The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-16
Another Flock of Curses Coming Home to
RoOst.


In the proceedings Of Parliament, as given us
by the latest arrival, we end the following:
"In the House Of Commons on the I'd instant, Mr.
GREGORY moved an address TO the Queen in favor
Of establishing the p1incue that private property 81
sea should be free from capture. He said 1t was
almost su cidal in England to allow things to remain
they are, for i The eUent Of she 1ooud lose her
entire carrying trdds.
"1he subject was debated pre- and con. by nume-
rous speakers.
"Ihe Lord Advocate said it was impossible for the
Government to give assent to It, The effect II
red out would be to tie up the hands OF the Govern
mspt when they ought to be as free as possible.
"The Attorney. General also opposed the measure
as most importic and diilcul OF adoption.
'1he measure was finally Withdrawn"
At last the stolid British brain has been
penetrated by one idea; at last it begins to
perceive that the golden rule, although con-
veniently forgotten when selfinterest is to be
consulted, is in the long run decidedly COM
mendable Christian sentiment. So that now,
after having for years proceeded on the doc
trine that might makes right, the gentlemen
commoners have awoke to the fact it is bet
ter to commence at once to do unto others as
they would be done by. While the
seizure Of private property by priyateers
tended to east into the lap of British mer-
chants all the vast carrying trade which had
heretofore been divided between them and
Americans, she was unceremoniously in favor
of subjecting it to capture. 80 long as no
American flag could protect from Anglo-Rebel
cruisers those who sailed beneath it, that long
did Great Britain desire that the present
iniquitOus law should continue part and por-
ton OF the international code. But now the
chickens are coming home in 6ocks to roost,
and their owners have commenced to view
them rather in the light Of psstilential nui-
sances than welcome visitants.
Great Britain fears the Fenian movement
It matters not whether il be ridiculous vision
OF a desired but impracticable, or whether it
be indeed the dangerous and potent conspi-
racy Of able and daring men. The effect
upon her nerves has been such that "not
Poppy nor Mandragora, nor all the drowsy
syrups of the world, can give her that sweet
sleep that she ow'st yesterday" She
| believes that the movement is formidable,
she believes that sympathy exists in
America with its object, and she fears that
Fenian privateers may soon prey on her COM
merce as her privateers under Rebel flags did
on ours. And she knows full well that the
same thing would be the result. Importers
and shipping merchants, fearing lest their
goods would be seized by these fell destroyers
of the sea, will immediately look around for
some flag beneath whose folds her merchan-
bo of ha ruo,,11 ha hot
all their carrying trade would fall into
Americans hands. The words of Mr.. GRE
| CORY are most appropriate and, true-that
the present "state of things was suicidal' to
England, and therefore he moved an address
to the Crown.
1t seems to have been entirely forgotten by
| the debaters of the motion that the assent of
any other power than Great Britaia was at all
necessary; that should such a modification in
| her laws bo made, all other nations would be
compelled to instantly order the reception of
| the amendment as part Of the international
! law. The refusal Of the British Government
on previous occasion to give its consent to
the engrafting into the code of nations pro.
vision similar to that which is now before Par
lament places the Ministry in an ex-
| tremely awkward predicamenta If they
should now yield they would stuItify
themselves in the eyes of the world; if they
refuse they will expose their commerce to
the loss of the vast carrying trade which lis
the apple of the eye to English merchants. AS
there was a possibility that the revolt OF
the Fenians and the launching Of their vessels
might be only an apprehended danger, while
it was q well-ascertained and incontrovertible
fact they would bave displayed an inconsis-
tency had they adopted Mr.. GREeeBH's mo-
ton; therefore we aRd that by the Govern
ment making ii party question, its defeat
Was secured. We do not envy the feelings OF
the British people. With record to which
they must stand steadiast, or else be inconsis-
tent, they must lie On the bed which, although
heretofore Of down, may yet be turned to
J thorns. They have violated the true doctrines
of advancement in their conduct during the
American war, and now, when their own
heme is threatened, they must continue to
carry the load which, once SO remunerative, is
now becoming burden, They dare not turn
back. having put their hand TO the plough
but must walk in the path once so pleasant
now growing more dreary.
The passage by Congress Of the Registra'
ton law will become of vast import should
any of the anticipated dangers to Great