The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-25

for receiving them graciously. He wants to
know why the English Government and peo-
pie are treated by our Government as we
treat no other people or government, and
concludes by urging upon the commission
recently appointed to this country that it
come to some understanding with us on this
sore point, and that we be made to under
stand 'that England cannot be insulted with
impunity, etc. etc. etc., all of which is fol-
lowed, very naturally, by cheers.
Perhaps nothing in more wretched taste
was ever uttered by any leading public man
Of Great Britain. It is really so small in
conception, and weak in utterance, as to be
below the average production of the smallest
rotten borough representative,
Mr.. Disraeli, in spite of his opportunities,
seems totally to have misunderstood the Off
cial status and authority of our public men,
as he certainly seems in ignorance of the
temper of our people and the deep causes
thereof.
In complaining of Senator Summers speech
as an "invective against the English Govern
ment and the English nation" he styles him
the ''chief Senator" ''second only to the
President, for he exercises the functions of
royalty to a certain degree;" and as if this
were not enough to crowd upon his devoted
head, he adds, as showing his power and pub
lie importance, mo treaty with the United
States can, believe, be concluded without
his concurrence" Mr.. Sumner, no less than
the American people, will be surprised to
learn of his great political and official i'm
portance.
Having with all the lights before him mis-
taken the very simple construction of the
Senate, under our form of government, it
cannot be wondered that, blinded by preju-
dice, he fails to understand why our people,
as represented in the Government, "are more
courteous to the Governments of Russia and
Germany than to England" A common orr
gin, literature, language, and laws had led
us to look for fair dealing, if not for sympa-
thy, in the great trial through which our in
stitutions passed during the late Rebellion.
Especially did the loyal American look for il,
in view of England's loud protestations of
devotion to emancipation and detestation of
slavery.
English Statesmen must excuse us if we
believed them honest in their phiIanthropic
declarations in favor of freedom, and, as a
consequence, they must pardon Us il, we were
SOW to believe that ths moral, pecuniary,
and political force of Great Britain would be
used against the established Government of
the United States, and in aid of Rebellion
instigated in the interests and for the. per-
petuation OF human slavery.
The American people were 10th to believe
al this; Tut when thsy became convinced
thai IL g governing class ,s of England were
in deadly league with their enemies, laboring
for their downfall, and ready to rejoice
thereat; when they beheld their commerce
swept from the sess by pirate crafts, built
with glish gold snd manned by English
seamen,-then there entered into the hearts
of the American people, not hatred of Eng
land, but pity that great people had been
misled by commercial greed to PROSTATE
themselves 10 the Gust, thereby sacrificing
consistency, honor, AMI love of freedom, the
boasted birth. right of Englishmen.
We fought our great fight without your
sympathy, against it and your material aid,
and in the hour of cur triumph still pitied
and despised you. We had sorrow that the
once noble sp rit of Englishmen had been
swallowed up in the love of gain, and de-
spised that weakness that prevented you from
seeing that right and advantage lay for you
in the same path. In the darkest hour of the
nations trial the warm sympathies of Russia
and Germany were with us.
From them we had expected nothing in our
great battle for the preservation of free insti-
tutions. From free, enlightened England we
expected much. When the hollowness of
8 ur rretensions were made manifest by
every public act and private channel, can it
be wondered that our official communications
to the former Cover meDts should have a
warmth and frankness in contrast with those
addressed to England? The only way your
'sAigh Commissi on" can change the stone of
our official communications is by such gene
rous and manly action as will convince our
people that you are sorry and ashamed of the
past, and promise better things for the future.