New-York tribune., 1867-07-15
E1RL RUSSgLHS CONFESSION.


1t is n sort of fatality attaching TO some men
that when, having committed m error, they
undertake TO confess it, th, retraction is as far
wrong on the one side rs was the original mis-
take on the other. Earl Russell is one OF those
persons, and his speech at the Garrison break
fast in London is an illustration of his eccen-
tricity. Doubtless he meant. 20 DO an honorable
act, and it is quite possible he supposed himself
to be making a complete confession of his sins
in respect to America, and an ample declaration
of repentance for them. But what were the
oilenses of the noble Earl against the Republci
If we are to take his own account OF them,
they were so slight that we might well afford
to have forgotten or forgiven them long ago.
Lord Russell says: "Well, now, have my own
faults to acknowledge, because | certainly
Thought that when the Slave States of
" America endeayored to establish their inde
"pendence, and at the same time TO perpetuate
:" the institution of Slavery, the Northern
Estates ought at once to have proclaimed
"not only their adherence, but the abolition
"and destruction of Slavery That is really
the sole error which Lord Russell now con-
fesses for. what follows, viz, that he did not
do Justice to the Government and to Mr.. Lin
coin, is only a corollary of that. In acknowl-
edgment of his mistake the noble Lord now
says that Mr.. Adams convinced him that Mr.
Lincoln did all it was possible to do, and
" that we are bound TO give our tribute of
"admiratiOn to the excellent policy which Mr..
Lincoln and his Government pursued" That
is ALL and it involves both great reservation
and great leap beyond what he need have
said in expation of this particular sin.
Attention should be drawn to these dis
crepances particularly, because it is asserted
that Earl Russell has acknowledged his wrong
doing in the matter of the fitting out of the
Alabama, and other overt acts OF hostility
against the United States. That would have
been confession worth making, and might
have simplifed the diplomatic controversies
existing between the two Governments. Our
real grievance was and is, that by the tolera-
ton of the British Government the Alabama
and other Rebel cruisers had been fitted out in
the ports Of Great Britain, and that by the
public authorization of that Government those
ships had been welcomed and reftted in British
ports all over the world, without which their
career Of piracy had ended much sooner than
it did. We speak Of this as our real
grievance, but might properly say that it was
one act in continuing policy which was orig
mated and sustained by Earl Russell; of pol
icy which, in the beginning, put Great Britain
on the side of the Confederacy, and for four
years kept her the steadfast friend of the Re-
bellion. That is the indictment against Lord
Russell, and he cannot avoid the sentence to
be passed against him in history by pleading
guilty to mistake of sentiment merely, and
ignoring the tremendous consequences which
attended his uninterrupted career of enmity to
the Republic. Nor is Earl Russell more fortu-
nate in his declaration that Mr.. Lincoln did all
it was possible to do in the work of restora-
ton and emancipation. If his Lordship was
wrong in believing that Mr.. Lincoln did moth
ing, he is equally wrong in asserting that MIR.