The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-16

second, and even less successful attempt at
the double equestrianism Of the days of 1851.
We are ready, however, to pass by the bad be-
cause of the good contained, laying the
former to the score of naturally weak will
and irritable nerves, and imputing the latter
to that flash of sunlight which has illumined
even a mind so vacillating in its opinions as
that of the Hon. JOHN BELL.
The London Times ON General Grant.
THE London Times is unquestionably pow
erful organ in forming the public opinion of
Great Britain. Its opinions are delivered in
such an oracular way that imperturbable
John Bull has long accepted them as the very
climax of wisdom and astuteness. To be
sures it is not always reliable in its geographi-
cal and general statements in regard to Ame-
rican affairs, having sometimes located New
York on the banks of the Rio Grande, and
announced the startling fact that DANIEL
WEBSTER had been arrested for the murder
of DIR. THEODORE PARKER in Boston. These
trihing mistakes will occur occasionally, Just
as an American editor might say that Dublin
was beautifully located amid the highlands of
Scotland, or that "a mill" was in contempla-
ton between Tom SAVERS and Lord PAL
MEBsToN, whose recent deaths are not ex-
pected to have yet reached our benighted
shore. We do not desire it to be particularly
decided upon the subject Of fact-the philo-
sophical deductions drawn from the premises
are all important.
During the late war the Times was ex-
tremely reliable not only in its assertions, but
also in its prophecies. 1t early announced
that the North lacked the ability to coerce or
force obedience to established authority in the
South. 1t INDUCED in the most fulsome fiat
terry in commenting upon the heroic daring
of the Rebels, and spoke slightingly of North
ern valor-it swallowed and apologized for
the cruel system of human bondage which
existed in the Southern States, and compared
| it avorably with the wel-rewarded labor of
the factory operatives of Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts, forgettul that Manchester,
and Birmingham, and Sheffield, had been
assisted in the hours of their need by generous
appropriations from the very operatives that
it has so ungenerously maligned. But it is in
the region of our politics that the Thun-
derer" is at home. Its American cores
pondents have committed such gigantic
blunders that even stolid England has been
forced to convulse her fat sides with laughter.
We cannot recollect of single instance in
which the Times has fairly or even intelli-
gently-represented any of our great public
measures. 1t never thoroughly caught the
idea of our policy; or, if it did, persistently
misrepresented US.
Among others who have come in for a fair
share of abuse is our Lieutenant General
GRANT, who was generally spoken of as "a
blunderer," "butcher," with very strong in
timations of his being coward if not brute
But for a few weeks past the tone OF the paper
is changing, and General GRANT is patron.
izingly admitted to be a rising young man.
who, if he has the proper opportunity, will yet
make his mark as a fair military COM
mander We have no doubt that the General
will accept this mark of condescension with
becoming modesty, and not be lifted out of
propriety by the compliment. He must feel
somewhat elated, after having by his indomita-
BILE energy crushed to atoms the most gigantic
rebellion the world ever saw, to receive fifty
lines of local notice in the London Times.
We do not regard the hypocritical admira-
ton of the Times as of any special value to
us. 1t comes at wrong time. 1t might
have been considered as a kindly Office when
we were struggling for national life; but
being withheld then, it is simple insolence
now The crocodile sheds tears, but that is
no reason why we should trust ourselves
within reach of its dangerous jaws. If we are
seduced by syren song, we may awake too
late to discover that we are engulfed in the
seething vortex. We fear the Greeks bring
ing gifts" We mistrust the newly awakened
kindness of some Of our English friends
Their soothing cordials and kind nepenthes
may be very pleasant restoratives of former
friendships, but they may turn out to be the
poison of the asp and the venom of the cocka.
trice. We desire to have little more expe.
rience before we can clasp our English
brethren warmly by the hand. They may be
very honest, but there is no harm in being
what the Scotch call "a little canny." Om
circumstances have materially changed within
the past twelve months, and we can imagine
great many reasons why John Bull
should be so desirous of establishing pleasant
relations with us. We desire no conflict will
any foreign nation, much less with one bounC
! to us by so many tender ties. but 1t is neces
, sary for our self-respect, II not to our safety
to be cautious how we make oVertures tC
those who have reason to make every path
/, plain tor their own future easy and com
4 portable travel.