New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-20
AT HOME AND ABROAD.

The style OF Inc LOHdOH IiWeS, III lls oO-
seryations upon the Presidents Proclamation
is simply one OF fussy mpertlnence. 1t is certain
that in private life any yulgarian assuming
similar airs, would either be laughed at or
kicked out of the company. Men would not
endure, probably, to be told by dogmatic
and testy companion, tina, they lied, that they
were hypocrltes, that they were deyising fraud,
that they were attempting disrcputable swim.
die. Unless we are willing to believe each
other occasionally, there must be an end OF
human intercourse Of the friendly description.
And what 10 true Of private comfy is true Of
the comfy of nations. State papers for all
the usual purposes Of diplomacy, must be
taken to mean just what they profess
to mean. The lackeys Of legation, the foot
men, cooks, and scullons of his Excel
lency, the ambassador, the gentry Of the
back stairs, the old women who sweep the
Offices and light the irei, are always deep
est in Sta.e-secret,, and always prouest to put
their faith in nobody. The valet intrigues,
while his master opens his heart with his snuff
box. When The London Times, with owlsh
gravity and innumerabe shrugs Processes to
doubt the entire sincerity of the Presidents
Proclamation, its uncyized incredibly makes
the suspicious OF lackeys, foolmen, cooks,
sculIions. and char-women respectable and
dignihed by comparison. Whether it be worth
while to attain q character for uncommon per-
spicacity at the expense OF character for
common yeracty, the stock-broking managers
of the newspaper in question must determine.
The charge against the President is that he ia
not in earnest, and against bis policy that it ia
lot sincere. The newspaper To which We have
referred speaks of Mr. Lincoln as issuing his
Proclamation with his tongue in his cheek"
This is rare bit of rhetorical refinement. If
any of our transatlantic friends think that its
truth is equal to its beauty, we beg leave 10
assure them that here even the enemies Of the
President view the Proclamation in an entirely
different light They believe, if Tie Times
does Mt The Pro-Slavery newspapers howl
with sad sincerity. The Northern politicians
in the interest of the Rebellion do not affect
to consider the Proclamation Joke. The Ed-
tors Of Dayis's Republic swell as they refer to
the document with all unusual venom. From
Davis himself it has evoked q Proclamation
more than commonly bloodthirsty. Aud it
may be asserted generally, that whatever OBJ
jections have been made to the Proclamation
have found all their point aud force in the assump-
ton that so far from being mere ilummery and
subteriugc, it means precisely what it says. No
body here, however enraged by its contents las
hit upon the notable cxpcdient Of regarding
it as mere morsel Of party management.
The London critics have the advantage OF their
negro-hating friends in America in that partic-
nlar. The members Of Congress from the Dor
der States, whose love of Slavery is stronger
than their love Of Union, are exceedingly loud
in their lamentations. The politicians OF the
pot.houses read tho Proclamation, and as they
do so, curse the negro with q renewed yehe-
mence; while tho intelligent masses of the
Northern people accept it with good faith
which we say, without any disrespect to the
President or distrust of his fidelity, will COM
pei good faith in return. 1t matters not, for
the purposes of this argument what may have
been the concealed intentions Of the Govern.
mcnt in making tho Proclamation-t viii be
construed with straightforward liberalism by
men enough at any rate 10 DO troublesome,
whether they may bo in tho majority or not.
Indeed, English gentlemen who have supposed
that tho American people, with oil their fault.
Of character, are so thick.wittci MS to be Tho
easy victims Of official prsilks do not them
selves show any great poy.ers of intelligent oh
srrvAtion. 1t is not to habit of our men il