If we could put any faith whatever in the
Yankee press, or think there was anything real in Yankee threats, we would look forward with some reasonable expectation that Jonathan and
John Bull would soon fall to blows.
But there is nothing farther from probability while the present war lasts.
There will be no declaration of war against
England at the
North, save in the New York
Herald, and the
British lion will treat the cross-eyed man of that paper with no more respect than did the lion of the menageries the knight,
Don Quixote, who was ten thousand times more worthy a lion's consideration than the infamous
Bennett.
Among the latest telegrams from
Washington — that
Sodom of our times — is one which seriously states as follows:
Washington, July 28--The failure of
Gen.,
Meade to pen up the rebel army under
Lee is the more regretted here, as it is manifest that through the prolongation of the civil war and the deferment of the punishment due to
England and
France for their conduct, under existing circumstances we may be precipitated into a foreign war before we have quite finished up the rebellion.
The prudence of the
British authorities may, however, avert this result.
Earl Russell has, ere this, been informed that the
United States will not permit the fitting out of vessels of war in British ports to prey upon our commerce, and that if it is allowed to proceed we shall not hesitate to capture such vessels.
If this be war,
England "must make the most of it."
Bravo, Jonathan!
What a brave fellow indeed would you prove yourself if you would only stand up to this!
The telegram is felicitous enough to announce that from signs already visible
England will take a sensible view of the course and avoid all collision with us!" First of all, then, Jonathan, you are such a liar that we don't believe you will make your demand — and then, as to
England we shall see whether she will yield or no. If she don't, Jonathan will postpone his war. One or the other will back out, and we rather think it won't be
John Bull.
Now, as to
John Bull's opinion of Jonathan.
In the House of Lords, on the 14th ult., the
Earl of
Carlisle addressed certain questions to Earl Russell relative to the firing of a Federal vessel upon the steamer
Margaret and Jessie, off the Bahamas.
Earl Russell replied that no official report had been made of the affair, "but that he had no doubt the
American Government would make reparation." The noble
Earl was right.
The American Government will "
make reparation," and back down in every instance, to avoid trouble while the rebels are in course of subjugation.
Aye, and if they don't back down quite far enough the noble
Earl and his colleagues of Her Majesty's Cabinet will stoop a little to assist in the amiable diplomacy to avoid the horrid extremity of embroiling quiet, plethoric, trading, thrifty, peace, and money-loving
John Bull in a war!
That would never do, especially as he is making so much out of the
American war!
By that he is enabled to make up the deficit of some $70,000,000 of his cotton exports the last year as compared with 1861.
John Bull and Jonathan will not quarrel.--They can't afford it. Consistency and honor do not belong to their diplomacy.
Expediency is their guide, and just now it is not expedient to quarrel.
As shown in the above quotation, each expects the other to back down, and if neither will, then will both of them crawfish enough from each other to avoid a scrape.
