AMERICAN FIREBRANDS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3119, 9 February 1871, Page 3

AMERICAN FIREBRANDS.

[From tho London correspondent of the Melbourne Akous ] An incident has ocurred on the American frontiers which may revive some unwelcome questions. An American vessel was found fishing in the waters reserved by treaty for fishermen who are British subjects, and was accordingly seized by a British steamer. The captured schooner bekngs to Gloucester, a town in General Butler's congressional district, the same Butler long ago notorious at Orleans, who has recently declared at Boston that the duly of securing a settlement of the Alabama claims devolved upon the Republican party, and that it would be cowardly to wait until England was at war. " W reparation was refused, he recommended non-intercourse. The withdrawal of American cotton and breadstuffs would inflict incalculable loss upon England, and America could readily secure other markets for those products. The cession by Great Britain of the naval stations at Jamaica, Nassau and Bermuda, would be regarded as a fair equivalent." In the same speech he denounced the course of Great Britain regarding the fishery question as outrageous, and said, if she persisted the certain result would be war. He alluded also to " the great temptations of the United Slates to make war with Great Britain. The United States bad a million and a half of sturdy Irishmen eager for war, and the conquest of Canada would follow. As a Republican, he declared that war would be sustained j by the majority of the Democratic party, and the rule of the Republican party would thereby be perpetuated for generations." We read this sort of stuff without fear, yet it may be confessed that in discussing the Russian question the hostility of such men is a thorn in our side. If the Alabama question was never named again, yet this party would connive at any acts of retaliation, and privateers would be fitted out on the American coast, which might do our commerce incalculable damage. This speech has attracted more attention than it really merits from the relations between Butler and the President, and the current rumor that the general will succeed Secretary Fish. Builer has previously urged his countrymen to violate the fishery laws, and it is suspected that the owners of the schooner have been influenced by his advice.