The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-26
A LITTLE HISTORY.
HOW THE UNITED STATES NARROW
" ESCAPED WAR WITH ENGLAND.
a story That Has Been Handed Down
from Thuriow Weed When America
Needed IA Friend in Parliament the
Election OF One Was Assured.

Especial Corrcsponlence.l
New York. March i0.--At Il Dime,
party given by one of the most distin
guishcd merchants of New York city IT
Gently the conversation over the cofie,
and cigars turned upon the question
whether it was exactly Il proper act fol-
a citizen of the United States to con
tribute money to assist a political part,
III Great Britain. as has been done b,
the friends of the Irish parliamcntar,
party in this country.
One or two of the gentlemen present
were disposed 10 doubt the propriety OF
such action, although expressing entire
sympathy for the Irish people.
ut has been done before" said one OF
the guests, a gentleman who is presidcn,
OF one of the largest banks in New York
land was done in the time of our great
national peril. | think the story-has
never been told. | heard it myself from
Mr.. Thurlow Weed, who in his old age
was full of most delightful rcminis-
ccnces."
Being urged. the bank president con-
scnted to tell this story. which has in it
the suggestion Of the narrow escape
which the United States had from a war
with England within Il year of the time
that the war of the rebellion broke out.
The story is hs follows: In the sun.
mer of 1861 President Lincoln sent
Thurlow Weed, Archbishop hughes and
Bishop Mcllvanc ~ special ambassadors
To represent this government in Great
Britain and France. The mission of
this embassy was To prevent. if possible.
the recognition OF tn" Confcdrra," states
by Great Brirain and France. for if WAS
knoWn that both these governments
contemplated such an act. The feeling
among the upper Glasses in Great Brit
ain was one of sympathy with the Con-
f~cdcracy. while i'll France Louis Ma.
polcon. then emperor. was known TO be
dtslro'tS of III" surcc Of the Confedrr.
ate cause.
After the arrival Of the embassy they
found Great Britain iniiamrl by the
capture of Mason ana Slidell. the Con-
federate ambassadors who were. r,ssru-
gers on the British steamship Tren,. The
feeling was most warlikr. aud il was
shared by the British ministry. Earl
Russell had prepared II nnir addressed
through the British minister at Wash
iIlgton to the state department. which
was in effect no,hin" less than i, ,lrcla.
OF war. Its language was So Of
fcnsive that Secretary seward would
been compelled in behalf Of the
honor of the United States either To have
to receive it or 10 have replied
IN kind. In either event Great Britain
would have declared war.
Thnrlow Weed was informed by
George Peabody. the American banker
living in London, that the situation wa,
very critical. that troops were undrr or
ierS TO embark for Canada. and that
war was imminent. Mr.. Weeds duties
tins time made it necessary for him
go to Paris. rs he thought. On the
ave of his intended departure AN Eng
islrman called upon him. saving that it
vas vital for the interests of the United
that he Should remain. He would
Dc invited " lunch given by Lrrd Rus
sell. and he would receive at that dim
Ter party Il hint Of utmost consequence,
winch he conll convey privately To his
government.
This Englislnman had been IA member
II parliament. but had been defeated for
collection. He was an enthusiastic ad.
nlr"r of the United States and in thor
'n.:lI sympathy with the Union side of
h" controversy then raging. He had
Mr.. Weed and the other cmlmS-a-
Tors ald OF the creates; Importance. and
le wa therefor" to he trusted.
Mr.. Weed postponed his trip IL
rance, accepted the invitation Of Lord
Lady Russell, and went on the next
with his daughter. Miss Harriet
t" tho lunch given 10y Lord and
lady Russell. When lunch was all
Lord Russell escorted Miss
Weed, and Lady Russell. taking Mr..
arm, said to him, with II manner
I gentle COURTESY: Mr.. Weed. do Won
now that you are on historic ground:
here is no great hurry. and You may
ut have another opportunity 10 have
he points of interest shown to Won. For
yonder is the place where
lenry VIII stood when his wife. Anne
was being e~Xrcutrd." Thus
Lady Russell led Mr.. Weed IA
ttle to one side. She pointed out other
laces of interest in that historic vicin-
y. She told him some traditional an
of Henry VIII. Yet there was
nat in her manner which Indicated to
lr. Weed that she had something of
lore immediate importance to commu-
than historical anecdotes. o mat
II how interesting.
At last, when they were beyond the
Of any of the COMPANY, Lady
.usscll said: Mr.. Weed. you know
,mctimcs 1T is said that women cannot
ccp Il secret. ! do not believe this al
avs to he true; bur | ann going to I'M
art 10 you a little secret. not because
lllot keep it. but because Want Won
know who your friends are. Do not
2 disturbed owe the present situation.
he queen and lii" prince coISort are
Of your country, and when YOUR
%Jvernlnent hears froin ours in re,pect
Al IL.