Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-27
The Great English sham.

The indignation Of the English people at
the seizure OF the Florida is both real natu-
raj. The only thing Confederate found on
board was the commission signed by the rebel
Secretary of the Navy Mallory, which pur-
ported to authorize the destruction of Ameri-
can ships. Everything else on board, from
the anchor to the needle, was English. There
was not Confederate inch Of canvas, plank,
nail. or even man on board. All were Eng
lish, and were there for English even more
than for Confederate purposes. Every snip
burned by the Florida resulted in compare
lively paltry advantage to the rebels, while to
the English people the benefits were lncalcu-
liable. by driving neutral commerce to their
shores. Then, too, the Florida was the last
of her class, and her destruction, under any
circumstances, would produce deeper wall
than was raised for the Alabama. 1t would
be hard for the rebel and English ingenuity
combined to replace her under the more
stringent construction Of the neutrality laws
enforced by the firm policy Of the President.
In view of all these circumstances, it is APP
parent that the loss of the Florida would be
lamented, in any case, by our trans-AtlantlG
cousins. Her seizure, however, in neutral
port, enables the tide of English sympathy
for her fate to flow unchecked by the con-
siderations of honor and decent regard to the
opinions OF mankind, which repressed the
expression of feeling and opinion respecting
the loss of the Alabama. 1t is impossible to
determine how much of this loud-mouthed
indignation of the English journals at the So
called invasion of neutral rights, is influenced
by love Of justice, national rivalry and SYM
patty for the South, or self-interest. 1t Is
probable that the considerations Of justice
and fair play, as compared with the other
baser motives, are as grain Of wheat to
barrel of chat. Nothing can be more absurd
or self-stultifying, than the assumption OF
England to act as the champion of Brazil in
this case. No nation in the world has COM
mitted more unblushing crimes against inter-
national law, than England. Her cruisers
have constantly cut out enemy's vessels from
neutral ports, and from the protection of
neutral batteries. By her acts she has de-
barred herself even from protesting against
the comparatively mild offense, if any, Of the
seizure OF the Florida. In view OF the whole
tenor Of history, it is impossible to avoid con-
GLIDING that England, under similar circum-
stances, never would have tolerated the
Florida and other Confederate nuisances. No
assumption of belligerant rights and no neu.
trail port in the world would have shielded
ships commissioned, say, by Irish or New
Zealand rebels, from seizure and confSca-
ton. We like fair play, and we shall observe
it in this, as in every other case, and afford
Brazil every reparation, it, after discussion
and examination of the facts of the Florida
seizure, it shall appear that any wrong has
been done to her. II we are in the wrong we
shall admit it to Brazil-the party aggrieved.
But we detest hypocrisy just as much as we
admire fair play, and insist that England
shall not be permitted to interfere in this
matter, either to counsel, threaten, or to
preach to us.-N. Y. Sun, Nou. 2Sth.