Year: 1872




remains for the future to decide which is to
win. Things being as they are, the Russian
''halt' is strikingly significant.


The English Press ON tho Presidcn-


tial Election.


The interest felt in England as to the result
OF the Presidential contest was almost as keen
as that felt In America. For some days the
leading organs of English opinion were en-
gagged in foreshadowing the result Of the Presi-
DENTAL contest. So far as we can judge from
the short summaries of the articles which come
to us by telegraph, it would seem that the
English papers have secured the services Of
men somewhat conversant with American
affalrs The Times in leading article pub
lished on the morning of the 5th inst, expressed
On opinion that General Grant would be re-
elected, at the same time stating that,
while the American people were averse to
change in the personnel of the administration,
which would necessarily involve reversal Of
the financial as well as the political policy of
the government they were by no means salts
fed with the way in which the supporters of
Grant had used their power. The Telegraph
thinks that General Grant has deserved re-
election, and that the verdict of the Ameri-
can people disproves the worn-out super
stition that republics are migrate
full. The organ of the conservatives is
more outspoken, and boldly charges
the republican party with having committed
nationally the same crimes as Tammany did
locally. It further expresses an opinion that
neither Grant nor Greeley is fit for the posi-
ton Of President, but thinks that Of two evils
we have chosen the least


This short resume Of English opinion as re-
fected in the leading journals shows that the
people whom we somewhat maliciously call
sour cousins" are beginning to study some-
what more closely the affairs Of this Republic.
We have no doubt that to the telegraph is
due the credit Of working the remarkable
change in the comprehension of our internal
affairs which these articles evidence. In the
views put forward by the different organs Of
English opinion we find a strong reflex Of the
opinions Of parties in this country. But,
strangely enough, the views Of the extreme
democracy ore taken up and supported warmly
by the organs Of the English aristocracy,
while the liberals Of different shades are
almost wholly ranged on the side of the
American republican party. A moments
reflection will, however, reconcile the appa-
rent contradiction. No matter how much
politicians may have endeavored to
evade the true issues of the campaign
which has just closed, the majority
Of the people insisted on looking at the issue
as continuation Of the struggle Of the rebel
lion. The masses Of the North looked with
apprehension on any change that might en-
danger the issues settled by the surrender of
Lee, and though on many points they differed
from the administration, and wished especially
to see o more generous policy adopted
towards the South, yet they sacrificed every
minor issue to the safety of the Union.
Rightly or wrongly, the election of Greeley
was looked upon by the masses in the North
as practical consent to o reversal of the issue
Of the war, and sooner than expose the coun-
try to the danger of any such experiment the
people resolved to maintain the administra-
ton of General Grant They did SO in
the hope that as soon as his lease Of
power was secured he would hasten to get
rid Of the party advisers whose counsels
had brought his government into contempt
and raised up enemies to the administration,
who regretted the necessity Of arraying
themselves against the soldier who had led
the Union armies to victory.


As the tories in England were found aiding
and abetting the rebellion Of the South, as far
as they dared, SO they ara today the friends
Of the party in whose triumph they imagined
they saw means Of checking the progress and
development Of the American Republic. We
believe that they altogether misapprehend the
aim of the party of which Greeley was the
standard bearer. The bitterness of the war
has quite disappeared from the minds of the
people, and only exists in the brains of GER
tain Bourbons who are incapable of appre-
ciating the change which has taken
place in the interests Of the Southern
people There are men in America foolish
enough to hope for the restoration of the
Confederate States as an independent power,
just as there are fossils in France who believe
in 'divine right" or some benighted Scottish
Highlanders who still cherish o reverence for
the house Of Stuart. But the views Of the
Highlander are not more visionary than those
of the men who look forward to the revival of
the Confederate States. The rdison d. etre Of
sentimental connection between English
aristocrats and American democrats, has
therefore ceased, and we think ssour
cousins" are wasting their time and their
rhetoric in attempting to fan old ami
mosities and to belittle the men who re-
present the rival American parties. Neither
the home nor the foreign policy Of Great
Britain has been marked by such re-