按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。
However； for one moment in the autumn of 1861； it seemed as if all the masterful work of the Northern navy would be undone by the Northern people themselves in backing up the rashness of Captain Charles Wilkes； of the war…ship San Jacinto。 On the high seas he overhauled the British mail steamer； Trent。 Aboard her were two Confederate diplomatic agents； James M。 Mason and John Slidell； who had run the blockade from Charleston to Havana and were now on their way to England。 Wilkes took off the two Confederates as prisoners of war。 The crowd in the North went wild。 〃We do not believe；〃 said the New York Times； 〃that the American heart ever thrilled with more sincere delight。〃
The intemperate joy of the crowd over the rashness of Wilkes was due in part to a feeling of bitterness against the British Government。 In May； 1861； the Queen had issued a proclamation of neutrality； whose justification in international law was hotly debated at the time and was generally denied by Northerners。 England was the great cotton market of the world。 To the excited Northern mind； in 1861； there could be but one explanation of England's action： a partisan desire to serve the South； to break up the blockade； and to secure cotton。 Whether such was the real purpose of the ministry then in power is now doubted； but at that time it was the beginning of a sharp contention between the two Governments。 The Trent affair naturally increased the tension。 So keen was the indignation of all classes of Englishmen that it seemed； for a moment； as if the next step would be war。
In America； the prompt demand for the release of Mason and Slidell was met； at first； in a spirit equally bellicose。 Fortunately there were cool and clear heads that at once condemned Wilkes's action as a gross breach of international law。 Prominent among these was Sumner。 The American Government； however； admitted the justice of the British demand and the envoys were released。
Relations with the United States now became a burning issue in English politics。 There were three distinct groups in Parliament。 The representatives of the aristocracy； whether Liberals or Conservatives； in the main sympathized with the South。 So did most of the large manufacturers whose business interests were affected by cotton。 Great bitterness grew up among the Northerners against both these groups； partly because in the past many of their members had condemned slavery and had said scornful things about America for tolerating it。 To these Northerners the Englishmen replied that Lincoln himself had declared the war was not over slavery； that it was an ordinary civil war not involving moral issues。 Nevertheless； the third Parliamentary group insisted that the American war； no matter what the motives of the participants； would； in the event of a Northern victory； bring about the abolition of slavery； whereas； if the South won； the result would be the perpetuation of slavery。 This third group； therefore； threw all its weight on the side of the North。 In this group Lincoln recognized his allies； and their cause he identified with his own in his letter to English workmen which was quoted in the previous chapter。 Their leaders in Parliament were Richard Cobden； W。 E。 Forster； and John Bright。 All these groups were represented in the Liberal party； which； for the moment； was in power。
In the Cabinet itself there was a 〃Northern〃 and a 〃Southern〃 faction。 Then； too； there were some who sympathized with the North but who felt that its cause was hopelessso little did they understand the relative strength of the two sectionsand who felt that the war was a terrible proof of the uselessness of mere suffering。 Gladstone； in later days； wished to be thought of as having been one of these； though at the time； a famous utterance of his was construed in the North as a declaration of hostility。 To a great audience at Newcastle he said in October； 1862： 〃We may have our own opinions about slavery； we may be for or against the South； but there is no doubt that Jefferson Davis and other leaders of the South have made an army； they are making； it appears； a navy； and they have made； what is more than eitherthey have made a nation。〃
The Prime Minister； Lord Palmerston； wished to intervene in the American war and bring about an amicable separation into two countries； and so； apparently； did the Foreign Secretary； Lord John Russell。 Recently； the American minister had vainly protested against the sailing of a ship known as 290 which was being equipped at Liverpool presumably for the service of the Confederacy； and which became the famous Alabama。 For two years it roved the ocean destroying Northern commerce； and not until it was sunk at last in a battle with the U。 S。 S。 Kearsarge did all the maritime interests of the North breathe again freely。 In time and as a result of arbitration； England paid for the ships sunk by the Alabama。 But in 1862； the protests of the American minister fell on deaf ears。
It must be added that the sailing of the Alabama from Liverpool was due probably to the carelessness of British officials rather than to deliberate purpose。 And yet the fact is clear that about the first of October； 1862； the British ministry was on the verge of intervening to secure recognition of the independence of the Southern confederacy。 The chief motive pressing them forward was the distress in England caused by the lack of cotton which resulted from the American blockade。 In 1860； the South had exported 615；000 bales； in 1861； only 10；127 bales。 In 1862 half the spindles of Manchester were idle； the workmen were out of employment； the owners were without dividends。 It was chiefly by these manufacturing capitalists that pressure was put upon the ministry； and it was in the manufacturing district that Gladstone； thinking the Government was likely to intervene； made his allusion to the South as a nation。
Meanwhile the Emperor of the French was considering a proposal to England and Russia to join with him in mediation between the American belligerents。 On October 28； 1862； Napoleon III gave audience to the Confederate envoy at Paris； discussed the Southern cause in the most friendly manner； questioned him upon the Maryland campaign； plainly indicated his purpose to attempt intervention； and at parting cordially shook hands with him。 Within a few days the Emperor made good his implied promise。
The month of November； 1862； is one of the turningpoints in American foreign relations。 Both Russia and England rejected France's proposal。 The motive usually assigned to the Emperor Alexander is his hatred of everything associated with slavery。 His own most famous action was the liberation of the Russian serfs。 The motives of the British ministry； however； appear more problematical。
Mr。 Rhodes thinks he can discern evidence that Adams communicated indirectly to Palmerston the contents of a dispatch from Seward which indicated that the United States would accept war rather than mediation。 Palmerston had kept his eyes upon the Maryland campaign； and Lee's withdrawal did not increase his confidence in the strength of the South。 Lord Russell； two months previous； had flatly told the Confederate envoy at London that the South need not hope for recognition unless it could establish itself without aid； and that 〃the fluctuating events of the war； the alternation of defeat and victory；〃 composed such a contradictory situation that 〃Her Majesty's Government are still determined to wait。〃
Perhaps the veiled American warningassuming it was conveyed to Palmerston； which seems highly probablewas not the only diplomatic innuendo of the autumn of 1862 that has escaped the pages of history。 Slidell at Paris； putting together the statements of the British Ambassador and those of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs； found in them contradictions as to what was going on between the two governments in relation to America。 He took a hand by attempting to inspire M。 Drouyn de L'huys with distrust of England； telling him he 〃HAD SEEN。。。a letter from a leading member of the British Cabinet。。。in which he very plainly insinuated that France was playing an unfair game；〃 trying to use England as Napoleon's catspaw。 Among the many motives that may well have animated the Palmerston Government in its waiting policy； a distrust of Napoleon deserves to be considered。
It is scarcely rash； however； to find the chief motive in home politics。 The impetuous Gladstone at Newcastle lost his head and spoke too soon。 The most serious effect of his premature utterance was the prompt reaction of the 〃Northern party〃 in the Cabinet and in the country。 Whatever Palmerston's secret desires were； he was not prepared to take the high hand； and he therefore permitted other members of the Cabinet to state in public that Gladstone had been misunderstood。 In an interview with Adams； Lord Russell； 〃whilst endeavoring to excuse Mr。 Gladstone；〃 assured him that 〃the policy of the Government was to adhere to a strict neutrality and leave the struggle to settle itself。〃 In the last analysis； the Northern party in England was gaining ground。 The news from America； possibly； and Gladstone's rashness； certainly； roused it to increased acti