The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-20
The English Government.

We ore indebteu 10 the UNION anu hmaHS'P"
ton Society of Manchester, England for hle'
of English papers, received from time to time
THIS society is composed Of some OF the oes'
men in the kingdom, not including the aristoc'
racy, and counts its members by hundreds
From the first Of our troubles 1t has labored to
correct public sentiment in that country IN Ia
yor of our Government. and for those labor'
we honor them.
We find in the Examiner and Times of the
26th ult, report Of the speech of Mr.. Laird
MP, made at n meeting for the distribution
of prizes TO volunteers, in which that gentle
man frankly acknowledged that his sons built
the Alabama for the rebel service. and clearly
;n,;mated that il was their intention in the build
inc thereof to eyade the English law. Nor
doc, he deny that the rams recently detained
nv his Government were destined for the same
service, and yet he complains of Lord Russell
for his detention of the pirates.
Our English friends cannot wonder 'hat We
on this side of the water arc unit IN consiuer-
ING the Times, Mr.. Laird, Mr.. Lindsay a. "a
onpe menus, better opponents OF the English
Government than the people. hut unfortunately
IL is no, the English people with whom we have 70
do. :. ut,
who, Mr.. Beecher declared 10 his English
audience that the recent demonstrations IN
America towards the officers Of the russian
aos, meant nothing more than "coquetry
and that hospitality which we should accoru
the naval officers Of any government wiz"
,,h;ch MO are Mt peace, "thc wish was aiher
=, tho Thought" and he did not correctly rep
rcsen, public opinion in this country Inc at
s;,,dc of the English Government from the
,romcnt our difficulties began has been ,na'
Of omen hostility to our Government anu "'
e., 40, tho acknowledgement OF rebels Us DC
,ircrcn,s, so prccipitate, undisn'hcd anu s'"'u
60 has nearly destroyed our Marine com
mcrce, and prolonged the war; WINE !, 'eVn
r;c,l,y raised Scmmes and his eon'eue'"''
trom the position Of pirates to that oil ia"iu
s,. Az the commencement OF our struggle wv
doubt IL there were exceptions enough 10 'Or'
iii our saving, that the whole American people
looked to the English Government Tor open
active sympathy. How bitterly they were us,
Amounted, what encouragement was helu ou'
90 tho rcbels. and how the Court OF ST. james
repaid our friendship, we have no desire 10 IT.
oorn, There was a time in the tide OF events
when England, with no violation oil her heu
tralty. might have secured something mor'
than an ephemeral friendship from this nation
hers by consanguinity and language had II
hoc, taken nj its food. II Is ebb tide now
Rorpe down by the weight of treaehery II
the out going Administration, from the fres''
5cn, down, and with the leaders oil srea'
Marty conspira,ors against the government
,h.v could no longer rule, our people counted
anon the good will of that nation that had made
.neb loud protestatiOns of friendship tor us
- had assumed moral superiority over us
BECAUSE We entertained that very institution Of
s,avery which was the cause OF the war no"
c,;,tinr. But Of the three great Powers Of
Europc, Russia, Great Britain and France 'n'
former alone took that position where oil mel
official nets could be construed in favor only OF
,hc limited States, and against our rebels %
upmi.,akablc has been her friendship that no
rebel ambassadors have been sent to her .our'
to plead for recognition, no rebel SHIPS nave
been fitted out in her ports. nor have the pirate
vessels which Great Britain only has furnished
received any "aid and comfort" from any nus
sian, while their officials have manifested the
liyelies, interest in our success in establishing
our national unity.
We say again, the remark of Mr.. Beecher
was misapprehensive Of existing facts. The
course Of Russia towards this Government, call
it policy or probity, has touched cord in the
breasts Of our people that finds responsive &C
ton in just such demonstrations as Mr., Beecher
terms "eoquettish."