Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-11
The Presidents PrOclamntiOU--
British and American Neutral-


British and American NeutraI-
iIy.
President JOhnson's proclamation to pre-
vent any "unlawful expedition and enter
prise from the territory and jurisdiction
of the United States, and to maintain the
public peace as.well as the national honor
and enforce obedience and respect to the
laws of the United States" which is aimed
at the Fenian movement on Canada. has
created no little excitement This action
of the President is commented upon very
freely by all classes, some cOndemning and
others approving it, while those opposed to
the Administration gladly seize the oppOr-
tunity, without any regard TO the principle
involved, to condemn Mr.. johnson.
The President, undoubtedly, was placed
in an unfortunate position with regard to
the Fenian movement. On one hand it was
his duty TO see that the laws be enforced
aid that the honor of the United States be
preserved; on the other hand he could not
ignore that public sentiment which runs
against England without endangering his
popularity. There are few people in this
great and free Republic who do not SYM
pathiZe with the movement on account
of the bad faith of England during our
civil war. We can not forget the destruc-
ton of our commerce by the rebel pi-
rates which were sent out of British
waters. The havoc made by the Ala
bama and Shenandoah is fresh in our
minds, and we feel the effects of it yet in our
reduced mercantile marine. The deeds
of those land pirates who crossed over from
Canada to st. Albans and of the hotel in
cendiaries, as well as the other piratical
schemes that were plotted on and carried
out from British territory, necessarily ran
kle in our minds. We are constrained to
say to the Canadians and British Govern
ment: The evils you did us have returned
upon yourselves
We speak here of the people and not of
the Government, which should know moth
ing but its duty and the honor Of the ma
ton. Governments, however, occasionally
strain point one way or the other in such
matter as this, and frequently happen to
accord with public sentiment. We owe
England nothing. We have no sympathy
with her political system or her govern
meut of Ireland. She has shown herselfon
every occasion inimiCal to and JEALOUS of
this country. She fOstered the enemies of
the United States during the war of the
rebellion. She was at peace with us and
ought to have shown her friendship by pre-
venting all this. We might retaliate with
think proper; but our Government prefers
to show the dignity and honor OF the coun-
try in strictly performing its duty, though
in doing so it may act in opposition to puO-
lie sentiment. We are not called upon,
however, to protect the Canadians; let
them protect themselves. Weshould mere
ly be neutral.
Whatever the opinion of the Government
at Washington may be with regard to the
character or imprudence of the Fenian
movement on Canada, it is to be hoped that
the Secretary of State will not be permitted
t. sacrifice feelings OF humanity or do viO-
lence to public opinion in yielding too much
to British demands and vengeance. Mr..
Seward is too apt to toady to foreign Gov
ernmentS and to sacrifice American pride
and interests to their wishes. Let him imi-
tate in the present case the invariable con-
duct of Great Britain, which throws the
protection of its flag over its subjects eve-
ryWhere, right or wrong. Let not our Gov
ernment he too severe itself on those who
the protection possible to its citizens who
may have fallen into the hands of the Brit
iSh.
But, while we are thus displaying so
much zeal in enforcing the laws of neutral
ity and of friendly PNwen,so contrary to
what England did in our war, would it not
be well for Mr.. Seward to remind the Brit
ish Government that the Alabama claims
are not yet settled? We think it is a suita-
bic occasion to demand settlement of those
claims. If England has any conscience in
the matter it ought surely to be moved at
such time. Let Mr.. Seward inform the
British Government that while we can be
magnanimOus to it in its difficulties we ex-
pect justice shall be done to US. The wise
man says there is time for everything, and
we think this is very good time to de-
mand a settlement of the claims growing
out of Great Britain's breach of neutrality
toward the United States.-NeW York Her
dLd.