Year: 1870

THOMAS HUGHES.


Mr. Thomas Hughes, who spoke his first and
farewell word to a New-York public last night,
and who leaves us in tO-day's steamer has
been more cordially welcomed in this country
than any other Englishman could be with the
single exception of John Bright. We had
learned to regard him as close friend years
ago. The book which first brought him into
notice touched chord in all manly hearts,
and awakened sentiment Of personal regard
of the readers for the writer which is one OF
the rarest and most precious OF all the rewards
of literary success. When Mr.. Hughes entered
public life, it was no surprise to us to find
him as liberal. honest, and straightforward IN
his politics as he was in his bOoks-as we
knew he must be, too, in all his personal re-
lations. When our civil war drew the lines
sharply between the true and the false friends
of liberty and national progress, it was no
more than we expected that he should take
bold stand upon our side, and appreciate the
Justice of our cause and the deep interest
which humanity had in our success. We have
not forgotten how necessarily he worked for
us, and perhaps we may never fully realize
how much he and the few Jealous Liberals who
co0perated with him actually did to prevent
the British Government from committing itself
to the Confederate cause.


Mr. Hughes, therefore, is a man to whom
America might have rendered the vulgar
bonOrs of that tumultuOus sort OF welcome
which is commonly called "an ovation" We
are glad that he has been spared that offensive
exhibition Of hospitality. He has made quiet
ba
has not been tortured with official dinners and
receptions; he has been suffered TO go his way
in peace getting q heartfelt welcome and
warm grip Of the hand wherever he has seen
fit to stop, and making new friends wherever
he has allowed himself to speak. We have
nothing TO regret, now that he is going away,
except that he goes soon, and that II has
not been possible for lis to show him more at
tention without infringing upon that privacy
which even politician must be allowed to prize.
Mr.. Hughes has not only given ue great
deal of pleasure by his visit, but he has done,
we believe, great deal of good. He has not
taught US to think Just what he thinks about
the Alabama claims; but he has readjusted our
sentimental relations with Great Britain, which
were certainly awhile ago very much ont of
order. We had been getting into frame of
mind most unfavorable to a peaceful settle
ment of our difficulty, or even to any discus
sion of it. A few frank words from Mr..
Hughes though they will not affect our posi-
ton on the main question, have gone far to
allay our irritation, and dispose us to press our
demands with that equable temper and sub
stantial friendliness of spirit which are the
surest guarantees of success.


Scarcely less marked is the service he rem
ders in the closing words he addressed last
night to the most crowded and enthusiastic
audience gathered for many month in a
New-York lecture-rO Our laboring classes,
blindly adopting the abandoned weapons of
their English brethren, may well be
admonished by this trusted English friend
that q more excellent way has been found
that strikes are relic of barbarism, which
ought to be outgrown; that Labor and Capital
are allies by ties of cOnsanguiDity as well as
interest; that there is no excuse for the tyranny
of Labor Unions over their own members in a
country where the demand for Labor is far in
advance of the supply and that here, as well
as in England, Cooperation furnishes the true
solution for labor difficulties. In England Mr..
Hughes has been the wOrkingmen's champion.
It will bc fortunate for them and US If here
they are wise enough to accept him for a coun-
aelor