The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-25
Voices from Old England.

Nothing is more gratifying to the trusting
loyal men of the North, than the indications
almost daily coming to them of the great rev.
olution in public sentiment which is taking
place in England and other European coun-
tries. Since by the Presidents Proclamation
the present struggle for national life has be-
come also struggle for enlarged freedom, and
in behalf Of the great cause of humanity, the
popular heart Of the old world, which instinct
has become Enthusiastically united in sympathy
with our cause We have had frequent occa-
sion to exhibit the evidence of this fact, and
now il is our privilege to add two more pow
erfui and influential voices to those heretofore
given. We have before us copy of the St.
John Colonial Presbyterian, paper in full
sympathy with our loyal people, in which we
find extracts from DIR. Guthrie and Prof G.
Smith, two of the eminent men of Oxford,
who in public debate have declared that in
SO far as the Confederates have received any
moral support in England, the fact is dis
grace to the nation. Referring to the ground
on which many persons refused to sympathize
with the Federal Government, DIR. Guthrie
says:
No doubt they have nothing to boast of;
and until they took up their present advanced
position they had no reason to expect our
sympathy. On the other hand, it seems I'M
generous and unjust to refuse is now; and to
twit them with this, that it is necessity which
has turned them into abolitionists. Admit that
though many have been silent on the wrongs
81. ala ft.x-c -..fra lrna
sing them, yet how often does it happen
in the providence of God that it is necessity
which brings men into right position. 1t
was necessity, In the shape of hunger that
sent the prodigal home; and it is necessity in
the shape of eternal ruin, which first moves
many a sinner to flee to the Savior, crying,
"Save me- perish" Such sneers do not be-
come any-far less us. We ought not to for
get that fears of a rising among our slaves in
the West Indies, fears ofa rebellion in Ireland,
and fears of a national bankruptcy in Britain,
had not a little to do with the passing of those
three great measures-the Abolition of Slav-
cry, Roman Catholic Emancipation, and the
Reform Bill. While encouraging President
Lincoln and his administration to adhere to
their policy. it is right that we should let the
Confederates know that we hold the principles
on which they have founded their Constitution
in the deepest abhorrance; and that the two
or three newspapers, out of the many hun
dreds in our country, which have family ech-
oed the sentiments OF the South on slavery,
have found no echo in the bosoms of our free
and christian peope-hsve excited in fact, no
other feelings but establishment at their impu-
dence, and indignation at their immortality.
Who cheered NJ. Mason at the Lord Mayors
dinner when, representing the Confederate
Government. he said: 1.-The relationship be-
tween that Government which is now in its
infant fortune and yours will be one Of close
and intimate alliance" l know not. There
are men In this country, as well as in America,
who will sell their honor and sacrifice their
very souls for gold. / hope the cheers of the
Mansion House were only an Illustration of
the saying, "When wine is in, the wit is OUT"
-only Mr. Mason and his Confederates should
be made to know, what i venture TO affirm,
that there is not one man in a hundred or
Thousand Of us but has felt ashamed at that
exhibition; but would regard men who could
rejoice in the prospect of close and intimate
alliance with a Government which boasts Of
having slavery for its chief corner stone is a
disgrace to our country-a land whose very
soil gives freedom to the foot that touches IT,
1t is time that we shoCld recall to our recol-
lection that these Confederaies were the men
who, when they held the reins of government
In the United States, most of all iostered and
fed the fame OF antipathy to Britain; they
were the authors Of the infamous Fugitive
Slave Act, and they are now advocating prin-
ciples from which the whole Christian world
would recoil with horror.
Professor Smith says
1t is now beyond questinon struggle TO pre-
vent the slave owning oligarchy of the Sonth
from founding i'm the midst of Christendom
and civilization, a State based on the slavery
OF the laboring class-a slavery hopeless and
without redemption; a slavery far worse In
its deliberate and legalized iniquity than the
bondage of Ignorant and barbarous times-a
slavery attended with such systematic out
RACES on nature and humanity as are not to be
thought Of without horror and loathing in
Christian land.
Ii the friends of the slave-owners in this
country have any doubts that the broad issue
between slavery and freedom is now before
us, the slave-owner himself has none.
We need, think, feel no misgivings as to
the morality or legality of the emancipation
policy. BY an unprovoked rebellion the slave
owners have given President Lincoln the
rights of war against them, and those rights
are now being used, for the first time perhaps
in history, in the interest Of humanity.
The cause OF emancipation is not that ofthe
negro race alone. 1t is the cause of civiiza-
tion, of Christian morality, of the rights of
labor, and of the rights of man. II is the old
and glorious cause of England. And il part
of our upper classes and our clergy, in their
hatred OF the Free States and their Free
Churches, have ceased to be true to it, it still
has firm hold, trust, on the hearts of the
English people.
My best wishes will attend those who are
endeavoring to purge this country of the stain
of sympathy with the Shareholder and his
crimes; and l should hold 1t my duty as
a Christian and an Englishman to aid their ef-
forts by any means in my power.