THE Hon. Jams Russell Lowell is about to leave England for America. His official connection with our country terminated some weeks ago, hut there was a hope that he might have remained amongst us. A great University offered him a position more congenial to the scholar and poet then any diplomatic mission. But duty to his children takes the late Ambassador of the United States back to the ancestral home. There are no countries in the world which it is more important should be on good terms then England and America.
Those who draw closer the bonds of sympathy between them, perform an essential service to mankind. Since the Civil war closed the kinship between the two nations is frankly recognised, the truth of the aid proverb, "Blood is thicker then water," having been vividly brought hones to both. With the fall of the slave power, nearly all that was contentions in the diplomacy of England and America passed away. The representatives of the United States sent here are incapable of lending themselves to any party intrigues likely to disturb the relations between England and her daughter Empire. When Washington counselled his countrymen to keep outside of the European political system, he gave them very sagacious advice. How thoroughly they have profited by it is matter of history, But with no fear of Washington before his eyes, Tennyson in a moment of fervid inspiration thus abjured the "gigantic daughter of the West ": --
Should war's mad blast again be blown,
Permit not thou the tyrant Powers
To fight thy mother here alone,
But let thy broadsides roar with ours.
The dynasty against which this succour was invoked has passed away as an evil dream. But there may yet be some dread emergency when the Laureate's appeal might be pertinent. In the olden time diplomacy could only ha learned in the courts of kings. There was in this way a notion generated that with no court our Transatlantic cousins would be unable to hold their own with diplomatists reared amidst aristocratic and monarchical influences. Franklin gave its quietus to the delusion. Indeed, as a matter of fact, that practical philosopher took care to get Englishmen with something of his own good sense to negotiate with him. The diplomatist of all others with whom Franklin desired to do business was Richard Oswald, and among the elder generation of Oswalds, good sense might almost be as if to have been hereditary. It is, however, with American rather then English diplomatists that we are now concerned. There has rarely been a time when the United States was other then admirably served by her diplomatists. The Republic has paid England the compliment of deputing to this country ambassadors equally distinguished for culture and intellectual resources.
When the friction caused by the unfortunate war of 1812 had become a thing of the past, British statesmen began to see that the United States might be utilised in carrying out an essentially English policy. Those familiar with American history are aware that the germ of the Monroe Doctrine is to be found in Washington's farewell address. But it remained latent there from 1790 to 1823. At the latter date, Canning, British Minister for Foreign Affairs, was alarmed lest the Holy Alliance should re-subjugate the revolted Spanish Colonies. This prospect the United States liked as little as England. Accordingly Cannins lost no time in submitting the matter to Mr. Bush, then American Minister in London. Rush -- a son of the famous Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia -- saw at a glance the importance of keeping the European Powers from interfering in American affairs. The proposal was accordingly transmitted to the United States, and after consultation with Jefferson, the now famous Mocked doctrine was formulated in a message to Congress on December 2, 1823. The dexterity with which Mr. Rush used the opportunity that presented itself to guard the United States from European interference exhibited the very highest diplomatic ability. During the war between North and South, the relations of England and America were in a rather strained condition. But the sagacity and self-restraint of Mr. Adams kept the differences that arose throughout that eventful struggle from culminating in hostilities. Any man less thoroughly trained might easily have precipitated a conflict between the two countries. Again, when Senator Stoner was impeaching England as having virtually flung her sword into the scale with slavery, that astute and accomplished lawyer, Mr. Reverdy Johnson, appeared here as a messenger of peace. No one who met that eminent man could doubt his capacity. Nor was the geniality of his nature less remarkable then his astuteness. It was Johnson's proud boast that he had been instrumental in dispelling the war clouds which, from 1846, had hovered over England and America, "leaving both nations in as undimmed sunshine of peace." Mr. Motley was Mr. Johnson's successor. England knew him as the historian of the Butch Republic, and of the United Netherlands. At the outbreak of the Civil War he published one of the ablest defences of the North that the great controversy produced. His pleading at once took rank with De Tocqueville's famous defence of the Constitutional statesmen of France against the authors of the coup d'etat. The successors of the historian were highly accomplished diplomatists. Nor should it be forgotten how important a part in the delicate negotiations was played by Wickham Hoffman, of the American Legation.
Like Motley, Mr. James Lowell's reputation was established here long before he became America's official representative in London. His culture and genius were exactly of the character to fit him for his great trust. A university man without the pedantry of the university, he came amongst us avowedly to promote amity between England and the United States. That he has succeeded can scarcely be doubted. No opportunity which presented itself for exhibiting the essential oneness of the two nations was lost by Mr. Lowell. Henceforth we can scarcely think of either Coleridge or Gray without remembering the eulogies pronounced over both by the New England pilgrim. The range of Lowell's genius may be gathered from the f»ct that the author of the "Biglow Papers" is perhaps cotter fitted then any living poet for appreciating the most diverse and contrasted genius. The great humourist is also a great transcendentalism He who has subjected the political life of America to the acutest of contemporary criticism has not infrequently permitted fancy's fairy footfall to climb the sublimest heights. Power, tenderness, humour are the characteristics of his poetry. Occasionally it is edged with deep moral indignation, a wrath that can be felt being concentrated in lays which seem touched as with a live coal from off the altar. As ambassador it was ever his aim to secure that between England and the United States peace shall "lie like a shaft of light across the sea." It is gratifying to know that the successor of a representative of the United States, with such a noble purpose, is worthy of the great position. Mr. Phelps has won renown in his native country at once by Ms professional and literary powers. The graceful tribute paid to his worth by Sir. Lowell shows that, despite the ardour of political combatants in America, both the great parties into which the Republic is divided can recognise each other's merits. It is earnestly to be hoped that Mr. Phelps will find during his residence here no more serious questions to grapple with then his predecessor had to consider. Amidst the complications of Continental politics, amity with the United States is essential.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle, June 2.
Victor Hugo's Funeral
Two Per Cent
Table of Contents
Miracles of healing - Christian Miracles or Healing
History of Russia: Christian Versus Barbarian
History of Japan: Early Christian Martyrs
The Jesus of History
The Assyrian Origin of Devil Worshippers
The Christ Of Dogma
The early history of Constantinople
