Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-01
changes in British Tone.

John Bull IS happy when ne can gore
some other national OK but when his own
roast beef is in danger he receives new
light upon international morality. It is
perfectly understood that the English cap
italists, ship builders, &c. have done all
in their power to aid the rebels. To say
nothing Of the blockade runners that have
been fitted out at English ports, or of the
regular blockade depot at the British port
Of Nassau, the ship builders of England
and Scotland have furnished many swift
steamer to be fitted out as a rebel cruiser,
TO prey upon American commerce. Com
plants have been made, but overruled ac-
- tion has been taken in some cases. but
flaw was quickly or easily found, and the
pirate ship sent on her way, built with
English money and armed with English
sF4 ordnance. Our merchants have remon-
strated; our Minister has protested, but
through a technical leniency of the law
nothing more hss been done about it, and
s.-s even by the last steamer comes private
letter from which the Tribune learns that:
zone of the iron-olad rams building by
the Messrs. LairGs at Birkenhesd for the
rebels was launched on the fourth instant.
Thew are fitting her out with much ex-
4A1 pedition As possible. She is to have two
turrets; has ram on the stern, and is
plated with iron plates a inches thick.
Their speed will be from twelve to thirteen
a. : knots per hour No pains or expense has
been spared to make them the most perfect
and inYulnerable ships ahost"
It was high time for our Government to
declare, as it is said upon questionable
authority to have done, that this sort Of
-g things should not go on; that if England
did not mean war she must stop fitting cut
pirates in her ports.
sl. But the more long-headed Of the London
and Liverpool merchants and manufactur-
ers have begun to look warily ahead and
look out for breakers, taking warning
from other sources than any official remOn-
STRANGE of the United States Government
and have protested to Earl Russell agains
the same decisions regarding neutral obi
cations which they had heretofore been 81
urgent he should declare. Whence thii
udden conversion and what new revels
tions Of international justice have they
discovered As usual, We find that theii
pockets and not their cOnseiences actuat'
their conduct. There is prospect for wal
with Russia upon the Polish question
The idea has flashed upon England tina
in such q case the Interpretation they hsV'
... mt upon the attitude of neutrality, tht
agorieved party would not be slow Il
% l s5opt In other words, in case of q VA
with Russia the United States would re
main "neutraI," even as Great Britain ha
done during our civil war, but in ever
port and harbor Russian agents might buy
borrow or build as many vessels as the
wanted, to run the blockade under Amerl
can colors, and as many cruisers as the.
chose, to prey upon British commerce
Every New England harbor might turl
out feet Of steamers sailers, to b
used in any ray the Russian purchaser
saw ht The result is apparent. Britis
commerce, the pride and boast Of JOhnn
Bull, would be swept from the seas, an
the ocean highways would be lighted U
with the flames Of ships robbed and burne
by American built privateers under Rus
sian oolors. Russian vessels, too, wOul
coal and repair at American ports, Will
those Of Britain should either not enter a
all or be subjected to regulations Whlc
would efFectually protect the Russians
And for sll this there will be British prece
dent enough to silence all cavil on III
part Of that people. If they object to th
courtesies we thus tender them, we ca
point to Florida, an Alabama, or Vii
ginia, and to the dockyards Of Liverpool an
the Clyde If they object to having Amer
ican ports made q refuge for Russian We!
sells we can point to q Nassau and
Thomas and shut their mouths at once.
Gentlemen of the English Isle do NJ
now stop your old games upon the hyp
critical score of morality, nor profess
regard for law aud deeency that you hal
not felt for two years past, thinking thl
to cause Us TO forget the lesson you hs7
% frequently impressed upon us. But
eh.. you do reform, confess that it is only b
cause you find the United States shrewd,
-i2t and more powerful than in your owe
WseniDg eORcsit you gave them credit 70