The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-07
An Englishman on the Alabama Claims

On the point which concerns more nearly-our own
misunderstanding with brethren the Alabama claims
Mr. Latham writes with great frankness
During the last four months have been both in the
Northern and the Southern States and have been staying in
New York. Boston, Baltimore Philadelphia and Washington
have talked with good many Americans the subject of
the Alabama claims and the feeling evnced and the passion
shown by two of them convinced me of the Importance
of early settlement of the matter in way other
understand that when Mr. Shaw Leevre in Washington
he astonshed outbreak of temper by Mr. Seward
when the subject of the Alabama mentioned Since the
attack made him at the time of Mr. Lncoln murder
and since the death of his wife, which caused in great
by oyer-ague in nursing him after that attack
Mr. Seward it is sad has been the he BEFORE
and his temper has been little under control
considerable uneasnes to his friends have heard other
gentlemen use language quite as when
the Alabama mentioned On points of national pride
Americans far sensitive than Their feeling
is that when they down and in Distress France took
dirty advantage of them in the invasion of Mexico, and
England in the matter of the Alabama. The French
have evacuated Mexico and England must now be
called to account This is the general feeling of the
nations besides this there is the special grudge among
the shpowners whose trade diverted into English
bottoms and among the merchants whose goods burnt
with England attended by reprisas English COM
merce would be- they think for the interest of both
merchant and shipowner; further, would give them
chance of revenge which Americans love than money
With all this there does not exist among them any serious
belief in the probability of war with England but it
would take very little agitation to make them think of
seriously. The American Executive do not desire to
be involved in with England but what they and all
other politicians want good eeconeering cry capt
Vate the irish For THIS they probably
select the Alabama business. At the present time,
although there exists strong feeling in the public
mind that feeling is not strong to preclude
fair settlement of the question but every day. time goes
and the election approaches that settlement will become
difficult. bnless something available turns up
that difficulty will be brought prominently forward
and will be dragged before the public every Republican
newspaper and every public meeting Americans do
form opinions for themselves; they read than
newspaper; they give themselves very little time to
think but let their editor lead them the noe and there
an Irishman upon the staff nearly newspaper
America. Probably the American Government will be in
hurry to conclude the question 1t may be that they will
try and postpone the settlement in order to make of the
cry at the election; and in that the national feeling
having by that time grown with the agitation it may ut
mate be in the power of the American Government
deal temporarily in the MATTER should they be dis
posed The Americans capable of stronger love and
really think may depend somewhat upon the speedy
Element of the Alabama claims way another whchit
shall be-"
In this statement of facts there is exaggeraton what
ever No man can travel in the United States though
he should eat terapn daily without hearing from his best
friends and most hosts the same language For
the moment through the misleading under which fell
have placed ourselves naton In the relations
to America as that in which Austria formerly stood towards
Italy, America is astranged from She may not wish to
light u.s. but she bears bitter grudge; and In any
trouble should have reckon her as among those who
would be against Such state of things Is perfectly
natural and We have hurt her. she thinks
wantony and we ought to do everything in power
the parent State to put away the memory OF this wrong
your friends in London said our late ambassador IN
Washington an English traveller who had called to say
goodby Ito settle this Alabama business and soon, unless
they have deliberately chosen put obstacle in the way
Of friendship between the two great branches of race