The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-26
Our Claims Upon England.

Frone the Times .e#-Vts
The Tribune charges upon the Administration
purpose of forcing the country into q war with
England, to divert attention from its political
difficulties at home. We attach no sort of con-
sequence to this imputation. IT is evidently
only one more added to the INSCRIPTIONS party
endeavors of the day. 1t is not at all unlikely
that our Minister in London may have been in
struCted TO renew upon the new Ministry the
demand which he repeatedly made upon that
which has lust gone out Of Office, for settlement
OF our claims for losses by the depredatlons
upon our commerce of ships fitted out Tor the
Rebel service in British ports. Inc lale ministry
declined to admit these claims, ana LORD john
Russell, in his last letter on the subject, Volun-
teered to say that they would not even be sub
mltted TO arbitration. He found an excuse tor
this in an expression used some two years before
in letter from Mr. Seward; but our Govern
ment had never proposed any such reference.
Lord Stanley, the new Foreign Secretary, is
known to be desirous OF an amicdble adj usGment
OF all differences with the United States. In
his speech at the Cable banquet he expressed
this sentiment in the strongest terms. But we
are not aware that he has taken any steps
towards such an adjustment, nor Is it quite
easy TO see how he could do SO in the present
position OF the question. Our government has
never .2sked that the questions in dispute or
any Of them, should be submitted to arbitration,
nor could we do so now, after Lord RusselPs
declaration with any sort OF proprlety. Unless
altogether, we have nothing LETT us but to renew
the demand for their adjustment. When the
reply shall be received, 1t will then be quite
time to determine on the course to be pursued.
If we want war with England, there is very
little doubt we can have II. 1t will not be diff
cult for a Secretary of State so ingenious
Mr.. Seward, so to frame his requistlon for pay
ment OF claims OF which neither the amount
nor the justice has yet been conceded, as TO
drag the two nations INTO a quarrel. But we
can conceive of no adequate motive for such a
DO holt - on .,Nc
our people, except the Fenians, have any desire
to see the United States involved in war With
Great Britain.
The London Herald, which has been regarded
as the organ of the party now represented in
the British Ministry, gives US TO understand that
! an effort will be made to put the relations of
| the two countries ON better footing in one
| respect. 1t says:-
"We have reason to believe that ROYAL Com
mission on the neutrality laws will shortly be
appointed, with view to future remedial legis-
lation. The legal, poitical, and statesmanlike
| elements will all, we believe, be adequately
represented among its members; and our read
| ers may rest assured that when published they
| will form sufficient guarantee for the learning,
ability, and compIehenslVeness of view which
| the country has right to require OF those oy
| whom so vast and momentous question is TO
| be.considered"
fhs is an important step, but 1t is open to
| the objection OF locking the stable-door only
after the horse has beeu stolen. Our interest
| in the matter now is very different from what 1t
has been during the last five years. 1t would
| have been very much to our advantage If the
neutrality laws had been such as TO secure neu-
trality then; but unfortunately for us, either
under them or IN spite of them, English ENTER
prise" was able to do us almost as much injury
as English hostility could have inflicted The
mischief has been done. Our commerce was
| swept from the seas, our merchant shlps were
burned in mid ocean; millions of American pro-
pe1ty we're destroyed by steamers built IN Eng
| lish dock yards, by English shpbunders with
English money, armed with English guns, and
monned by English seamen; in the teeth OF
English laws OF neutrality What may be done
what has thus been done hitherto Hencetortt
we hope to be neutrals ourselves and our interes
lies in the enlargement rather than the restric
tion of the rights and immunites OF neutra
powers
But it is very important to both countrie
that we have some amicable adjustment o
questions growing out of damage already in
hicted upon our commerce by English subjects
in violation of the laws OF ality. We d.
not believe our Government intends or desire
} ! to press these demands in any hostile temper