The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-07-07
j. RUSSELL.
EXTRACT OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL SPEECH IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS. way 30. 1901.

EXTRACT OF LORD JOHN RIssELLs SPEECH N THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAY 80, 1861.
Ny honorable, friend, the member for the
West Riding of Yorkshire. alluded the other
night to one subject in u tone which L was very
sorry to hear used by any one. My honorable
FREUD said that " the great republican bubble
in America had burst" Now, sir, | am proud
to contest may be subject to correction-but,
for my part, when | find that a dark and tyran-
meal despotism has been abolished, and that
people are likely to enjoy free government in its
place. | rejoice. 1t is my duty To represent her
Majesty as friendly t. all existing States; but II
"a despotic government fail, and the people who
have been subjected to it are likely to obtain
better and trcer government, | cannot conceal
that it gives me satisfaction, and that | sympa-
thize with them. But | own | have very d fer
eut feelings when Il great republic, which has
enjoyed for seventy or eighty years institutions
under which the people have been free and happy,
enters into Il conflict in which that freedom and
happiness is placed i'll jeopardy, | must say the
10y which | felt ut the overthrow of the dcspotisms
of Italy is c1unterballnced By the pain which |
experience ut the events which have lately taken
place in America. | admit that have thought,
and that ! still think, we enjoy more real freedom
than the United States have ever done. admit,
also, that the great founders of that republic.
wise and able men as they were, had not the
materials at hand by which they could interposc,
as we are able to do in this country, the curb
and correction of reason in order to restrain the
passionate outhursts of the popular will. Yet
we cannot be blind To the fact that the republic
has been for many years a great and free State,
exhibiting to the world the example of Il people
in the enjoyment of wealth, happiness and free
dom, and aiiordmg bright prospects OF the pro-
gre>s and Improvement of mankind. Neen |
reflect that the reprolches which are east by the
States of the North upon the States Of the South,
aud the resistance which they have called forth.
have arisen from that accurscd Institution OF
slavery. Isannot but recollect also that with our
great and glorious institutions we gave them that
curse, and that ours were the hands from which
they received that fatal gift of the poisoned gar
ment which was flung around them from the first
hour of their establishment. Therefore | do not
think it just or seemly that there should he
among us anything like exultation at their dis
cord, and still less that we should reproach them
with an evil for tire origin of which We are Uur-
selves to blame. These are the feelings with
which | heard the remarks of my honorable
friend the other night, and | must say that |
believe the sentiment which he expressed forms an
exception to the general impression in England.
Indeed, | think nothing could be more honorable
to our country than the prevailing pain and
grief which have been Occasioned by the prospect
of that great and free people being about to
rush into arms to destroy each others happiness
and FIRE dom.