The New York herald., 1869-06-08
ENGLAND AND THE ALABAMA.
Lecture by Mr.. Justin McCarthy-The
Claims Reviewed from an English
StandpOint-An Honorable Settle
ment rOphesied-JOhnsOn
and Motley Contrasted.

ugnt on tnlS wen discussed subject, ana tndI tne
evening could be better spent by even our most IN
veterate lecture lovers from the fact that the attend
was very small, not the benevolent object
identified with the occaston-the proceeds going TO
the New York Hospital for Women and Chidren-
attracting over two hundred OF an audience.
On the platform was Mr. Peter Cooper Mr. Theo-
dore Tlton and few other gentlemen and one or
two ladies'
A little after eight O'Clock Mr. Theodore Tilton
came forward TO introduce the lecturer. He at
tributed the empty benches to the lateness of the
season, remarking by paraphrasIng the words OF
Socrates when addressing a small audience, that
Plato was himself an audience-they were them
selves an audience. He then requested for Mr.
Mccarthy, VINO for the first time stood before an
American audience, a hearty welcome.
MIR. Mccarthy then stood forward and was warmly
appauded. lie thought there might be some advan-
tages from few words spoken on this complicated
question by one from England He could only
promise to make a PLAIN statement He had been
actively engaged in British politics during the
time the events took place from which this grave
question arose. Although not an American he was
one OF those English subjects VINO always
took deep and close interest in American
affairs, and followed the cause OF the Union
with an unwavering, constant, and, lie had
almost said, passionate sympathy for the North.
questions. First, the Alabama claims, which arose
out of the escape OF the Alabama and her course
pirate. Then, perhaps the most difficult question
was the question arising out OF the wrongs supposed
to have been inflicted by the English government
when she conceded to the south beligerent rights
The latter question is the one which naturally ought
TO first. IL came first In point OF time, and IN
the next place. Mr. sumner contends that involves
The first But the question of the Alabama
drst, and on that point he wondered how
about it there could be any dispute. Inter-
naft "a
The escape OF the Alabama could hardly be excused
according to International law lt was simple
fact that the vessel was built OF English timoer,
built IN an English dockyard, armed With English
cannon, shot and SHE'LL and manned by English
seamen, went so ar<ed into an English river and
left an English port for the purpose of making war
ON the peaceful commerce OF friendly Power. This
was the simple statement Of the fact. It was con-
tended on the part OF England that the government
could not, under all the circumstances OF the case
| prevent the escape OF the Alabama. lie (the lee,
turerl was IN England at the time ana watched
closely the whole course Of events, and never
| heard till he came here that there ever
existed a doubt in the minds OF Engllshmen
| Of the purpose for which the pirate Alabama was
being built lie did not believe any man or woman
| who knew that there was war going on and
that a vessel was being built in Lairds' dockyard
| but was aware that that vessel was TO be launched
co serve the Confederate states The truth was tnat
| the English government %new perfectly well what
| the Alabama was being built and prepared for, and
only reraned from interfering on one or two rea-
sons not at all creditabe to any government. The
| English government was not specially unfrendly 10
the government OF the United States. Lord Russell
/
Then there was the Duke OF Argyle aud other noble
men, though not holding any prominent positions
| all friendly to the United States But the real
heads OF the government were positively Indifferent
To the result OF the war you were carrying on
But as they were, they followed principally the lead
| Of the society around them. The higher society Of
| England was almost all IN favor of the south. All
the clubs and all who visited the West nnd-amost
| every one who had any manner OF relation with the
| aristocracy, from the heads down 10 The very
nunkies that served themal these were in favor OF
| the government made it an article OF his iaith
| that the south would succeed They looked upon
the United States as disrupted; your business and
commerce destroyed, and that for long time you
would be ofvery little value friend or an enemy,
| and they claimed TO deal with you as they dealt
about the same time with Brazil. They felt they had
no interest IN trying TO secure you justice in the con-
test ana they preferred TO allow the contest to go
leaving 1t to time TO decide the question for or
against. But here Is the actual grievance in the Ala
bama airair:-That England and the English govern
| ment knew from the first to the last what the Ala
bama being built ana fitted out for; the govern
ment knew 1t had the power to stop the building OF
| the vessel at any moment; TO prevent It's leaving
| the country that with the slightest exer-
| else of power they could have nterposed to
career OF the pirate vessel and that they failed to
So but knowingly and deliberately allowed her TO 90
on her pratca way, as II the whole matter were not
| worth a moments consideration. Here the lee
| turer said) was the first and real grievance. Mr..
sumner IN his review OF charges against England,
| the English government and people, did them q
| great wrong when he said they threw their sympa-
thies into the cause of slavery. Golden, Bright,
pathy for the cause Of the United States govern.
| ment, dsproved this Charge OF sympathy with
people as whole were opposed I 70 e United States.
| The mechanics, artis and manufacturing Glasses
and the laborng classes the great bulk of the Eng
lish people were IN favor OF freedom, opposed 70 the
institutions OF the South and In favor OF the North
The prospect OF satisfactory settlement OF the ques
ton was growing brighter every day. The American
people had only TO wait little while patienty--to
walt not IN spirit OF vengeance, but IN spirit OF
good wil and confidence % Ihe queston, Is now mar
| will consent 70 arbitration on the question OF her
recognition OF the South as begerents. lie thought
time to think the matter over, from The
! new light thrown upon the question: and when her
people returned 10 queter temper and calmer
frame OF mind; even then in respect to our claim TO
he had no doubt ENGLAND viii admit the Justice OF
| 10. When be left England the temper OF the puOic
mind was so far brought to that point that, had 1t
| not been for the unhappy choice made In the selec-
ton Of our representative, Mr. Johnson, the ques-
ton would be settled to-day. But we had sent over
1 Jolly sort OF q Polonius, lively, happy-go-ucky
| old fellow, who took all England by the hand and
drank wine with every man AMI woman he met
saving to them, 1--WE over the water there are IN
nappy ooa' we we VIII give up ever 70 yoS, ana
| mind the oddsn These were the hopes held out TO
| England at the very moment she expected to be
called to a sharp account Just think OF Joy
finding the very unexpected turn AFFAIRS had taken.
Then came the awakening from the lool's paradise.
summers speech startled England from TINS happy
delusion of speedy settlement OF the question on
| Johnsons basis. She was awakened like one from
q pleasant dream 70 the consciousness Of impend-
| ing DANGER But ell this will pass away. Eng.
| land was coming TO calmer mood and
will long accede 70 America all that we can In
| honor or justice ask Great changes had taken
place England since the outbreak OF the war. The
| progress of democratic ideas had swept over the
land within even the last two years. When the war
| broke out hardly one man OF the working people,
who had thrown all their sympathes with the North,
| had any direct power OF influencing the English
government. None OF them exercised the franchise.
| in England they had now the Reform bill, which
amounted In large cities 70 almost universal suffrage.
| The American people had now o representative In
England VINO would have great weight in influencing
the English government TO reconsider the question
In juster aud fairer light. Mr.. Motley stood high
In England, and his fame as writer and a states-
man was highly appreciated there as 1t here,
and the government could have hardly sent a more
hopeful messenger 70 arrange the question than our
present representative. With MIR. Motey's assist
ance and the intervention OF o little more time he
expected that satisfactory and honorable arrange
ment Of the question would be had, and he would
be able to address his American brethren In the
words, I've have shot an arrow DER our heads and
hurt our brother.u
on conciudIng MI. Mccarthy WINS enthusiastically