The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-24
RlackwGOd on War between
Great Britain and the United
states.

Great Britain and the United
states.
! Blackwood's Magazine for June, un
der the caption Of "American reasons
for Peace, contains an admirable review
of Summers great Alabama speech
in The u. S. Senate The article il
written with clearncss, vigor and as
much impartiality as could be expected
from a subject Of Great Britain. The
views of the writer, are thoreughout
broad, manly, and in good temper. W.
copy the concluding paragraphs:
TO conclude Is it not time that all
the heats and animosities engAdered by
the great Civil War should cool down
The Nortl. has won its cause, ard ought
to be reasonable. If it fancies it has a
complaint to make against Great Britain
for want Of written and spoken SYM a
thy curing the struggle, it ought to
reflect upon the fact, that the most pow
erful Of European monarchs was ready
to acknowledge the independence Of the
So;ttll, aud the Government of Great
Britai in, with unexampled forbearance,
refused to join him in the enterprise.
The Anne leans, who feel "bitter, " as
they call it, against England, for want
sympathy-a sympathy, by the way,
wLicisthe people aud Government of the
Jaited States never felt or expressed
for +. gland when she was engaged in
queliug the Indian Mutiny, or fighting
against Russia at Sebastopoi for the
maintenance Of the Turkish empire, or
Oh any other occasion whatever, either
foreign or domestic-would do well to
remember what would have happened
had England agreed to the suggestions
of the French Emperor We were
strongly of opinion then, we are still
more strongly of opinion now' that
France was right and England wrong
on that occasion. Had it not been for
the fear entertained in Lord Palmerston's
Cabinet that the anti-slavery pro-Amer-
lean and Exeter Hall Influence would
have placed it in Parliamentary mi
no,ity on the question, it is highly pro-
bablc that so sagacious statesman and
thorough man of the world as Lord
Palmer ston would have seen the obvious
advantage of uniting with the French
Emperor in the recognition Nf the Con
ftderate States--a recognition that would
have saved the unfortunate Emperor
Macmillan, made firm friend of the
Southern nation, and rendered it impos
sble for the dismembered fragments Of
the oncsaUnited States to play the part
of Dictator in the affairs of the world,
stir up Fenianism in Ireland, threaten
the annexation Of Canada, and present
and unconscionable claims a.
gainst this country on any future occa-
sion. Are these things which the tri-
umphant North should either ignore or
depreciate We think not. We think,
moreover, that the North owes its tri-
umph as much to this very generous,
but. as the result shows, somewhat fool
ish neutrality on the part of Great
as to its own prowess, aided as
the latter was by the adventurous row.
dyisln of 1rishmen and Germans, who
fought less for the sake Of the North
than for the sake of the previously un-
heard of amounts of bounty-money offer
I'd to the volunteers. We do not accuse
the American people; we only accuse
the dominant faction that has got the
upper hand, anG hopes to retain it by
the strong arm of military despotism in
the South, and by hostility towards
England-hostiliry which is cheap as
long as it is confined to words and to
speeches flor it's Summers and Chan
dlers, but which might happen to become
very dear, if it passed from their mouths
to the hands of responsible statesmen.
And after all, great and powerful as
the United States undoubtedly are, they
are not SO great and powerful as to afford
to be laughed at. Mr. Motley is sup
posed to come to London fully charged
with the ideas and demands of Mr.. sum-
ner--to hold a moral pistol at the head
of poor John Bull. and demand not only
his money, but his honor and selt-respect.
We believe nothing of the kind, h'w-
ever. and shall not do an eminent histo-
rian, philosopher, jurist, and statesman,
Or the President who nominated and the
Senate which confirmed him, the injus-
tice of supposing that he is authorised
to present to Great Britain, as bases of
diplomatic action, the rant of Mr.. Sum-
ner or the drivel of Mr.. Chandler.