The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28
The Freedom OF the Press-"E England
Expects Every Man To DO Has
Duty

Our apprehensions of international complf
cation in case the minions of power in drag
ging the editors of this city to Albany should
propose to include the illustrious British sub
Ject who is member of the fraternity we're
evidently prophetic. At the very mention OF
the possibility the British lion roars with such
lusty fury that the 'sthick carnivorous passion
in his throat" startles the whole forest Not
only does the gentleman from England roar
like an aroused lion, but he bellows like an
exaggerated bull; he even blows like Roland
OF Roncesvalles, and if his trumpet holds
out those poor creatures at Albany will be
compelled to apologize or put cotton in their
ears. One of SCOTS heroes, SO Scott said,
could blow blast worth ten thousand men:
but it may be found that lone blast upon the
bugle 'orn" of an indignant Briton, bugline
for his rights, will be of SO much greater con-
sequence that the insignificant toot of the
Highlander will be no longer remembered in
musical circles.
Our Briton says, with lofty scorn
which takes the reader up in irresistible
sympathy, that those chaps at Albany sspro-
pose to try whether it is not possible to
brighten journalists" There is fine touc oh
of spirit in this He might have said,
brighten British subject )" but he refuses
to avail himself of his whole advantage He
will not assert just yet his peculiar privilege.
He takes his chance with the journalists
simply, and in this modest generosity we see
the distinctive trait of heroic nature An
attempt thus to silence the press by intimida-
ton will not be successful he says, $50 far as
we are concerned" Here again is calm,
self-contained defiance that is thoroughly and
magnifcently British. No bluster, no un-
seemly noise; but let them come on if they
dare. There is one part of the defiance we do
not like, however. He says, eff Mr.. Alvord
and Mr. Lincoln suppose they can intimidate
us by dragging any portion Of our staff to Al
bany," &c. Now, we are rather astonished at
this reference 70 ''any portion of the staff"
Does this mean that doubtful of the mgis OF
British nationality, the distinguished subject
of Her Majesty would decline to be dragged in
person-would delegate to some mere acolyte
the honor and glory of going to prison for the
freedom Of the press? Do his limbs shake at
the thought, and is he already wondering
upon what particular subordinate he may cast
this cold, damp and tedious duty? Perish
the thought For in another place, in refer
ence to the possibility that he may quake at
the summons, he says confidently and most
significantly, s'We shall see about that"
Now, this is diplomatic phrase, and, there
fore, suggests Immediately the British Minister.
Sir Edward Thornton no doubt has the pa
pers open on his table at the present moment
His recent observations at Washington of the
conduct of our State Department in the Vir-
ginius case have shown him what little place
our Secretary of State will creep through, and
the jolly Englishman has rubbed his hands
with glee as he has figured to himself the ap-
pearance that Fish would present after he had
drawn him through knothole But Sir Ed
Though the man is a British subject other
people have some rights There, too, is the
difficulty Of the relation Of the States to the
general government; and then it is point
of privilege Privilege is the only thing
in the world whose limit nobody knows
unless Cushing may know it; but as
he is gone to Spain solution may
be indefinitely deferred. In view of such
possibility apparently, our bold Briton
says:-'At any rate we shall defend our
rights, even if we stand single handed" This
seems as if he doubted the courage of the
other journalists from which, however, no
offence should be taken, for it is natural to
true Briton to doubt everything but himself.
The significant point is that he will fight,
and, of course, he will not fight alone.
Perhaps that recent discussion in Con-
gress as to the quantity of water on
the New York bar may become OF
sudden importance. How much water is
there really, and how much water does the
Warrior draw? Mr. Blunt knows all about
that, and ought to tell. He can reckon on his
fingers the quantity Of cinders in our harbor
to square inch, and even knows the very
barnacles and nail-heads in the Warriors bot
tom, and whether she has any guns that will
lombard Albany from Sandy Hook. Peter
Cooper, in case of emergency, can be called
upon for plan to stop the shells somewhere
in. the neighborhood of Anthonys Nose, or,
perhaps, even to convert their acquired force
into kind Of boomerang action and return
them to explode on board The details must,
of course be left to Mr.. Cooper. But this is
little in the future just yet. Mr.. Alvord, we
rejoice to notice, has been somewhat fright
ened by our suggestion Of complication with
England and puts on manners as mild aa
Shout, the tinker. He invites the editors to
come up to Albany and meet him at the Della
van any day but Saturday. significant ex-
ception. If this disposition continues there
will be no trouble; but this may be only a
russo treacherous assumption of good in