New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-28
A DEBT OWED TO THE QUEEN.
| POW SHE AND PRINCE ALBERT AvERTED WAR
WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE
TROUBIOUS DAYS OF 'Gl
To the Editor of The Tribune.

TROlBloUS DAYS OF ol
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In this week of Jubilee, so universal among
loyal Engshmcn and SO credtable to them, we
who love our own Republic ought TO tell our chill
dren and grandchildren Of the debt we owe to the
good British Queen
1t will be impossible for those who were not In 1t
and of il to comprehend the peril Of our country
during the fortnight following November Il. 1861.
The Rebellion had developed Its gigantic proper
tions-our Army had been driven panic-stricken
from the field of Bull Run. \ great political party
was proclaimng in Congress and everywhere that
the Rebellion could not be put down Leading Eng
lish statesmen and journals were gleefully awaiting
the hour which The London Times" said was
close at hand when "the forciho subjugatlon or
the South should prove hopeless task! Ana
even Mr. Gladstone (Neque semper arcum tendit
Apollo declared that jefferson Davis has made
of the South nation. and separation Is as certain
as any event yet future and contingent, can be
Great Britain was pressing France TO join her In
a recognition of the Southern Confederacy. ana we
had not a haf-score OF influential friends In the
Great British Empire
And many Americans seemed TO have lost their
heads. whor. on that November II. the San Jacinto
steamed into HAMPTON Roads and Captain Wilkes
telegraphcd Secretary Wees that he had taken
Mason and Sldell, the Confederate ENJOYS. out OF
the British steamship Trent on the high seas ana
held them as prisoners his vessel the secretary
wired Captain Wilkes that his conduct had t"e
emphatic approval OF the Navy Department ana
the House of Representatives voted Wilkes inc
thanks of Congress In a resolution advocated by
vallordipbar, and every traitor from the loyal
States in that body.
The news reached Liverpool and produced an eN-
ploson OF British wrath throughout the empire
Public meetings were held In when ana /" 'ne
press the British lion roared Tremendously 'ha'
we must humble ourselves in the dust give up me
ID ,ba ~
IN the language OF THE Morning Chronicle, Coh-
gress must sit down like ancient Pistol, to eat 'he
lec it had nsultingly brandshed in BRUSH races.
Great Britain had no wish that we shouio dcoeue
to her demands for the surrender OF our prisoners
She wanted war and. with war. the destruction OF
orr Republic She called all her warlike resources
into activity and her whole Empire resounded with
the clamor of preparation orders were sent 10 all
her colonies. TO her squadrons in every sea 10
make ready 10 crush us in single combined at
tack the moment they were advised that we would
not accede to her demands within the short week
which she allowed for their consideration
our refusal was assumed a foregone concu-
sion. The demand formulated by Earl nus
sell who had both the ability and the will to pre-
sent it in a form insulting that we could not
Weld TO il without National humiliation. when
would cause a revolution in the loyal States and
force the Republic into one foreign ana TWO civil
wars and thus insure It's Inevitable destruction.
her Ministers her royal will that she must he con-
suited and her assent secured before any act Of
National Importance was finally done. And she,
lijso dutiful wife was accustomed to consult and
be Influenced by that noble Prince Consort VINO
was so worthy Of her love and Of the confidence OF
the British people No Minister of the crown
cared TO take the risk OF making such demand as
Earl Russell had framed in the Queens name with
out her knowledge. Accordingly, while the prepa-
ratjons for war were pressed forward, a messenger
from Downing Street carried the dispatch 10 the
Queen TO procure her signature TO 1t before 1t was
sent by a swift steamer to Lord Lyons, the British
Minister AT Washington to he read to Secretary
seward and compiled with in seven days, with the
alternatiV of
Al This lime the Prince Consort lay stricken with
the disease which a few weeks later terminated his
noble His W. b the So 3EeeT OF asrn
rived The dispatch fell into the hands Of Prince
A s6s an" nee his acts promptly con9T
hcnGed what II was and what IT ought TO be, WIZ
fingers which held the pen for the last time ana
weak in muscular strength, but directed by mind
always clear. calm and statesnaanlike he erased
and inserted, changed and modified the d0cumenii
until IL lost every trace OF insult and passion ana
was transformed into DISPATCH which might prop
cry be sent by ore great nation to another OF tne
same blood. and complied with by that oihcr WIN,
was the dispatch Of Prince Albert, and not that of
Earl Russell that approved by the Queen OIL
heF true rTn FRIEND o Of 9 6e MoTh ANA aSo to deliver
Mr. Seward without irritation or any widening OF
them they arranged for the surrender Of the ENJOYS
at place and in manner which neither magnl,,
fed their mission nor attracted the a'teh''oh Vi
the American press or people. ror, p,ss,,..
from a second dispatch from the Earl to Lord
written b on ns bo %8 Mr. Ths sewSd NIX
for delay" wrote The Earl. you Will consent 10
DELAY not exceeding seven days. If, at the end of
that time, no answer is given, or If any Other an
swer is given EXCEPT that Of compliance WIN tie
shin is instructed to leave Washington with all the
members Of your legation and to repair immedi-
Mr WaTd answer to Iice-Admirai Milne Cof the
British Atlantic squadron and TO the Governors
Bermuda and such other Of Her Msjesty's posses.
sions may be within your reach" No doubt ne
dictatOrial language ana temper. - ,,-
Mr.. Seward to surrender the prisoners and to de-
monstrate by one of tho most powerful dspatch'
to be found in The records OF d3Umaog nf@5
and that could not refuse 10 surrender me pre-
the Government Instead of provoking me loyal Id
states to revolution, as our enemies native an, ana
it met with universal approval. When portion Of
the British press attributed tne surrender to COW.
escaped the ridcule of provoking a tempest IN
teapot by their Ut n Tabe snTeys was not made
in one of our great harbors to the flagship or
British vice admiral, with thunder OF cannon ana 20
token Of humble submission! 1t was made from
b bg gn the shore Soe of Cape Cod Where they
be heroes and martyrs and, as Mr. Seward pre-
dicted subsidized into an insignfcance from which
thev never emerged The good Prince had, IN
The mean time. passed TO his reward beyond the
river But our Republic survived all It's enemies
And II still lives restored. purified with the pros,
nect OF permanent nfe-,he hope OF mankind and
the home Of free men. And as long as II exists II
viii hear upon its records high among the names
of those who have contributed TO it's Perpetuity..
who were its friends IA the hour OF its supreme
Worn the names of the best of British soverei2ns
ana her consort and counsellor.of victoria, then
Queen and now Empress. and OF Prince Albert, a
Wiser statesman than Earl Russell. truer prophet
than Mr.. Gladstone and a better TREND ,nsn Hhy
Enelishman. ]" II. UNI ifNbr'|
N..rls