The Portland daily press., 1866-04-03
American Neutrality.

American IN -etrA-. ft
swell persuaded as am" says wise and
genial philosopher, "that two and two make
four, yet if any learned, sober and godly man
should desire to argue with me thereon, /
would patiently listen unto him." Whether
the Advertiser displays the qualifications OF
learning, soberness aud godliness, may well be
doubted, but we shall not decline the argu-
ment to which it invites us. To us, the notion
of American citizens maintaining a position
of neutrality while the country is involved in
war, seems too absurd to need exposure. One
would think the mere statement enough to
disclose to the dullest apprehension the shall
lowness Of the pretence. Nevertheless as the
Advertiser 'desires to argue thereon" we pro-
coed to examine its reasonings. I'D -.le %: I,
Perhaps the most forcible illustration OF
inpossibility Of this loyal neat, atty next to
the juxtaposition of the words themselves, is
found in the following sentence already quot
ed from Mr. Lynch's speech: ~ i .sbnaill
Every American ship-owner who once sail
81 under the flag of England, during the re-
bellion, had precisely the same pecanaary IN
terest in the destruction of American COM
merce, as had the English ship-owner.
"But that" says the ADVERTISER, sis mere
dogmatical defamation and untrue as dog
matical," and goes on to talk of "imput!ns
motives" in a vein which discloses an mex
cusabIe misapprehension of Mr.. Lynch's Ian
guage. Mr.. Lynch says nothing about mo-
tives; says only what cannot be denied, tina,
so far as the destruction Of American COM
merce was of advantage to the English carry
ing trade, IL was of advantage to American
owners whose vessels sailed under English
colors. Mr.. Lynch seems to have thought it
unnecessary to dwell upon the position of an
American citizen who finds himself so stuat-
ed that his pecpniary interest is promoted by
his country's misfortunes. We have nothing
to do with any mans "motiyes !" but the STU
alton in which such a man finds himself is, to
say the least. unbecoming. s 1s il 81. 1
The Advertiser for the second time protests
its inability to see any difference sin morals.
in policy, or in loyalty, between escaping with
your endangered ship from belligerent priva
teers to neutral flag, and escaping with the
same ship to neutral waters until the danger
is over" The Advertiser has not been dis
tinguished oflate for any nicely of discrimin-
alton in matters pertaining to "morals, policy.
or loyalty" 1t is difficult to explain to
blind man, how colois can distinguish objects
otherwise unlike. If we remember rightly
:, the Advertiser three years ago published will
appreciation speech made at Augusta by Mr.
Smith of Westbrook, in which that gentleman
held that the success of The Southern Confed-
eracy was assured, that the then line ofNorth-
em States would not hold together, and that
Maine for one would naturally gravitate. to
the Canadas. Absurd as this political prophe-
cy now seems, it might have become history.
In casting the horoscope of his country, Mr..
Smith omitted but one element. But that
was most important element. He neglected
to estimate the devotion of his countrymen to
the Constitution and laws. They will under
stand, though the Advertiser may not, that
there is a difference between the act Of an
American merchant captain who runs his
ship into neutral waters with her saucy flag
still flying, leaving the bafied enemy st,llenly
turning on his heel, and of another who hauls
down his country's ensign and sneaks across
So far as the question pertains to morals, it
is this: Is lying to be sanctioned by the Am
erican Congress American citizens pretend
ed during the war to have transferred their
property to English hands. Now the war is
over, they admit that the transfer was a sham
and a trick, whereupon Congress- saws inner.
turbabiy., No, gentlemen. Won mast keen Won,
IL :.
;o,, 90 ,.,,,,u.,.;.,. .......u .,-,. - ~
aoo' .on III 'nno VI war
WIN no' Soon p.eVaii on 'nis eohtinent or any
other. The difference in point of LOYALTY. we
have already treated pretty fully, recognizing
that as the branch of the enquiry which the
Advertiser would naturally find most OBJ
scure. 3D.. - :, ''''
The most specious-in fact the only really
specious argument produced by the Adcertis
er is this: --..... ~
That man who recklessly exposes his own
properly 70 aestructlon, wnen by prudent
neither a benefactor tn his nation. his fam;,r
nor himself. ...-
1t is quite possible that many of the men,
who sought the protection of foreign flag for
their property, were influenced by reasoning |
like this and were honestly unable to detect
the fallacy which poisons it. This NAV be. or
may not; we have nothing to do with motives.
But suppose we strike out two or three words. |
which beg the question: suppose we strike |
out "recklessly," and substitute "adroit Ivino,
for prudent counsel" so that the amended
That man Who Iro,,,..,
nronertv to destruction snhi exposes ms own
he might save it with certa;n,n' Soro n.. tyeng
benefactor to his nation, his family nor h;r,
self. Hvcs --e..'.
This proposition is not So, satisfactory 70 -,
tional minds. There is something better than
in this world. Not least amono thu
of the war, is the nroof 90
prand,v afforded. that the American 49,
- 1t oolIod g. O. peop'e
Ivy - -, n'''on
o. snopKeepers. Aosofpeu III ilaterial pur-