Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-03-30
ANGLO-AMERiCAN ALLIANCE.

Adams, Jr., edited by his son, some
pertinent points are brought to the
light of day touching the attitude of
England toward the United States in
the time OF the civil war.
Now while so much is being said
about the friendship of England in the
late Spanish war, and the present Hay.
Pauncefote canal treaty, a review of
the English attitude in 1S61-5 may
not be out of place.
Mr.. Adams, who was United States
! Minister to England under the Lin
coin administration, left diary very
full of the subject of his experiences
there. Opinion "was bitterly, aggres-
sively, vindictively hostile" He adds:
at is, in fact difficult now to realize
the language used in 1862-63 towards
the men of the north by Englishmen
who professed the most intimate
knowledge of them. For instance, a
Mr.. COwell, who had at one time lived
for several years in the United States
as the representative of no less an in
stitution than the Bank OF England
but was now residing in apparent re-
tirement at Cannes, in pamphlet
published about thfs time, in reference
to points in the Yankee national
character which ought to be borne in
mind thus delivered himself: The
narrow, fanatical and originally sim
cere puritanism of their ancestors has,
in the course of six generations, degen-
Grated into that amalgam of hypoc-
risy, cruelty, falsehood, unconscious
ness of the faintest sentiments of self.
respect, coarseness OF self.assertion, in
sensibility to the opinions of others
utter callousness to right, barbarous
delight in wrong, and thoroughly
moral ruffianism, which is now fully
revealed to the world as the genuine
Yankee nature; and of which Butler,
Seward, etc., who are pure representa-
tive Yankees, afford finished exam
ples.' And it was from the govern
ment of a community OF this charac-
acter that the emancipation proclama-
ton of 1862 was, among those COM
prising certain influential classes OF
British society, supposed to have ema-
mated"
Early in 1868, however, strong
counter current Of opinion set in,
mainly from the organizations of
workingmen; and in time it became
the prevailing current. Yet even after
the Exeter hall meeting January 80.
1868, in support of the Presidents ac-
tion. The Times denounced the proc
lamation as the ultimate device of
malice and hatred. EVERY consider
alton OF patriotism and policy calls
upon him to put an end to the hope
less contest, but he considers the ruin
is not deep enough, and SO he calls to
his aid the execrable expedient of
servile insurrection. Egypt is de-
stroyed; but his heart is hardened,
and he will not let the people CO."
This sort of thing, which the son de.
scribes as "the daily outpouring OF
vindictive cant and simulated piety,"
moved the wrath of the father, and
the Adams temper vented itself in an
entry in his diary: "Thus it is that
the utter hollowness of the former in
dignation against America for uphold.
ing slavery is completely exposed. The
motives of that censure, rs for the
present emotion, are jealousy, fear and
hatred. 1t is impossible for me to ex-
press the contempt l feel for nation
which exhibits itself to the world and
posterity in this guise. 1t is a COM
plete forfeiture of the old reputation
for manliness and honesty"
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