The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-09
Eeeonstrrction.

John Stuart Mill, the eminent English
Liberal and writer on the Science of
Government, has addressed the following
letter to 8 friend in New York:
AvIeNoE, May 13, 1865.
DEAR SIR: I had scarcely received your
note of April 9Th, so tull Of calm Joy in the
splendid propect now opening to your
country, and through it 10 the world, when
the news came that an Rtrocious crime had
struck down the great citizen who hsd sf-
forded so noble an example Of the qualities
BETTING the first magistrate of q free
people, and who, in the most trying cir
cumstsnees, had gradually won not only
the admiration but almost the personal sf-
lection of all who love freedom, or sppre-
ciste simplicity and uprigbiness. But
tbe loss is ours, not bis. II was
impossible 70 have wished him 8
better end thai the crown Of martyr
dom to his other honors, and to live in the
memory of agrest nation IS those onlv
live who have not OILY labored for their
country but died for it. And he did live
to see the cause triumphant and the con
test virtually over, How different would
our eeliD q now be if this fate had over
taken him, as it might 30 easily have done,
. month soonazl
In England, horror of the crime and
sympathy with your loss seem to be al
most universal, even among those who
4 have disgraced their country by wishing
success to the s~lsveholders. 1 hope the
manifestations which were i-nstsntsneously
made there in almost every quarter may
be received in America as some kind Of
atonement or pesce-otforing. l have new
| or believed that there was any real danger
of q quarrel between the two countries;
but It is of immense importance that We
should be firm friends; and this is our nat
ursI state, for, though there is a portion Uf
the higher and middle cissses OF Great
Britain who so dread and hate democracy
! that fhey cannot wish prosperity and power
70 q democratic people, sincerely believe
that this feeling is not general, even ia our
privileged classes. Most Of the dislike and
suspicion which have existed toward the
United Ststes were the effect of pure igno-
rance ignorance of your history, and ig-
norance Of your feeling and disposition as
8 people. Itis difficult for you to believe
that this ignorance could be as dense as
it reslly Was. But the late events have
begun 10 dizsipate It and if your Govern
ment and people act as [ fully believe they
will in regard to the important questions
which now await them, there win be no
fear Of their being ever again so grossly
misunderstood, st least In the lives of the
present generation.
AS to the mode Of dealing with these
great questions, it Goes not become 8 for
eigner 70 sdvise those who know the ext
gsncies Of the case 80 much better than he
does. But as so many of my countrymen
are volunteering advice to you at this
crisis, perhaps I may be forgiven if 1
offer mine the contrary way. Every
one is eagerly intoxicating g~entleness
and only gentlenesS g. if you
shown any signs Of a disposition to.
take 8 ssvsgs revenge. I have always
been xfrsid of one thing only-thst you
would be too gentle. I should be sorry to
see any life taken after the wsr is over
Except those of the ssssssins) or any evil
inflicted in mere vengeance; but one thing
I hope will be considered absolutely neces-
sary: to break altogether the power of the
s~laveholcing caste. Unless this is done, the
abolition of slavery will be merely nominal.
If an aristocrscy of ex.slsveholders rem ain
masters Of the State Legislatures, they will
be able effsctuslly TO nullify q great part
of the result which hss been so dearly
bought BY the blood of the Free States.
They and their dependents must be eff
factuslY Observation-Disclosures PelliRe
concession Of full equality of political
rights to negroes and by q large imuigra-
ton Of settlers from the North; both of
them being independent by the ownership
Of land. With these things, in addition
TO the Constitutional Amendment (which
will enable the Supreme Court 10 set aside
any State legislation tending to bring
bsck Slavery in disguise), the cause of
Freedom is safe, and the opening words of
the Declaration Of Independence will
ceaseto be q reprosch to the nation found
ed BY its authors.
am, desr sir, yours very truly,
Q 49,