The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-20 00:00:00

OPINIONS OF TIIE AMERICAN PRESS.

The Round Table considers it to be altogether
improbable that any better settlement of the Al a-
bama claims—any settlement more favourable to
the substAntial interests of American citizens—will
ver peaceably bi effected by Mr. Motley
or any
one else. The general persuasion of the London
press, which has been of late put forward with con-
siderable bluntness, is that Mr. Reverdy Johnson
cajoled the English Government into granting bet-
ter terms than were strictly consistent either with
the rights of the case or with the honour of the
English nation. The news of the rejection would,
it considers, be received in England with profound
astonishment, and it anticipates correctly the course
likely to be taken by the English journals. If
American-8 want war at any price they can without
doubt be accommodated, but Mr. Chandler, of Mi-
chigan, would in such a case be a more suitable
Minister than Mr. Motley. A peaceful settlement,
more advantageous than that promised by the re-
jected Treaty, cannot be looked for, by means of a
line of offensive diplomacy the opposite to that
by which it was negotiated, through which .Dig-
land holds she wa,s wheedled into undue concessions.
While acknowledging the unjustifiable arrogance
with which England has often treated America,
and the animosity it has generated, the Ifoulid
Table would prefer, if enmity must lead to war,
the United States should have a sounder cause
of quarrel than is now likely to grow out of the
Alabama claims. That astute journal foreFLes that
English obstinacy will interpose a very considerable
difficulty to a more advantageous settlement than
the one offered, indeed it rather anticipates that
Mr. Motley, clever as he undoubtedly is, will fail
to make any better, if as good au arrangement, as
did the much-reviled Mr. Reverdy Johnson.
The Albion thinks Mr. Galt's speech in the Do-
minion House of Commons on the 26th April to have

been ill-advised, though his assertions were based oe
facts. Mr. Chandler is unworthy, even of the brief
notice vouchsafed, and Mr. Sumner's arguments
can be disposed of by the British Parliament. The
United states laugh at the wild utterances of Mr.
Chandler, though there is sufficient indiscreet talk
in the Union to afford an example to the Canadians,
who ought to see that it is best to allow their Arne-
rican cousins to enjoy a monopoly of it. " Cer-
tainly, neither the laboured eloquence of Mr.
Sumner, nor the senseless fanfaronade of Mr•
Chandler, are a sufficient excuse for embittering
the relations of two kindred nations, whose oral
interest points towards peace. . . • It would
have been more consistent with the dignity of the
Dominion Government had they cuff. red the utter-
ances of the sanguinary Chandler to pass Inr
noticed." A Nova Scotian, writing in that journal,
strongly advocates annexation, which he maintains
to be the desire of most of his countrymen.
The New York Trihtene, which publi,hes a column
and a half of extracts from the British press of the
30th April on Mr. Sumner's speech, thus comments
upon them :--
" We are not surprised to find the English journals unani-
mous in their condemnation of Mr. Sumner's speech on the,
AlabAma claims. It is not the first time they have greeted
with unqualified condemnation positicns they have after'
ward found it convenient to accept. To call his vies°
unreasonable is the least they could say. To protest thst
they will never acknowledge that they were in the wrong
is only to be British. To admit the danger of leaving the,
question open is to show that, notwithstanding all Wit
bravo words, they comprehend the situation. It is more
to their interest than ours to have the question settled'
They are in the wrong, they cannot afford to remain 0,
and they see in the action of the Senate an assurance that
t
delay only increases their difficulty. They protested Of
long ago that the idea of any payment for the damages et
the Alabama was preposterous, and were soon after tleg°:
tinting for payment. They protest now that our term?
are preposterous, and will soon after be ready to consider
them."
Among these extracts is the following account Of.,
a Cabinet meeting :—" At a Cabinet meeting bell'
yesterday the subject of the speech was informal'l
discussed. Mr. Bright declared that this ember
rassment served England right, but he agreed that
he would not consent to entertain the terms fore.

shadowed in Mr. Sumner's speech. Lord Clarelv
don expressed his belief that the actual negotiatioae
on the part of the American Government would be,
far less extreme in character than speeches Oil
Senators and articles in the press. He hoped to fin
Mr. Motley as courteous as Mr. Johnson. Tb°
present Administration, he said, is as eager as tb°
last for the continuance of friendly relations. gt.
Gladstone professed to have good assurances fOrn
reliable quarters that the rejection of the Alabal°
Convention was purely a political stroke. The
present Administration will endeavour to settle the
question on liberal and honourable terms. The
popular feeling here is anti-American, and it b 3",
increased since the publication of parts of Mr‘
Sumner's argument."