New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-25
ANGLO-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.


TOWARD THR UNITED STATES.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUyE.l
LoNpON, Dec. 13.--Mr. Wesh's arrival in Liver
pool on Tuesday the signal for the usual friendly
demonstrations the part Of the municipal author
tiles Landing from the AdriatIc at 10 in the morn
ing, he was received by the Mayor and other men,
bers of the corporation. A detachment of artillery
volunteers under arms, which is perhaps a
city. Speeches made, the making of which
certainly is not a novelty. They were cordial and
sensible on both sides. Four times during the
day Mr.. Welsh WAS subjected to this ordeal of
replying to addresses of welcome. We have been
told over here that he was not an orator but there
seems to be something in the air of England which
sets tacturn Americans for there are such talking
and Mr. Welsh talked we'll He has extorted from
the most critical of English journals an opinion
that his brief sentences of gratitude for the recep-
ton accorded to him in Liverpool contrast favor
ably with the pretentiOus Gsterances Of some
of his predecessors" Let us forbear to inquire
which particular predecessor il pointed at
Bygones bygOnes The main fear in Mr..
Welsh's case is lest expectation be too highly
pitched. He has been praised in advance from
America till one doubts whether any mere mortal
can, as Emerson said of the Yosemite Valley, come
up to the brag. He has been praised by telegraph
and praised by post and praised in English leaders
certainly, to the enthusiasm of Philadelphia. The
Philadelphia correspondent of The Times suspended
for moment his compilation Of that catalogue Of
American crimes and casualties which he weekly
sents TO England as picture of American life His
ldcrs heard with surprise that there man in
America who was not thief nor a carpet-bagger;
that he was coming to England Minister; and that
he as good as all the rest of his countrymen were
bad All the dinners and receptions the speeches
and other fireworks which made part Of the farewell
ceremony % this paragon were fully described 10
People may have thought that the star Spanged
Banner was waved little too much that the flap
Of the eagles wings had something in common with
the conyulslye expressions of joy to which the
humber barnyard foWldeiycrs himself in his more
reckless moments But they are not disposed to be
censorious on such occasions, and they remembered
what they had escaped and stood ready to give Mr..
Welsh, as they have in fact now given HIM, a
friendly welcome.
With one exception. Mr.. Samuel Smith is the ex-
cepton and the exception IN his case does not seem
to be due to want Of good will but to want Of per
fectly delicate sense of what good breeding would
have prescribed. Mr.. Samuel Smith made what /
am sorry u have 10 describe the usual attempt to
capture, peThap, 10 convert OF, at any rate, 10
commit, his guest the burning question Of Free
Trade and Protection. lie IS President Of the Liver
pool Chamber OF CommsrCe, and as President
was commissioned to present an address
to Mr. Welsh With tue address there is
nothing the matter. But Mr. samuel
Smith was not content TO present the address In his
eyes the address not complete. IL contained no
lecture on Free Trade and this deficiency he under
took to supply ON his own responsibility Mr.. Samuel
smith, before delivering the address expressed the
hope that his Excelency-the people of Philadelphia
hot Ia.
to their fcllow-citizen Mr.. Welsh-that his Excel
lcncy would use his Influence with the Government
and people of the United States to promote free and
unfrttered trade between the two nations.
II Slr. Welsh does nothing else during his stay in
England, he will have earned some thanks from his
countrymen for his spirited reply 70 Mr. Samuel
smith, Mr. Welsh said that the system which pre-
vailed in England had been adopted, after careful
study and investigation, tie system most con-
ducye to the interests Of the English people while
that of the United States had been adopted also
after careful study and investigation, the system
most conducive to the interests OF the American
people. Thus the American policy. though differing
in the means adopted. had 4 similar end in view
with the English. In the course Of time both nations
might meet on common ground These dignifed
and pertinent sentences, ia response 70 sentences
which were undiguifcd and-not pertinent, elected
cheers and applause even from the Liverpool Free
Traders TO whom they were spoken. They surely
deserve no less from American Free Traders from
those OF them at least, who are Americans before
they are Free Traders and who not insensible
the pleasure of seeing American representative
abroad defend the policy of his country when it
is attacked.
What Mr.. Welsh said on more general topics was
equally well SAID. In the sp eches made to him
there is tone Of real and not formal cordiaty,
echo of which may be heard in his replies. am not
disposed 10 think the demonstrations III Liverpool
due TO a liking for display OF to merely interested
motives | don't doubt that General Fairchild
would tell you that the feeling in Liverpool, what
ever # may have been in other days, is of
sincere GOODWILL to the United States. Com
ercal relations are strengthened rs the address of
the Chamber Of Commerce itself points out, by
friendships of tine most warm and intimate charac-
ter: and whatever is true OF Liverpool Is true in at
least an equal degree of England Of Great Britain,
AS a whole. Ii was natural that the chief masis-
trate and leading men OF great mercantile city
should remember that Mr.. Welsh had been a mer-
chant. and should take a certain pride in greeting
him as SUCH Mr.. Welsh himself while responding
heartily to all that. put the matter on a higher
ground He declared his mission to be the
mission Of his country, one Of peace and
goodwill to men, and his duty to be,
a. his pleasure would be, to cement
still more strongly, if possible, the bonds of kind
feeling now so happily existing between Great Brit
ain and the United states He described both Gov
ernments as striving to loosen the hold Of past ira
dItions aud TO make reason superior to force IN IN
teruatioual disputes. IN such an effort, the niu-
ence of commerce counts, he admitted Tor some
thing but while glad that his life had been devoted
mainly to ITS pursuits he declared himself sensible