the head, and really reflected their sentiment as to the
advantage which would come to England if the rebellion should be
successful and the Southern Confederacy established. They had
witnessed the marvelous growth of the United States and had concluded
that, already a powerful rival, the Republic would certainly be
dangerous as an enemy. This view is discernible in the Tory speeches
in Parliament and in the Tory press of England, and was the motive
which inspired so many Englishmen to connive at the destruction of the
American Union. They went to great length, even establishing an
association to promote the cause of the rebellion, and to supply the
Confederate Treasury with money. Lord Robert Cecil was one of the
Vice-Presidents of the "Southern Independence Association" and a
subscriber to the Confederate loan, as were also Mr. Roebuck, Mr.
Gregory, and many other members of the British Parliament.(2)

The conduct of the Tories was not, however, a surprise to the
American people. From the earliest period of our National existence
we had received from that party constant demonstrations of
unfriendliness; and where safe opportunity offered, insult was added.
But of the Liberal party Americans had hoped, nay, had confidently
expected, if not open demonstrations of sympathy, at least a neutrality
which would deprive the Rebel leaders of any form of encouragement.
When the first shadow of real danger to the Union appeared in 1860-61,
there was instinctive gladness among loyal Americans that a Liberal
ministry was in power in England, composed of men who would in no
event permit their Government to be used in aid of a rebellion, whose
first object was the destruction of a kindred nation, and whose
subsequent policy looked to the perpetuation of human slavery. But the
hope proved to be only the delusion of a day. Americans found the
Palmerston Ministry in a hostile mood and ready to embarrass the
Government of the Union by every course that might be taken with safety
to the interests of England; and they at once recognized a vast
increase of the force against which they must contend.

But there was one apprehension which constantly enforced a limitation
upon the action of the British Government, and that was the danger that
an open espousal of the cause of the Confederacy would be the signal
for a European conflict. Russia was more than friendly to us: Germany
had no interest in our destruction. Russia was hostile