The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-19
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1868.
Our relations with Great Britain.

Our Relations with Great Britain.
The relations subsisting at present between
the United States and CIR r,at Britain are pecu-
niarily and we may say peculiarly disagree
able. II is not required for us to remind our
readers of the wrongs to which our country
has been subjected by the Government of Eng
land, Of the sympathy which the latter had
for the Rebellion, of the covert aid which she
extended to it, of the material contribution
which she forwarded, and Of her sacrifice Of
all national law in order that her unholy
jealousy of the United States could be made to
cause our overthrow. All this aud much more
Is still .nursed in the memory of our people,
II, with the downfall of the insurrection, the
influences of British aid had ceased without
damage being done to our prosperity, We
might in time, aided by the consciousness Of
complete success forget the wrong and renew
friendly relations with the wrong.doers. But
suoh is not the case. Grave injury has been
done to a number of our citizens. Pirates
built in British ports have devastated the seas
and swept millions of dollars worth of pro-
perty from the face of the ocean. In this
condition of affairs it is idle to talk of forgetting
the past so long as amends are not made. 1t
Is foolish to prate of friendly relations and
smioable feelings as long as the debt is all on
one side and remaius upsatisfei. The London
Times, in recent article on this subject
said:-
1.-THE real grievance of the United States was
the Indifference of EDgjn nd in the civil war.
and her willingness TO see the Union dissolved.
or this the Americans were conscious at the
tme and remember te-n'y now. They think
we should have an active sympathy with the
slavery should have tee II at once condemn ned
that the Repu6lica party was the true friend
Of England thai S + EeTsrs Tas wrong 70 even don6
anger of the Americans was due TO their con
soiousness of England's want of sympathy with
them in their hour If peril; but the anger, II
right, has been enough lnduIged."
This is true SO far as it goes but it does not
60 far enough. The sole ground for ill-feeling
is not lack of sympathy, it is loss of money.
The sympathy can be expressed now when we
don't need it or at any future time, and the
lack of it be forgotten. success enables us to
look lepiently at the failure of Great Britain to
act as became free people. But the pc
ouniary loss can only be compensated for by
securing payment. We want the pound of
flesh which, by the contract, we are entitled
to have, and no soft words or answers at
cutters dinners will satisfy the people of the
United States. Mr.. Reverdy Johnson has said
quite enough about peace to satisfy the most
fastidious member of the Society of Friends,
and in his assurances of the popular desire for
amity he has spoken truly. But he has
spoken quite enough. If the British Govern
ment don't want peace then we don't want it
either. The wrong is clearly on their side;
why should We cringe and cry for ''cordal
relations ?" If the tone which Mr.. Johnson
has assumed be kept up as his constant re-
frain it will approach towards sycophancy and
merit the Reputation of the American people.
The remarks of MIR. Roebuck at the very
dinner at which Mr.. Johnson was so loud in
his protestations were of a character to cause
general regret at the speech of our Minister.
The insolence of the Englishman knew
warning to Mr.. Johnson to cease to commit
himself so unalterably. To be sure large
proportion of the British press, and particu-
larly of the British people, repudiate the rude
and dscourteous remarks of Mr.. Roebuck, but
for all that he is representative man. mem
Der of Parliament, and when he says that the
American people are composed of the off
securing of Europe, for that is about what his
remarks amounted to, he goes so far as to
cause the American Minister to pause in the
midst of his professions of unbounded friend
ship. The truth of the matter is that Mr..
Johnson, if he values his position as Minister,
must remember that the American people are
a high-spirited and deeply-wronged people,
and will bear any evil rather than insult. For
two reasons they desire the settlement of the
Alabama and kindred claims in full. 1st. To
recompense our citizens from the losses they
have sustained; but I'd, and principally, to
prove to all the world that England has to
acknowledge that her course was wrong, and
make public reparation. For these reasons
there can be no lasting peace or real feeling Of
amity between the people of this continent
and Great Britain, until full satisfaction il
made for spoliations committed, and full
amends made for the many wrongs done us
during the civil war.
IT will take considerable casuistry and lots
~ loo;o IN austain and harmonize the motto