The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-31
ENGLISH LErrER.

ENGLISH LETTER.
Eagiish Sympathy Clearly with the
Democrats, and why.
New York Tribune.
LosDoN, Oct. 10.
Richard Golden once said that high
~ educated Engiishmen were geo
graphically conversant with the small
est river or brook mentioned in the
history of classic Greece. even If it
were OF such tiny dimensions that in
summer washerwomen could dry
clothes in its waterIess bed; but that
it would he vain TO expect similar
knowledge from them in regard to the
mi ghtiest rivers Of the United States
of America, or the political subdivis-
ions OF the great transatlantic repub-
tic. On various occasions, regret 70
say, have found that say ing to come
very near the mark-even in the case
OF prominent politicians or journalists
bound to be well informed. Csbden's
own shortcomings, no doubt, Law in
the direction of classic knowledge; but
that does not detract from the satirical
truthfulness of his description.
PERHAPS MATTERS HAVE BECOME
Somewhat better since his DAYS as to
the information of highly cultured
Engllshmen in reference to their "kin
| across the sea- Still a glance at the
press of this country reveals a curious
barrenness of the land with respect to
American topics. And when those
topics are dealt with, ii is but too often
done with vagueness clearly showing
the lack OF substantial knowledge. the
very party names of your country
being not seldom stared at as a Chinese
puzzle
Under these circumstances you will
scarcely wonder that the presidential
contest does not occupy so large
place in the English press as ii might
be expected TO do. Whatever appreci-
atoms of the situation in the United
States have latterly appeared were
merely connected with the rejection of
the fisheries treaty. On this subject
there have been strong utterances up
and down the country; the general
opinion being that the refusal OF ratifi-
cation by the senate, and the subse-
quent retaliation bill OF Mr.. Cleveland,
are merely to be looked upon as ga bid
for the presidency"
BY THIS TIME
You are well aware that an influential
conservative journal, in its anger at
the rejection of the treaty. has gone
the length of speaking of rthe tone OF
coarse brutality which seems to be the
disgusting feature of the domestic poll
tics" of America, and has referred to
its people as "a nation OF filibusters."
1t added: Perhaps we may be al
lowed to recall 70 their recollection the
AFFAIR OF the Trent, in which the
British lion by no means came off
second best" For Justices sake it
must be stated that this extreme
language has been firmly rebuked by
not a few English journals; most firm
" so by some OF those which advocate
Liberal Unionist views in English
home affairs.
The allusion to the action of the
British Lion" in the DAYS of the
American Union war is certainly an
unfortunate one. for at the side OF the
Trent affair may be placed that of the
Alabama. which, thanks to the policy
OF the then Liberal leaders, finally en-
tailed humiliation upon England and
cost her millions of pounds sterling.
Palmerston, Russell. Gladstone and
others all were for the DISRUPTION OF
the great Republic. Russell, otherwise
certainly a worthy man, so far forgot
himself as to say that there could be
nothing worse for humanity, nothing
worse for the colored race itself, than
the victory OF the North over the
South" Gladstone rejoiced that JET
ferson Davis, having created an army
and navy, was now about to create a
nation" Sir William Harceurt, as
Historicus. sailed in the same leaky
boat.
JOHN BRIGHT,
To his everlasting honor be ii said;
John Stuart Mill, and a number OF
the leaders OF the working classes in
the large towns, almost alone upheld
the cause OF the Union and of slave
emancipation. In every house in Lon
don, at social gatherings. We had. in
those days, to fight for the American
republic against so-cailed Liberals.
Among Tories, nisraeli formed an
honorable exception 10 his party. 1t
Is an unfortunate fact that the then
foreign secretary OF England was fully
aware OF his own illegal and unseru-
pulous action in the Alabama affair.
4 AiN tiAstilN ItItftS-Cu III hAltli, NOkl-
| ing to our late friend. Mr.. Hepworth
Dixon, he wished TO obtain from HIM
good introductions for his son, Lord
/ AmbeTiey. who. after the war,
was about to travel in the United
I States, and whose his father feared
: might otherwise get an unpleasant
( reception there. Hepworth Dixon
/ gave the introduclions, but not before
, having subjected Lord John to severe
croSs-examination, in the course OF
which the latter virtually came out
/ with "Pater, peccavi." So | had it
from Hepworth Dixon's own lips.
GREAT DEALIs,
/ After quarter of a century. made at
this moment of Russells energetic
action in the Mason and Slidell affair
by those who think the retaliation bill
is IBID for the presidency, +" and that
il Is meant TO show that Democrats
-as the Daily Neus has it-"can twist
the lions tail Just as hard as the Re
puhlicans," Thus. Lord John Russell
i. in Scotch paper. credited with
the intimation that, unless the con-
federAte agents we're released, he
would make it cas,s bcli. Sir w.
Harcourt wrote several learned letters
on the subject in the Times. A vast
amount OF public feeling was engen-
dered in this country. and the federal
| government, as YOU know. gave
MesSrs. Mason and Slidell up.
Here. by way OF rectificatiOn, / may
be allowed 10 narrate a fact from per
sonai recollection. At an evening
party al the house of Mr.. p. A. Tay-
Tor. the then radical member for Lei
ccsfer-a friend of Mazxini and one nf