But  the  temporary  reverses  which  afterwards  befell  the  national  arms,
and  which  were  exaggerated  by  our  own  disloyal  citizens  abroad,  have
hitherto  delayed  that  act  of  simple  justice.
The  civil  war,  which  has  so  radically  changed  for  the  moment  the  occu-
pations and  habits  of  the  American  people,  has  necessarily  disturbed  the
social  condition  and  affected  very  deeply  the  prosperity  of  the  nations
with  which  we  have  carried  on  a  commerce  that  has  been  steadily  increas-
ing throughout  a  period  of  half  a  century.  It  has  at  the  same  time
excited  political  ambitions  and  apprehensions  which  have  produced  a
profound  agitation  throughout  the  civilized  world.  In  this  unusual
agitation  we  have  forborne  from  taking  part  in  any  controversy  between
foreign  states  and  between  parties  or  factions  in  such  states.  We  have
attempted  no  propagandism  and  acknowledged  no  revolution.  But  we
have  left  to  every  nation  the  exclusive  conduct  and  management  of  its
own  affairs.     Our  struggle  has  been,  of  course,  contemplated  by  foreign


Abraham  Lincoln  127

nations  with  reference  less  to  its  own  merits  than  to  its  supposed  and
often  exaggerated  effects  and  consequences  resulting  to  those  nations
themselves.  Nevertheless,  complaint  on  the  part  of  this  Government,
even  if  it  were  just,  would  certainly  be  unwise.
The  treaty  with  Great  Britain  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade
has  been  put  into  operation  with  a  good  prospect  of  complete  success.
It  is  an  occasion  of  special  pleasure  to  acknowledge  that  the  execution
of  it  on  the  part  of  Her  Majesty's  Government  has  been  marked  with  a
jealous  respect  for  the  authority  of  the  United  States  and  the  rights  of
their  moral  and  loyal  citizens.
The  convention  with  Hanover  for  the  abolition  of  the  Stade  dues  has
been  carried  into  full  effect  under  the  act  of  Congress  for  that  purpose.
