New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-24
VOL. XXIX.....No $3.50.
GREAT BRITAIN.
THE NEW MINISTER AND THE oLD-THE TIMES
MR.. HALE-Mfs. BANDMANN.
IMAM orr OWN CORRRSPONUENTI

delpha correspondent, The Times of yesterday as
sunes that Mr. Motley is to be appointed Minister 10
England. 1t thereupOn treats MS to column OF
comment, inspired by the good old precept 10 Woi-
ship the rising sun. But it is easy to see ana re-
ioice to see that the coming of Mr. Motley does not
please the leading Journal 1t bestows due comph-
nents on his ability, and his European reputation
II has heard of his historical works. 1t knows tnat
he was once Minister to Vienna. 1t lays stress on
the fact that be has from time to time been thought
worthy 10 he seated at English dinner-tables. 1t
comedies TO him high social position at home. But
against all these qualifications must be set two de-
plorable misfortunes faults. Mr.. Motley is Re-
nubicap and Mr. Motley has decided American
views 1t would seem that The Times is dsap-
pointed because a Republican Administration would
not select Democrat as its Envoy, and because
the American Government no longer desires
TO be represented in England by a Min
lister Of English views. Or. perhaps, what 1t more
truly hoped and expected, was that President Grant
should send to London Minister against whom
English critics might ral the correspondent OF me
DAILY Ncrs rails against Mr.. Washburne. AS IL can
not we'll abuse Mr. Motley for lack of those guaueS
for which he is especially eminent for 1t abuses inc
party of which il peases The Times 10 descrlue INN
as an exceptional member. " He may be caled
c,It,,qld Radical and Though education and re-
fined taste may prevent him from identifying him
self with the extreme section OF MS party, MS
polfical views are not very different from theirs
Considering that Mr.. Sumner is the representative
man of the "extreme section" and that MIR. Sumner
is Mr. Motley's intimate personal friend and most
jealous advocate the attempt to draw line between
them can hardly be deemed great success. This is
the cropping out of the old belief in England-the
belief that the Rebels and their Northern allies
the gentlemanly" party. 1t is still the fashion
among a class which The Times speaks for, to
affect kind of social contempt for American
Radicalism. Now The Times dares not say Mr.
Motley is not q Radical. 1t dares not say
he is not gentleman of such position and culture as
any EngliShman might be proud to claim. 1t there
fore says he is a gentleman although Radical.
But aside from small filings of this Sort the leader
of The Times is meant seriously to warn people that
they have to deal henceforth with Minister of un-
compromising Amercanism. In grOtesque way it
says that he will be welcome as historian and
scholar and adds Z" Mr.. Motley, however, would
be the first to admit that in him we must recognize
who has decided opinions on the matters in dis
pute between us and the Americans.
We may expect to fnd in Mr.. Motley an earnest
and uncompromisng supporter of the opinions
which are said to be dominant among his country
men, In the matter of the Alabama claims, hs prn-
ciples and conduct are not likely to be alleged by
any weakness for u.s. 1t warns the British public |
that lie will probably prove harsh and exacting,"
aud that he will be Every unlike Mr. Reverdy John
son land poor Mr. Reverdy Johnson is dismissed |
with good-natured contempt as "indefatigable |
speech-makerp who amused" the English public, |
but who unuclily made the Americans angry Surely |
an unreasonable people, to object to their Minister
making himself q buioon when the English are |
amused by il We ought TO have been grateful to |
them for being amuscd-there is probably no nation
which so seldom condescends to manifest in public /
any disposition to hilarity.
The rumOred appointment elicts leading articles
also from The Telegraph and The Daily Ne'rs OF the
latter it need only be said that it is marked by the
intelligence and friendly spirit commonly shown by |
that journal in its editorial columns. The Telegraph
leader is curiosity. We learn that Mr.. Motley |
belongs TO the more moderate section of the Re !
publican party and the still more striking fact that
this is the section from which "Gen. Grant has |
hitherto selected his nominations" 1t recognizes
cordially enough Mr. Motley's high character, and
the article. though ignorant is rather less inten-
tonally impairment in tone than American articles |
usually are in this journal The paragraph devoted
to Mr.. Reverdy johnson is the most remarkable Dor
ton of the leader. No English newspaper was a !
stouter champion of Mr.. johnson than The Telegraph
and it is needless to add none sung his
praises in such Ossanic strains But now alas, now
nothing more can be hoped from Mr. Johnson. His
treaty is dead his jests have grown stale. His
uuondam eulogist likes Mr.. Motley very well for his
own merits but its chief source of content springs
from "the fact that his appointment will DO the sig |
nal for Mr. Reverdy JOhnson's retirement" 1t finds |
that Mr. JohnsOns position has been false through
ont" that of late il has become "ludicrOusly un- |
tenable7 and that lit would have been better If |
Mr. Reverdy Johnson had contented himself with |
discharging merely the routine duties OF his Office"
And it even him of concealing from the En-
glish Government the fact that he had no authority
to conclude treaty which would bind his principles |
which is unjust to Mr. johnson, since Lord Stanley
may be presumed to have known, though The 1ele- |
oraph does not that he could not possibly have had
any such authority under the Constitution But all
this change of tone is significant enough.
On Mr. Johnson's part, the change is even melan- |
choly He was at another dinner, and made another |
speech last nght-a speech very unlike the Tollick
ing, after-dinner harangues he has been in the
habit Of making. He informed his auditors that he
had sent his resignation to Washington eight or ten
DAYS since. That announcement seems TO me q re-
bnke TO President Grant for not having removed HIM
before he had time to resign. say that wholly on
public Tounds-On the grounds stated in my last
letter So far as Mr.. johnson personally Is con-
earned can only regret the mistakes OF his career
He has done great mischief, and brought much hui
initiation on his country. He ought to have been so
promptly recalled by this Administration that 1t
might have been understood throughout Europe as
an emphatic reputation of him as an American Min
ister But in effect. he laid down his ohee IN his
speech of last evening and with that resignation
yanshes all cause for further criticism on hm'
have written good deal against hm--not more th IN
fought think. l don't know that have woi
to recall. But there is a mournful strain runnlnt
through this latest address which makes one feel
80 EA hanaof