The Sun. — 1863-03-30 (London, England)

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.  SATURDAY REVIEW.—It was easy to foresee that, in addressing a meeting of Trades Unions on the American question, Mr. Bright would continue the task of his life by propagating social animosity and political disaffection. Even demagogues mu-t have something to love in the midst of their habitual hatred. Mr. Bright has his peculiar patriotism, but it regards a country which is not his own. His enthusiastic affection for America is only the supplement or reverse of his malignant hostility to the country and constitution which he intends to de. scribe in his implied antithesis. In the United Kingdom another thirty millions of men, not uniformly prosperous, have suffered under the tyranny of a Queen, and have abhorred the pageant of a Court, while a House of Lords, an Established Church, a standing army and a navy, with their attendant taxes and debts, have filled up the measure of their wrongs. As long as republican felicity appeared to be realised in another hemisphere, there was some hope that the contrast might encourage formidable discontent in England. But when discord was unexpectedly introduced into the Transatlantic Paradise, Mr. Bright's dream of revolution was rudely interrupted. His band of thirty million brothers, divided into two unequal sections, have for two years been engagedin mutual slaughter. They have extemporised two enormous armies, one considerable navy, two large debts, and two systems of taxation collectively heavier than that which oppresses England. Instead of Queen Victoria, they have both Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Jefferson Davis ; for State priests, they have the murderous brawlers of the New York and Boston pulpits; and their nobles derive their titles, like Mr. Cassius Clay, from intellect, or, like Gen. Butler and Mr. Cameron, from virtue. The best commentary on Mr. Bright's patriotism is furnished by the exceptional eulogies on his conduct and character which are always introduced into the most raving American declamations against England. Even the Irish Anti• Secession orators of New York, when  they prophesy a future secession of their native island, add a paint to their attacks on the English name and race by reserving a tribute to " that great and good man, John Bright," who has fairly earned the love of every enemy of his country. Oa Thursday night he provided additional encouragement to Mr. Cassius Clay, who is about once more to represent at a European Court the respect of his Government for diplomatic decency and for the rights of a friendly country. If pirates are sent from American harbours to commence an unprovoked war by preying upon English commerce, their instigators and apologists will quote Mr. Bright's declaration that "Privilege"—or, in other words, England—" shuddered at the spectacle of American prosperity." His oration was intended equally to encourage the good-will of the working classes to the North, and to stimulate the already superfluous animosity of the Federal population towards England. It may safely be asserted that the leaders and representatives of English opinion are incapable of imitating his extravagant injustice. The most considerable statesmen of all parties have urged the population to acquiesce without resistance in the sufferings occasioned by the blockade of the Southern ports. Mr. Bright perversely throws the blame on the cotton-growers and the Confederate Government, because the inhabitants of an invaded country have the courage and self-denial to destroy their property rather than to provide resources for an enemy. It is idle to pretend that his zealous adherence to the Northern cause is dictated by humanity, or by any motive except political attachment to democratical institutions. As long as the Slave States remained within the Union, they had no warmer friend than the orator who now attributes to them as a crime their resolute defence of their own independence. Some of the audience had perhaps recently applauded speeches in favour of another country, which is, with less hope of success, resisting a foreign invader. Mr. Bright himself may vindicate his consistency by proving that, after the United States, and even in preference to Imperial France, his cordial esteem has always been bestowed upon Russia.