Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-29
W RCE STER
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY go. 1879.
John Rull Qu,bblins.

John Bull clubbing.
Our venerable ancestor, old Mr.. B. is some
wbar superannuated, equity in his limbs, testy
in his disposition, impoverished in his pocket,
and rather in a bad way generally. His distant
and vast possessions in India harass his sleep;
his Canadians cherish little respect for him, and
a considerable portion Of them-not bone of his
bone and flesh of his fesh-hate him most cor
daily. His adopted family in ireland, after con-
turtles of alternate Pummeling and coaxing, in
suit his power and detest his government. His
son Jonathan, Of whom, when in his best moods,
he is not little proud, has caused him more
trouble than all the rest, and especially since,
about ninety years ago, the old gentleman was
induced. under gerv peculiarly pressing citcum-
stances. TO give the said Jonathan his freedom!
This latter otfshoot of the old taurne stock, in
deed, has within few years grown so rich,
and powerful, and insolent withal, that the old
pateriamilias of modern nations works himself
mp into a ridiculous impotent rage, on every
occasion when jonathan requests a settlement
of any book-acc0unt.
For many years no business of this latter kind
has been laid before Mr.. Bull, without immedi-
ately eliciting a prolonged below The old
gentleman was formerly chvalrous, and had a
way of trying to scare his western progeny;
but, latterly, this uober disposition has degen-
Grated into querulous complaints and gnoble
quibLling. OF this latter, some recent proceed
ings in the House of Lords afford a melancholy
not to say pitiabe-instance. Here is what,
just now, must excite laughter, if not contempt,
Tn 1;eb e
read:
Gin the English house of Lords, on Feb IS,
Lord Redesdae asked the secretary for FOREIGN
affairs Observation-Disclosures if A and b in part
Dership sue c in a court Of law for injury done
to their firm by fraud or otherwise, and pleads
and proves that was acting with him in all
the matters complained of, such plea would not
be complete answer to the suit, and render anv
recovery of damages impOSsiblep Why a plea
which is good in law, and which common sense
prOnounces to be just has not been considered
by her mWestys government applicable TO a
new case in international law, and urged against
the Alabama claims made on this country by
the United States of America, in which the north
and south are now partners, lnasmuch as all the
acts tor which this country is charged with being
culpaby responsible were done 6y the SOUTH
aud that partner n1w joins in the application to
be peid for having done item? Now, it ap-
peared to hin that IRON the moment the north
an error to admit Tor moment that the United
States could claim damages for anything done
by the southern states, or in the interests OF the
southern states, during the hostiities. By unit
irg with the southern states after they had been
recognized as beligcreuts, the northern states
had condOntd any offense Of which the former
might have been guilty"
The reply to this is simple enough, although
the mobile lord'' does not appear to see it. We
,,asa Of q
this brilliant suggestion, with which he has
sought to make profound impression on Earl
Granville. Suppose we correct his curious state
ment of the case. An organized body of rebels
sought to destroy our national government and
break up the Union. lglish sympathy, money,
arsenals, shipyards, and piratical cruisers, rem
dered them very important assistance In this
way they were enabled to damage our commerce
and ploong the war; hut they were finally sub
dued and their reasonable organization disap.
peared, much 10 the sorrow OF their English
helpers The English government had recog-
nzed it as a "belligerent' organization, and
was eager to have it developed into a "nation. +"
II never was at any time partner" in our ma
tional organization. 1t was simply a treason
able, malignant, and desperate enemy of our
government, and, for this reason, was aided by
the English. Now our government demands
satisfaction of the English government for the
injury done us by its uniriendly proceedings
and this very remarkable Lord Redesdae stands
up in parliament and says, that the annihilated
"eonlederacy' of rebels is "parner" with our
government in making this demand. For he
means this, if he means anything. Surely this
mobile lord'' is in no danger of dying of too
much wit.
If the English government could he induced
to adopt this theory of Lord Redesdale, and
stand by it, we could aid the next instruction
in Ireland or India, without scruple, and with
out fear of consequences; Tor, if the insurrec-
tionists should be successful, our position
would be safe, and even triumphant; and, ii
tley should fail, we could employ Lord Redes-
dale to show The house of lords and all England
that no demand for damages could be main
tanned, because the British government and It's
late organization of rebels would necessarily be
partners in urging it. What thing it is to
bDhod a stupid lord, especially a genuine
finely trained John Bull, who has learned to paw
the ground and below in a style so very aston
ishing!