Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-01-13

I uldllC correspondence, MllbSc plGlllLl
naries would be a sort of history of II
cent events-hOw MaXimilian came
be there, and how institutions, i
their very form inimical to those {
the United States, came to be intro
duced in consequence. She did nc
philosOphise on the merits Of self-gov
ernment and the defects of the monar
chial principle, nor did she vast
time in showing that the foreign occu
patton must prove q failure. Sh
simply said to Louis Napoleon: "YOl
have got to 90 back to where yOl
came from, and do it ut once. I'm
not about to argue the point with you
All l say is, you have got to tax,
them keys :" and the Emperor, wis
wherever caution is wisdom, under
stood the hint and Withdrew.
1t was great rebutf-the very
greatest he had TO endure. 1t was
one decidedly his great uncle would
have stomached. 1t is only legitima.
cy that can safely put up with such
insults, since, in a transmitted power,
the day to acquit debt may be post
/ poned TO another generation. The
usurper has no dynasty, and must
assert himself at every hour of his
reign. Not less imperiOus was the
! tone assumed toward Austria when
| the Imperial Cabinet had sanctioned
/ recruiting for service in Mexico. The
! American Minister was instructed to
say that his Government would not
/ look on with indifference at the arri-
val of Austrian soldiers in Mexico ;
/ that there was but one plea on which
MaXimilian's sovereignty could be ac-
cepted-that of popular choice-and
that if this were to be rendered equiv
Ocal or suspect" be the support by
the support of foreign auXiliaries, the
United States would unquestiOnably
intervene. The dispatch peremptori-
ly demanded that the enlistment
should cease; and the same spirit
that said, you've got to take them
keys" was again Triumphant and again
successful.
With a people less ready TO back
their words with deeds there would
be something intolerably insolent in
this tone; but when we read these
declarations as plain, OutsDokeL eX-
pressiOns of a strong sentiment, in
which any mistake or misconceptiOn
would be hurtful-when we see that
the policy indicated is one to which
the State attaches vital importance,
and would rather fight for than relin-
Quish-we begin to see that we are
dealing with a people so thoroughly
in earnest, negotiation is reduced to
its simplest conditions. II may not
be pleasant to be told, that you shall
do this or fight-but it is at least intel
ligible; and with people who use
such language, what is called drifting
into war is not likely. In fact, all the
unpleasantness of such procedure is
no more than what we experience in
daily life by intercourse with a man
whose frankness is excessive, and
who would infinitely rather be
thought candid than polite.
There is, besides, a rude sense of
justice in young nation that would
distrust protraCted or knotty negOtia-
tions. They think a certain thing
ought to be done, and they fancy
there's only one way of doing it; and
even, if not imbued with
the national sentiment, are forced to
respect and obey it. And then there
is something in the prompt and vigor-
Gus action very congenial to bold and
active race, who treat their daily diff
fculties in very summary fashion,
and never suffer an obstacle to af-
fright them. "That's all very well
for you." I've heard an American .
say: "but our people 4
wouldn't stand such reasoning; and .
I'd be very sorry to be the man to go .
home after such a negotiation"
1 remember when that troublesome 4
case of Mr.. Mather, the Englishman,
who was cut down by an Austrian
officer on the streets of Florence, hap
pening to converse with an American
then in command of a
squadron in the Mediterranean, was
will not say very sue
show him that the circu-
.ious course of a diplomatic correspOn-
1ence was in reality the shortest road
10 an equitable settlement of the ques--i
ion. mo, sir" said he, somewhat
Dluntly, you'll not persuade me to
hat. I'd settle the matter any fore
loOn." Being rather curious TO know
Dy what deXterity of treatment
1notty point could be so easily resolv-
ID, 1 asked him the question. ''I'n
ell you, sir" said he; "rd roll up
ny sleeves"-a strong emphasis on
he nay-''and 90 in there"-his feet
vas anchored off Leghorn at the time
land I'd take the largest and come
lest craft l could find there under
Tuscan colors, sell her at Gibralter,
md give Mr.. Mather the money. If I
hey didn't like it, and would wish to
light, they've only TO say so and We'll
,Ome over any day they name and see
t out"
Here was a mode of settlement :
which, however satisfactory to Mr..
,Iather, would scarcely have occurred
o +. o., nor would exactly have
Deen certain of Parliamentary approx ,
i; but the American commodore was
perfectly justified in believing that if
he man had a right to the money. ]
md it was simply diplomatic trickery
hat delayed the payment, his people (
It home would have endorsed the act.
md taken every responsibility that
night come of it.
1t will be a crowning glory to the
resent Ministry in England if they
an announce TO n new Parliament
he settlement of all outlying difficult
les with America. The AhySsinnian
Expedition repaired one Whig blum
er; and if the Alabama claims be
disposed of, il will be
he second instance in which q spirit
f energy, tempered by conciliation,
will have remedied the faults of neg
igence. But however great the tri-
mph of the skill that shall achieve
his success, let us not forget how ,
much we shall owe to the thoroughly
lealthy tone of popular feeling in
america towards us, and to that hon
st and able Envoy who now repre-
eRts il amongst Us.
I am not speaking without book" .
Yhen ! say that the feeling of Ameri- :
a toward England at this moment is !
generous and kindly. The
auge by which / measure the scnti-
nent is this. There is not through
ut the States any class of the pOpula-
ion who, from tradition as from in
tinct, look on us with as much cold :
less as the officers of the American |
avy. They are men of education
nd intelligence, the equals of any l
ervice afloat. They are courteous,
ospitable, and well hammered; but ]
have always found that their recep- i
ion of a Frenchman, Russian, or an
Italian on board one Of their ships was
by heartier and more {
enial welcome than they extended Y
D ourselves. Whether the fault was {
ur own-whether q certain British
which we find it hard to '
ivest ourselves of, checked and ar {
aSfad any bnildiup cor1io lifv-Or =