The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-03

prone = put the best Interpretation upon every Acs
eager always believe that bausive words and oon
eve pretenGons from any other otve rather than
q motive To give offence We have taken everything
MAS once held in law courts in obedience TO this
MAXIM that 70 call ga thief " not sauderOus,
because the word might have been Intended only 70 mean
SO in political and diplomatic interpretations have
twisted and distorted everything which looked offensive
said ourselves "War impossible and therefore
viii suppose that cousins intended 70 do anything
which could force upon u.s. On the other hand tho
cnsion from the axiom. They seem to have said,
"war Is impossible therefore We may deal with our old
mother as some not we'll famed folks deal with women
and clergy mennsuh her and extort from her with I'm
puniyn This "a far, we cheerfuly admit. from being
tho feeling Of the respectable portion OF the great Amer
the classes IN Europe but the misfortune Is that
tins is the feeling which sometimes prompts the
Of excitement is like snake marking It's prey the mid
die part Of its body is curved up out Of action.
and in the spring the head sorcea forward entirely BY
the action OF theta We know this in England, and al.
low for it, when every other mail brings columns OF
grievances which have basis in fact and files OF decla
nation against atrocities that existed. We tho
tail working selfup, and expect see the head thrust
into diplomatic action. Upou all these occasions
there Is much duster in America and some trou-
BILE in Downing street, but the English public only
say "war is impossible" and turn to some more
interesting topic Downing street protests but generally
Normally il is dealing with the American heal, but
Downing street knows that practically It Is the American
tail with which II has to do. These different methods Of
acting upon the Same conviction have now gone on for
some years, and have almost become American inst
tuition. United States buser should happen 10 be in
strait be nvents some outrage from British cruiser aud
be becomes n hero. II military should be little
under cloud he nvents aggression tho part OF
English Governor and resents it In spritef manner.
He also becomes hero and perhaps President II
seems TO be now generally understood in the United
States that to pull hair out Of the lions tail Is
ame War is Impossible therefore America shows her
land dwar Is impossible" therefore England persists
in not feeling the kick, or in accepting It as friendly
Tie other day General Harvey made himself i'm nor
tai by sending party to invade British island-or at
any rate island In British possession and regulated by
an English Justice OF the Peace. We however were
usual pacific and civil and put the best construction on
the act, and asked for reasons Reasons given;
but they based upon the invention Of fact which
had never happened, we, through our local Governor
most civly animated that they were not conclusive.
General Harvey replied, in effect, that he ac'
ceptod our apology, and would continue his oc
cupston Every mail now brings diDgs Of the enthu
siasm Of the American tail for General Harvey and
that has been shown that the assigned by him
a fabrication all excuses thrown aside and
the cry is he Island San Juan the key to the Gulf
of Georgia; want it, and bound to have IT,
There are some convictions which work out their
truth practice but there others which tend to their
practical refutation. We sincerely hope that the
different readings Of the axiom that "War between Eu
rope and America is impossible" may not be an illus
tration OF this truth. The Island Of San Juan is not
like preceding extortons, small extorton. 1t lies in
channel down the middle Of which the treaty de-
cares that the frontier line shall pass It is six
miles from the British shore OF Vancouver's Island
and thirty from the American mainland. II is within full
view Of our city Of Victoria, and fort erected San
Juan would command the channel through which our
ships must pass TO all British Columbia. Is therefore
obviously British Island and II is obviously most i'm
porant TO that should remain Unless very
different title be brought forward from any that
have seen, surrender il to America than
could surrender the Isle of Wight the Isle of Dogs
with great satisfaction them We hear that the ques
ton has been left to be fought out between General
Harvey and Governor Douglass, but that the status quo
will be maintained ut San juan and the right to the island
soemnly and cooLy discussed either in London or at
Washington.
From the London Post government arganl. Nov 12l
England has placed herself lin false position. Our
Commissioners are prepared to continue the boundary
survey and doubt the question cannot be determined
the spot-f these Commissioners cannot agree with
their American colleagues the meaning Of the words
"middlc Of the channewhether applicable TO the Canal
de Haro the Straits OF R0saria-one friendly Poer
might easily be inrited to undertake the duty Of arbitration
and settlement On the other hand the course of the
American General has been violent and offensive He
has placed his country in position which Mr.. Buchanan
himself cannot fully justify and he has provoked quarrel
which but for the forbearance Of the British authorities,
results The Americans must place themselves entirely
the unrendy policy Of Great Britain this any other
manner.
w. An