The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-05-04

Lecture NJ, r. M. esnRseyAnt, y. D..
nj CLARK street. NJ. e. ChNrchs.etate
81 English opinion IN RegarA -
8 eur COunt1ys n rs

NJ CLARK Nsreet NJ. e. ChNrchs.otas q
Of English opinion IN Regard 90
eur Country. nj f
In Difference to request made some
time since, Rev. J. n. Sturtevsnt, D. D.,
of Jacksonville, Illinois, delivered leo
ture last evening il the Clark street VI.
E. Church, on the opinions entertained
by Englishmen at home on the American
struggle, and the differences Of sympathy
expressed by them. There was very
large attendance, and the speaker w
: listened to with great interest. He was
introduced, on behalf Of the Committee Of
gentlemen who invited him to deliver his
lecture-by Col. Hammond. The follow
ing is an abstract OF his discourse.
The object of the lecture was to ex-
hibit the present state Of British opinion
and feeling towards the great American
conflict, and to assign its causes. The
speaker dwelt briefly on the Importance
of the subject, as throwing much Light on
the present and prospective relations of
Britain to the cause of civilization and
freedom, and tending to awaken in the
minds of the American people higher
and a juster sense Of the preciousness Of
our own free institutions.
He then classified the English people
as follows
First, A limited number Of persons
who understand the American conflict
most accurately, it's causes. the true char
acter of the political struggles which pre-
ceded it, the designs, of the insurgents,
and the progress Of events and of Ameri-
can opinion since the war commenced,
aud who are in the closest sympathy with
the Federal Government in its efforts to
suppress the rebellion and restore the
Union on the basis of universal liberty.
A second class are the true and sincere
friends of liberty and are the advocates of
the liberty of the negro. bat who have
been thrown out of sympathy with the
North by total misapprehension of the
relations of the Republican party, and the
present Administration to the system of
slavery, they having been made extern
sively to believe that the best hope of
abolishipg slavery lies in the triumph of
the South and the dispoilation OF the In
ion. Mr.. Beecher's hearers we're largely
OF this class. Many of them are candid
and thankful for being informed and set
right.
A third class are or profess to be the
incorporating enemies of negro slave
~, but have adopted the extreme peace
principles of Elihu Burritt aud his fellow
laborers. They think it wrong ever to
take up arms, and that ifthe South wishes
to secede, we are bound to let her 90 with
out striking blow or shedding one drop
of blood. Their view is in one form or
another, held by very large numbers of
the English people. Some of the class
are sincere and amisble enthusiasts, but
many are hiding under cloak of zeal for
peace, intense hatred of our institutions
and sympathy with the shareholders re-
bellion.
Judging from his own observation, the
rpeaker does not believe that all these
three classes taken together are more than
minority of the nation, though of the
proportion be acknowledges his liability
TO misjudge.
Of the remainder Of the English people,
not unbia ed in either of these classes, he
believed that they very earnestly desire
the dissolution Of the American Union,
and the success of the Southern Confed
Grey as means to that end. Not that
they like it, or wish to appear as its ad-
vocates and friends. But they value j.
as wood splitter does his wedge, simply
as means of producing division. they
do not believe a restoration of the Union
possible, and they think US loyal Am
orleans mad, because we think otherwise.
This view is held by every man of our
best friends, and among others, by tina,
eloquent advocate of the North, Newman
Hale.
Yet the great body Of the English peo-
Pile are by no means in favor of the pre-
sent recognition of the rebel government
as an Independent nation not because
they do not desire and expect it to be.
come such, and in the course OF time to
recognize it, but they are opposed to pre-
sent recognition as likely 70 involve them
in . war with the United States, and post
pone rather than hasten the realisation OF
their wishes. The British Government
aud people are not at varience with Roe
buck and his fellow agitators, Is to the
result to be obtained, but only IS to the
means Of obtaining it. = 80 - a's =
What, then, are the causes which have
thrown the slavery hating Governmen,
and people of Britain into position SC
strange and unnstural1 1t has not hap.
pened by accident, but is the result Of
great permanent, organic causes. The
Press. the Times, the Saturday Review,
have done all which public Journals, con.
Quoted with consummatc skill and ability,
could do to I'll the public mind with
prejudice aud bitterness against the
North, and to create disgust and con.
tempt at the character and institutions
ofonr country. But they could have ac-
complished but little, had they not given
utterance 10 what WIS in the national
mind and heart. They have been be.
lieved and followed becauee they told ths
falsehoods the people wished and rejoiced
to believe.
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