The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-08
VICTORIA OUR FRIEND.
Her Diplomatic Actions Saved the Union
in Early Days of the Rebellion.

named Williams, and from the Trent
had taken the two confederate commits
sioners, James M. Mason accredited to
England, and John Slidell, bound Tor
Paris. These same gray-headed ones
can also recall how the thrill of exul-
tation changed to one of actual dread
when, in what would now seem very
slow course of communication, we
learned that England had very pro-
perly resented this act and already had
ordered much of her navy to rendez-
vous at Portsmouth in order that pre-
parations for war against the North
should be in forward state. The
whole country was intoxicated in those
days with the fumes of battle, al
though we grew sadder and saner as
the years of strife went on. A large
party in the North was ready to insist
upon a course Of defiance which, if
persisted, in would have meant the
recognition of the South by England
and France and permanent division
of the states of the union.
At that time Palmerston was the
English premier, with Lord John Rus
sell as foreign secretary. Both these
gentlemen were in sympathy with the
South, regarded the North as nation
of tricksters, with all the character
istics which went to make up the
'Sam Slick of trade and politics and
both really beheld the opportunity to
administer lesson to the Lincoln gov
eminent with delight. On November
twenty ninth a council of ministers of
England was held at which a letter
was ordered sent by Lord John Russell
to Lord Lyons, the British minister at
Washington, in which was peremp-
torily demanded the release of Messrs.
Mason and Slidell and disavowal on
the part of this government of the act
of Captain Wilkes. The letter was in
the nature of an ultimatum and it
stated in plain terms that wanton
insult had been put upon England
and if the terms in Lord Russell s note
were not complied with, Lord Lyons
was to leave Washington at once and
all diplomatic relations thus broken
off. On that day November twenty
ninth), the decision of the council
was laid before Queen Victoria and
her consort, Prince Albert, and from
Martins Life of the Prince Consort,
we learn the reply that was sent to the
ministers. 1t reads as follows
1.-THE queen returns these important
drafts, which, upon the whole, she
approves, butts he cannot help feelin g
that the main draft-that for COM
munication to the American govern
ment-is somewhat meagre. She would
have liked to have seen the expression
of a hope that the American Captain
did not act under Instructions or, if
he did, that he missapprehended- that
the United States government must be
fully aware that the British govern
ment could not allow it's flag to be in
suited and the security of its mail
communication to be placed in jeo-
pardy, and her Majesty's government
is unwilling to believe that the
United States government intended
wantonly to put an INSULT upon this
country and to add to their many dis
tressing complications by forcing a
question of dispute upon US and that
we are therefore glad to believe that
upon a full consideration of the Cir
cumstances of the undoubted breach
of international law, committed, they
would spontaneously offer such redress
as alone would satisfy this country,
viz the restoration of the unfortunate
passengers and suitable apology
1t is not hard to see the vast differ
ence between the temperate and justi-
fcation words of the queen and the
irritating language of Russell's note.
We all know what happened. We re-
member that Secretary Of States Sew
ard prepared draft of letter in
reply to the communication as finally
received from Great Britain, how
Abraham Lincoln, that marvel of the
century just passed, rewrote Seward S
note and how Seward, with the spirit
of great man himself, acknowledged
that Lineolns draft was the better of
the two. We know, too, that the act
was practically disavowed, commits
sioners surrendered and that this gov
eminent was admitted to have come
off with some credit in the affair, in
that it was pointed out to England
that while the act of Wilkes was I'M
justifable Great Britain herself had
furnished such noteworthy presidents
therefor that in 1912 this country
found it necessary to go to war to
maintain the integrity of the United
States nationality on board United
States ships.
By her action at this memorable
crisis Queen Victoria saved the Union.
Many occasions offered, subsequent to
the civil war, upon which Queen
Victoria could show her friendliness
to the American Republic. We are
not aware that she ever neglected such
an occasion. We do remember how
great was her sympathy when, for the
second time in its history, the United
States was called upon to mourn the
loss of president, victim of an as
sassin' 8 bullet.