New-York tribune., 1868-11-04
FOREIGN NEWS.
GREAT BRITAIN.

GREAT BRITAIN.
DIR MIsREPREsENTATIyE IN LoNDON-THE ENG
LIsH PRESS LECTURES MR.. REVERDY JOHN
soN-THE MEANING OF THE LAIRD-JoHNsON
FRATERNIZATION.
IPRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, Oct. 2l-An0ther English Liberal journal
raises ts voice to warn Mr. Reverdy Johnson against
his contemplated alliance with Mr.. Laird. have
quoted copiously from the Nors; now have to add
this singing paragraph from the Star:
"Mr Reyerdy Johnsons courtesy 10 the enemies Of the
bad odor with his own conntrymen Since his appear
ance at sheeld leading Republican journals have
with the utmoe severity and In than one quarter
there has been cry for his recall His consenng TO at
table S SG @ ss M
rcension Afforded and his kindly mention OF Lord Mhar
cife a mau no, to Mr. Laird. the Americans have
the greatest to dees have all contributed 70 r
tate his counirymen against MT johnson 70 tne ngnes'
degree IL remembered that he IL Southern man.
that he always sympathzed with secession hd hal hs
to It's friends here are not ac'dehs ost aS
ly Of ali s that al English Journal should nave Louu
necessary TO Mr. johnson not to attend me paques
At Liverpool n Mr. Laird IL 10 be Invited That hh
American Minister should need TO have his own nsniy
aud that OF his nation In the keeping OF stTangrIs ION con
II Mr. ReyeIdy johnson ait down with the builder of the
Alabama the Liverpool banquet nothing can save Inn
from instant recall
The Star ia right Americans do feel keenly the hu-
initiation of seeing their Minister draw down upon
himself these just ebukes. and warnings that seem
likely TO be Intellectual On tho other hand, the Tory
organs have taken up the joint defense OF Mr Kew
erdy johnson and Mr. Laird. The Standard insists
that the programme shall be carried out 10 the letter.
the Anglo Rebels who filled this bitter cup for the
mouth mean that il shall be drained. The Amer
lean Minister says the Tory organ. lis far too high
minded n statesman 10 be Influenced by the unworthy
considerations which are urged as reason why he
n - A.. I.t.. ~. "
Il puts forward wholesale defense Of Laird and
his pirate building policy. and the article Is so
plainly inspired by Laird himself that but one con-
clusion can be drawn. When it was written. the
thing had been talked over. Mr. johnson had pri-
vately communicated his perfect willingness to meet
Mr. Laird. and it agreed that the plot should be
publicly defended.
Mr. johnson has succeeded in establishing relations
that will strike loyal Americans somewhat peculiar
We know toerably we'll that the Tory journals hated
and assailed us throughout the war that the Liberal
journals were and the true friends Of the Union.
II question arose respecting the American Minister,
we should expect 10 find the Tories attacking him,
the Liberals defending IL IL Mr.. Reyerdy johnson
himself who has chosen TO reverse this natural order
of things and who has contnvcd TO make himself an
object of suspicion TO the Liberals and object OF
admiration 10 the enemies of his country have no
reason 10 suppose that Mr Johnson has yielded
to these remonstrances. The debate has run
high both here and among the Alabama
builders of Liverpool They little expected to raise
such storm When il broke. they still meant to
defy IT, and hence the articles in The Standard but
am informed. on authority cannot doubt. that they
have evoked one protest from a very different quar-
ter Lord Stanley himself sent word TO the pro-
moters of this banquet that rather than bring Mr..
n Iob, top thay. do ell
to abandon the dinner. Ho dreaded the effect In
America As diplomatist. his reputation is pledged
to the settlement In some way of the Alabama
claims He does not want to have to discuss them
with a Minister whose power is in danger Of being
DESTROYED by the resentment Of his insnlted and
indignant countrymen. But his advice has not
been taken. The dinner Is to go on, but
the protest of Lord Stanley, which must be
understood as dictated wholly by diplomatic con-
sideratons-may possibly succeed in keeping
Mr. johnson and Mr. Laird apart. The latter will be
sure TO hear Of Lord Stanleys wish and may respect
Il 80 far as TO abstain from going to the dinner. IL
we are saved the disgrace of that meeting we shall
not owe 10 TO Mr.. Johnsos sense OF what Is due to
his country nor to his respect for the opinion OF the
friends Of his country We shall owe It, verify be-
leve wholly TO the interested interference OF the
Foreign Secretary Of Great Britain and IL Is not yet
certain that even his interposition will save Mr..
Reyerdy johnson from the suicidal folly which he
has intended TO commit.
The Laird party thought 1t desirable to shield
themselves with the name Of some American whose
loyalty is beyond dispute and whose presence at the
dinner might serve as kind of certificate to the
Alabama builder and his ministerial guest No such
person could be found In England; but one eminent
American had just sailed for home and 1t was
thought his name might be used with impunty. Mr..
Laird's friends therefore announced, through
LIVERPOOL paper that Mr.. Cyrus Fields departure for
America would prevent him from being present at
the Laird johnson dinner. This was cleverly con-
triyed, for Mr. Field is noti New-York, whence he
might telegraph q contradiction. but is halfway
across the Atlantic and could not repudiato this
unqenerous use OF his name till II had done ts work.
But they forgot that Mr.. Field left friends in En-
gland, who would not be likely to keep silence
while he was being slandered. Both The Ne~ and
The Star print letters this morning denying that Mr.
Field had any intention Of being present at dinner
where Mr.. Laird was 10 be one of the company
"For Mr. Field,n says the writer lis loyal Ameri-
can. and know Of none such who will not regard
the presence of the American Minister at this Liver
pool festival as humiliation" That letter Is signed
"An American" but venture TO say that 1t OK
presses the feelings Of niue out of ten of tho English
.N.t