In quoting from Charles James Fox, the statesman, minister, and orator,
I need add nothing, except that he was born 24th January, 1749, and
died 13th September, 1806, and that he was an early friend of our
country.
Many words of his, especially during our Revolution, might be
introduced here; but I content myself with a single passage, of later
date, which, besides its expression of good-will, is a prophecy of our
power. It is found in a speech in the House of Commons, on his motion
for putting an end to war with France, 30th May, 1794.
“It was impossible to dissemble that we had a serious dispute
with America, and although we might be confident that the
wisest and best man of his age, who presided in the government
of that country, would do everything that became him to avert
a war, it was impossible to foresee the issue. America had no
fleet, no army; but in case of war she would find various means
to harass and annoy us. Against her we could not strike a blow
that would not be as severely felt in London as in America, so
identified were the two countries by commercial intercourse.
_To a contest with such an adversary he looked as the greatest
possible misfortune._ If we commenced another crusade against
her, we might destroy her trade, and check the progress of
her agriculture, but we must also equally injure ourselves.
Desperate, therefore, indeed, must be that war in which each
wound inflicted on our enemy would at the same time inflict one
upon ourselves. He hoped to God that such an event as a war
with America would not happen.”[613]
All good men on both sides of the ocean must join with Fox, who thus
early deprecated war between the United States and England, and
portrayed the fearful consequences. Time, which has enlarged and
multiplied the relations between the two countries, makes his words
more applicable now than when first uttered.