The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-30
ENGLAND.


National Neutrality in War and les Observ-
nnco-OGence to ths Continental Powers
prussia's Position II ernstorG's Menace
What tho United States Neglected to Do
"Reminiscences OF the Alabama Eixht-rradc
Interests Against Morality.
LONDON, Oct. 10, 1870.
The attitude OF England In the present war be-
tween France and Prussia has been such as to give
about equal offence TO both adversaries.
The French complainant with some show Of
lusnce-that, in the hour OF their extremity, not
only has the British government not eyinced the
pghtest disposition to Intervene In favor OF nation
which has been It's faithful ally for the past eighteen
years. but that the English press generally, and cs
peoally the Times, has positively exuted over their
miifortunes
me russians, on the other hand, are equally Bit
YER In their complaints OF the manner in which this
country has performed her duty neutral.
Last Monday there appeared In the London Times
Aletter from Count Bernstorn, the Prussian Ambas.
sador, 10 Lord Granville. The document In ques.
zion. although, Of course, couched in diplomatic
pnraseoogy, Is almost menacing In its tone; while
bhe MEMORABLE logic OF OF its statements must
nave been rather difficult for Lord Granville 10
digest.
The last paragraph, as you Will see, contains the
kist OF the Counts whole argument, and there is no
neny1ng that it Is at once sound sense and sound
morality.
But what would have been said had the United
states, during their civil war; used such language
EDWARDS this cJuntryY The arrogance Of lie
yankees" would have been denounced IN no
neasured terms by both Parliament and the press
Htentl0n OF the English Cabinet to the nagrant
ptaoie OF the law OF Which the builders OF tho
AaDama ana other cruisers Tor the service OF the
Confederate states were guilty, and to COMPLAIN
that the powers already possessed by the law ON.
Gers OF the crown were not more yieilantl6 exer-
ciied. But the Unfed states never for one lIoment
attempted TO prescribe 10 the English government
Enc line OF conduct 1t was their duty TO adopt as
/ Yet there can be no comparison between the in
tu'les suffered rom the defects IN the English law
by the two nat Ons. Prussia has only complain at
worst OF the export OF few thousand stand or
arms. The United States were compelled to see the
nag OF their mercantile marine almost driven from
tbc sea by vessels built and equipped In England
and m 4nnel by Engsnmen.
happened myself TO be temporarily in London at
she time the englgenent took place IN the Channel
between the Alabama aud the kearsarge and was IN
duced one evening, BY curiosity. 20 visit one
stage OF which, between the pieces, several OF
Inc sailors belonging, to the former, picked
round lady who sang then popular song entitled
she "Death OF Stonewal Jackson.u The men, every
one OF them-and should say there were not less
than twenty-were most unmstakab.y English or
irish. In fact with the exception of the officers
do not believe there were han dozen native Amerl
cans In the who o crew OF the Alabama.
Had vessels vi similar character been fitted out
in English ports 10 sail under the Prussian nag and
~
have been almost precisely parallel 30 that which
existed during the American civil war. In either
instance nation strong ut sea found herself op-
posed to one utterly unable to cope with
her on that element; ana III such case the
stronger Of the two might reasonably ex-
pect that her commerce would be carried On
almost without mocstation. How these anticipa-
tions were disappointed in the instance Is now
D matter VI history. AS regards France, however,
whatever hopes size may have entertained ofsecurity
FOR her mercantile marine lave been justified by the
event. This has arisen partly through the modica-
ZION effected the English law during the last seS-
SION oil Parliament, as regards building vessels OF
for foreign States ana partly also, be IL said,
through the higher standard OF public morality
affected by the PruSslan government which would
not permit IL TO lend IT'S sanction to any attempt on
the part Of its people to violate the law neutral
country.
IL ls OF course, too late for England TO issue
che proclamation Count Bernstord desires for, were
she to do IL, she would not only subject herself to
the tmputation OF having ito use Johnsonian
Phrasel yielded TO menace what she had denied to
Justice, bu: she would De guilty OF the incredible
basencss OF deprivng France, in the hour OF her
extremity 0! an assistance which had not been re-
fused her when II was, comparatively, unneeded
nut The exploration Of every description Of NUM-
SDn OF war mig IT. al The OuJset OF the contest have
peen prohibited and the Ill will OF neither
bellfgerent incurred In this respect 'spOor
but honest" little Lelgium has set England a
good example. Not an ounce OF powder, not rife
HtS crossed her frontier either France Prussia;
and she has been conplimented by both nations on
The loyal character Of her neutrality.
When VIII nalons arm that In their case as in
fha OF individuals 'Honesty Is the best policy2''
Fer the sake OF letting some dozen or two manu-
factlrers and traders pun few thousands or pounds
IN their pockets Eng and has irrltated great and
powerful nation, whose Ill will may. one day, 90
productive Of serious results to her.