, 1866-09-07

men VINO oIeCteu CheS6 ueIy IepISS6uGd-
tives must long have seen that what
America wants is not passionate demon
~stration and administration. If foolish
words are to be taken into account when
laws are being made, the Americans may
as we'll be reminded, though not in an
ill-spirit, that it was not England that
began the unwholesome work of irrita-
ton. The organs of slavery had been at
that work for years and years, and the
columns of the slave journals, including
those of the leading press of America,
were necessarily labouring to create the
worst animosity between the countries.
ably aided by Irish runagates who had
preferred voluntary to involuntary trans
portation. But surely such considerations
are beneath the notice of a great people
when engaged in legislature. This Jour
nal may be permitted to enforce this
view of the case /; for we can fearlessly
fling open our files and defy the angriest
critic to find an article ia which at the
height of the war the American difficulty
was spoken of except with a sincere re-
greet. And as we are, we believe, nearly
the only exception TO the rule that no
English paper is largely read among the
American masses, we are the more de-
sirous not TO lose an opportunity of in
culcating a better and more Christian-like
philosophy than appears to be prescribed
by the organs of the States. We do
not pretend TO assert that the feeling
which is shared by thousands Of Ameri-
cans has no justification, but We do as
sert, with perfect confidence, that the
English nation as a whole has done moth
ing TO deserve American enmitv, and the
qualification with which the late grand
triumph Of science has been witnessed
here is in a large degree due TO the be-
lief that the electric wire will teach the
two nations to understand, and therefore
esteem, each other better.
Instead of violating the great rule, of
her observance of which America has been
SO Justly proud, and instead of retro
grading in civilization rather than ad-
vancing, it would be worthier of her
diplomacy and her skill to propose that
England should advance towards the
position at present occupied by the Unit
ed States in this neutrality question.
We do not say that England is prepared
to place herself exactly where America,
so differently situated in regard to ma
tural advantages and distance from other
great nations, can safely abide /; but it
would certainly be with the assent of the
English nation that measures should be
framed to obviate the recurrence of the
special complaints made by our American
relatives. Feeling this, and believing
that only a part of the people of the
United States are active in the matter,
and that these are acting under leader
ship which, had they an opportunity,
they would disclaim, and believing,
also, that the friendship which was
somewhat disturbed by the war is be-
coming stronger and stronger again, we
should be glad TO see a ~postponement of
a legislation which is avowedly based on
displeasure. Practically, such legislation
cannot excite apprehension or the part
of q nation like ours, but we wish TO see
questions treated in a nobler spirit than
that which merely inquiries how much
harm can be done. IF statesmen would
institute the reverse inquiry before legis-
lating it would be well for the world.
Father Secchi, of Rome, has construct