New-York tribune., 1868-12-17
PFVFPDY ON HIS KNEES.

last publication. The sententious Cable tells
us:
"Mr. johnson jusiihes his friendly Intercourse with
Lard and other gentlemen friendly TO tho South during
the late civil war IN America, bU The example, Of Gems
Grant and Sherman in their treatment OF eX.Rebel ON
GERS II he GuHy OF treason 90 also are Grant ana
Sherman. Gen. Grant has entertained at his own house
a distinguished Confederate leader. He ascrbes the
attacks upon him. in the American newspapers and else
where to secret dislike Jo he resTraiioH Of Peaced
relations between the two countries.'
| The charge which Mr.. Smalley brings against
Alr. Reyerdy Johnson is that, rs the representa-
tive of the American Government, lac has osten-
| tatiously sought to do honor to men who have
been conspicuous for their cnmity to America.
| MIR. johnson cOnfesscs this, but makes plea in
bar of Judgment. He has done nothing that
| Gen. Grant would not do, and 10 is attacked
by the newspapers here because we have
secret dislike" TO peace with England
Mr.. johnson went to England under circum-
stances of more than ordinary distinction. He
had been many years III public life. During the
war no was as much of Union man as could
be expected from a Maryland politician. a
Democrat and the nominee of Democratic
President, he had been unanimously confirmed
by q Republican Senate. He was prominently
the ambassador of the whole people We did
not send him to the British Court as
party man, but as an American, charged to
defend the honor Of his country and preserve,
as far as possible, peaceful relations with En-
gland. Above all things it was hoped that his
wisdom, his experience, and his conservative
temperament would do much toward removing
every trace of ill-will between the two coun-
| tries and settling all questions nj issue,
especially the questions arising out OF the
depredatiOns of the British vessel Alabama.
We presumed he wOuld meet many En-
glishmen who did not sympathize with us
during the war. lie would most probably
be brought into relations with Lord Rus
sell, who made such swift haste to give
rebellion belgerent rights and to humiate us
after the accidental capture of Mason ana Sill
dell We felt sure he would have conferences
with Mr.. Gladstone, whose imagination once
scared into rhetorical recognition of the
| Southern Confederacy, and the exaltatiOn OF
| Mr Davis to the rulership of a sovereign peo-
| ple. We did not require him to make any dis
tinctions in his treatment of the English people
based upon their feelings toward the North
and South. There were two classes of
Englshmen - those like Mr.. Gladstone
whose fancy, or perhaps whose preju-
dice, had swept them into an indiscreet
fondness Tor the Southern people, especially for
types of men like "Stonewall' jackson. With
them VIC had merely an intellectual differ
ence of opinion, which events have determined
There were those who not only sympathized
with the South, but even went so far rs to
transgress the laws of England to give the
South aid They did not even have the poor
merit which belongs to Jefferson Davis, of be-
lieving that they were an oppressed people
struggling for freedom. But for money, for
hatred-because they saw in the downfall of
the American Republic another argument
against progress and liberty, they made them
selves the allies Of an armed rebellion, aud the
enemies of the United States
Mr.. Laird was q conspicuous example. In de-
fancc of the orders of the Queen, he built yes
sells to destroy the commerce of America Many
! good ship went down under their guns. Lord
! Wharnclifie was prominently a leader of the
| English anti-American sentiment, and accepted
| the chairmanship of society avOwedly cstab
lished to aid the Rebellion. Mr.. Roebuck in his
| violent, coarse way, was the lusty champion
of rebellion in the House of Commons. His
enmity took him all the way to Paris to coax
the South. Here were three Englislmen who
were as much in the Rebel interest as though
they had taken up arms under Gen. Lee. Mr.
Johnson's mission might bring him into Tela-
tions with them. No one expected that he
would exhibit the least discourtesy What
the duty of his Office required was proper
! and nothing more But the duty of his
Office certainly did not require him to
meet them in friendship, to make them speeches
of adulation, to single out Lord Wharncliffe as
n man dear to America, to publicly welcome
| Mr. Roebuck as his friend even while he
assailed America with a disgusting criticism,
! and to proudly salute Mr. Laird before a com
pany Of English gentlemen. All this Reverdy
johnson did, and when the Cable flashed to us the
story of his deeds every American blushed with
shame. 1T is no excuse to quote the example
Of Gen. Grant. There is vast difference be-
! tween the attentions shown TO Gen. Long
street by the President elect and those
| showered upon Mr.. Laird Gen. Longstreet
! is q soldier who fought in mistaken
cause, who was beaten, and who accepted de-
feat like n soldier and a gentleman. He used
his influence to restore peace lle had rislled his
life for what he believed to be his duty. Mr.
Laird risked his money for what his Queen
told him was a crime and in a contest in which
he had neither part nor lot. He sent out ships
TO destroy the commerce Of nation with
which he was at peace. lie was a mere pirate
| covering under the English DAG, NAY. if he