20 70 war with America without cause, or afraid to do so when -
esSarv. am, &c.
honolulu, March II, 1862. A "BRITIsHEK"
=