New-York tribune., 1868-12-17

MIR. BRIGnT-MR. REvERDY JOHNSON AND iI. Iiin
woRKINGMEN-THE ELECTIONS AND THE
NOTABLE MEN IN THE C0UNTiES-ItIE COM
ING CABINET.
IPRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON. Nov 2S-A very desperate effort is max
ing TO bolster Mr.. Reverdy Johnsons Alabama bar
gain, and to modify American indignation against
Mr. johnson himself. For this purpose the LaifuS
and Roebucks keep themselves temporarily IN the
background, and put forward the worklngmeh anu
Mr. Bright in their places The move is a clever one
but il is too transparent to deceive anybody III
America, nor will even the great naVle VI
Mr. Rrobt do the DOOR service to which men who
hate him and us are seeking to put 1t.
fear il is only too true that Mr. Bright is going 10
the Birmingham dinner with what object IL Is no'
difficult to see For Mr.. Bright, though one OF inc
truest friends of America is after all an EDgshma
and looks at the Alabama question from an English
pont of view In the interests of both countries he
desires settlement. and in the interest of his own
he nartcularly desires such a settlement Mr.. Rev
erdy Johnson has conceded to the diplomacy of Lord
Stanley. To forward both Objects he is willing to
ignore the history of Mr. Johnsons career in England
Nobody believes that John Brightin his heart does
not despse Mr. johnson, and the base arts by when
he has sought the favor of his countrys worst enc
mics in England. venture to predict that he Will
expend no professions of respect for the American
Minister at tho Birmingham dinner, or elsewhere
His speech will be made TO promote the Alabama SET
tlement and nothing else. lament, and am sure
his friends in America will lament, that Mr.. Bright
should, for any purpose, try TO cover 80 great ah
offender with the hem of his shining mantle. Mat
ters have gone 80 far that il will not help the object
of his diplomatic charity, and must wound those
whom it is meant TO conciliate. But Mr.. Brlghts
services to America are too splendid TO be dlmmed by
one inconsderate or mistaken act the good motive
of which no one-certanly not lean question. we
will agree to forget ii as soon as possible.
Nothing has yet appeared equal to the address OF
the birmingham Town Council TO Mr. Reverdy
Johnson In this document appears the ripest fruit
of the Joint talents of Micawber and Pecksniff and
Chadband, and host of worthless hitherto supposed
IN live only in fiction but now TO be members OF
the municipal government of Birmingham. Elijah
PoQram il another of that worshipful company, and
with him. but out Of another gallery steps familiar
hut gigantic pair OF legs in plush. The Burgesses OF
birmingham, desiring not to be among the last OF
the great cities TO dohomage to His Exccllency" con-
| graduated him upon transaction concluded
by the instrumentality Of His Excelloncy aud
Lord Stanley" which the Burgesses regard as
the victory OF religion and morality enforced by
reason over the baser feelings Of human nature,
| and as q glorious proof OF the continued
advance of tho great principles OF truth ana justice
side by side with civilization in its progress through
the nations Of the earth" Tho Divine blessing, the
Bureesses inform us, was bestowed Of old upon
peacemakcrs. but as they seem TO be in doubt
whether tho Deity Will favor Mr.. johnson so far,
they provide him. ad interim, with blessing of their
| own Blessed indeed are the peacemakers, who, by
preventing painful arrangements, bring together
the hands of hesitatng kindred which " 1t has been
the privilege and happiness Of Your Excelloncy and
| Lord Stanley TO efect'-with much more Thodornon-
| tade In the same high vein, all given " under one
common corporate SEAL and meant TO be swallowed
suppose, seal and all, by American Minister and
American people Perhaps we may have ashght
satisfaction in finding that the unkeyism that has
Inundated us all H. not all one side much as we
have TO regret that an Englsh manifestation OF 1t
| should come from Mr. Brights constituents.
| The workingmens demonstration in behalf OF the
| American Minister has gone through curious aud
various phases. As i believe wrote you, when q
| proposition or suggestion that dinner might be
| given Mr.. johnson by the workingmen was first
| made at the Legation IL met with cold reception
IL not an absolute negative Perhaps that was before
| Mr. johnson knew in what straits be stood at home
| aud before his Tory friends had suggested TO him
| that a certificate from the workingmen might be
| well received in Democratic America. At any rate
| the managing men of the scheme went on 10 invite
| lIs
and announcing in the newspapers what COM
many might be expected. Not many genuine
| workingmen were of the number The head
| Of the movement was Mr. Robert COningsby
| n man of restless vanity and glad Of such
notoriety as dining with Mr.. Johnson might give
| him. Mr. Applegarth is, believe a more trusted
| leader among the artisans. and was simply mised by
the astonishing silence Of the English papers, few OF
which have permitted their readers TO know any
thing Of the resentment felt in America against Mr.
| johnson. They announced, as one invited guest
| Mr.. Mill, who declined to go; and, as another Mr.
| Thomas Hughes The presence Of either would have
been as painful surprise in America the presence
| of Mr. Bright at tho Birmingham dinner. Mr. Hughes
did at first accept meaning to solely for the sake
! of making q Radical speech-such as. l fancy, Mr..
| Johnson has not yet heard in England. But Mr..
| Hughes thought better of it, and finally withdrew
| his acceptance absolutely This combined with
other influences TO break up the dinner. They
propose now to have q meeting instead,
| but il seems likely enough that the artisans are
getting to understand Mp Johnson and to learn what
his true position is at home and that they mean to
| drop him altogether. You may be sure that such
genuine radicals as for instance, Mr. g. j. Holyoake
will not be found In any movement TO honor a
| recreant American.
The counties continue 10 go Tory not all of them,
but preponderance that Is as striking the Liberal
| majority in the boToughs. The figures speak for
! themselves. OF the English county members there
are So Liberal 128 Tory of the English boroughs 2l3
Liberal 10 9i Tory In Scotland and Ireland the rule
does not hold The Scotch counties return % Liberals
| to Tories; the Irish SG to q. Since Wednesday.
when last wrote the Liberal majority has been cut
down to 49, and is likely go little lower, but not
much.