The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-30
Erl!lsh InlrIgues IN American ARaIrs

British InsrIgues in american AFalrs.
While the masses of intelligent Eng
Eshmen, led by such men as John
Bright, Mr. Golden, and the London
News and Star, are sympathizing with
this country, in It's struggle for existence,
and the perpetuity Of free institutions,
the aristocracy are patting the rebels
on the back, and urging them on in
their unholy work.
D'Israeli, in q speech in the House Of
Commons, expressed the prevailing
views Of the tory party, when he de
clared, in defence Of the pirates that
he would gladly see American com
merce swept from the sea. A great
many in this country were startled by
this avowal but it was, nevertheless,
in perfect accordance with the policy
of the political organization to which
he belonged a policy which it has pur-
sued from the hour that our indepen-
dence was reluctantly conceded in 1888.
From the moment the revolutionary
war had ended, a covert hostility was
kept up against our commerce, and every
American vessel which could be over
hauled, was searched, for British soa-
men; and 10 occasion escaped, to in
suit the dignity Of the country, and its
flag. We were, however, weak, at that
time, and compelled TO bear insults
which we could not successfully resent
and it was not till 1872, that we were
prepared to struggle with cur potent
adversary.
From the beginning, tho aristocracy
of England have been intriguing TO Sc
cure the dissolution Of the Union; du-
ring the war Of 1912, an agent was sent
to New England, offering the people Of
that section great inducements to Sc
cede; but the embassy failed; for how
ever much that section was opposed to
the war, it was more firmly and unal-
terably hostile 10 treason. The pre-
vailing feeling Of the British tories, at
that time, is well expressed in the fol-
lowing extract from the Quebec Herald
in 1914;
The humiliation Of the Northern
States is evidently the interest of Great
Britain maritime rivalship is more
70 be dreaded BY the United Kingdom
from the Federal States than from the
Southern States. The more the Eastern
States are crippled the less is that rival
ship to be apprehended, at least for a
time The enmity, then, of the Demo
cratic party 20 the Federalist ought in
good policy TO be rather cherished than
suppressed The more the two parties
weaken each other, the better they
serve the interest Of Great Britain. In
deed, Great Britain needs not better
auxiliary than the jealousy of the
Southern against the Northern States.
The attempt to induce a revolution
in the Northern States having failed as
early as 1912, Immediately, as the above
extract eyinces, Tory attention was
turned to the Southern section, as a
more fruitful field of labor The So
ciety there was aristocratic; and the
nobility and gentiiity Of England felt
a natural sympathy for it, and felt that
it was antagonistic to the democracy
we do not use the term in q party
sense-of the North and that the time
must come, when a collision must oc-
cur; and the result was a systematic
effort to hasten an event which they so
nrdently desired
In 1898, when the tariff of that year
was passed, British ships in the harbor
at Charleston, insultingly threw their
colors to the breeze at haEmast; and
british officers encouraged the malcon-
tents TO take up arms, to resist the en-
torcement of the laws Of Congress; and
private letters from prominent Southern
men clearly demonstrate that the aid
of England was confidently expected,
IN case Of a revolution.
There is no doubt but the aristocracy
Of England would have openly espou-
sed tho cause Of the rebels in this war,
but for the check occasioned by the
constantly increasing influence of the
middle classes, who were from the be-
ginning friendly to US, because they
were fully aware that we were strug-
Cling for the same object for which
they are confronting.
We need have no apprehensions,
however, of British interference in our
affairs; the Ministry which would at
tempt such a thing would at once be
hurled from power, by the representa-
tives Of the people; therefore Tory en-
nifty viii be compelled TO rest satisfied
with the moral support it can give the
rebellion, without the aid of govern