New-York tribune., 1869-05-29
CORRESPONDENCE,
GREAT BRITAIN.
TIE ALABAMA CLAINS-AR. MOTLEY.
IFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

the English mind that Mr. Motley is coming "l'iou'
instructions to renew OF at any ratio 10 press 'n0
Alabama claims Nothing could be so dlsagreeao,0'
Ibelieye Englishmen would far rather hear tha6 ne
was going to present bill the day after MS arINal
for the full amount Of Mr. Summers damages Ihey
eud plumply reject that and take the consequences
Arguing from European usages, they say America
mus in that case drop the matter wholly, OF go 10
war at once. But somebody has now reminded them
that America hasa way of her own In these affairs
When the United States protested against French
occupation Of Mexico and the Emperor persisted
the United States neither withdrew its protest nor
went TO war. They waited What the result was
all the world knows And what Enghshmen are
beganng to dread most of all that the same policy
should be pursued in the Alabama claims.
With respect to newspaper articles on this and
other American topics one thing ought to Dc Dorho
in mind They are widely copied in American jour
nals sometimes even telegraphed IN substance 10
New-York though it is not time in ten that they
possess intrnscally so much Importance as IS thus
gwen Them The result is that they often written
cutie as much for American for English readers
They don't express what Engshmen think' DuV
what they want you to suppose they think head III
the light of this caution and their true bearing may
be perceived and the sound rule OF doing what your
enemy most wants you should not do may often be
applied | say enemy and the word is not too strong
when limited to this subject since on this subject
an Engshmen are the irreconcilable antagonists of
the American view which is only saying that they
are Englishmen.
This parenthesis is essential to a right
understanding of the long article in The DAILY
Ns,rs devoted to showing how impossible 1t Is
that Mr. Motley should not pursue the Alabama
negotiations. 1t assumes that the American
Government, having rejected the johnson
treaty is bound to explain why it rejected lt-a
point on which England has no official knowledge"
Mr. Motley must be the channel for now views,
must say what more is wanted, what new demands
ornew versions of old demands, the new Govern
nent will make; and so on. Mr.. Sumner has only
been rubbing inhammatory ointment on an open
wound-though he thought it was healing salve,
perhaps England can't begin again after the rejec-
ton of the treaty. and after such speech. On the
other hand, if Mr.. Motley presents MIR. Summers
views as the views of his Government, England
must simply wait till her cousins have come to their
better mind But, says The Daily Neo8-and this is
the real point of the artcef there is on the other
side real desire for settlement, and moderate
proposals are made, lit will soon be found that
nothing is wanting on the part of England either in
readiness OF desire to clear the score between us"
wholesome change of tone, is it mott 1t amounts
TO this: OF course. you cannot expect us to stand
Sumner, but we will not insist on the johnson
treaty We will agree to anything in reason. only
don't let il hang over heads indefinitely BE sure
that delay is the thing of all others, England most
dislikes.
The adjournment of Parliament without debate
ON the Alabama claims is lucky accident than
the effect of prudent desire to abstain from dis
oussOn sure to have been violent. The plan now Is
that Sir Henry Buwer shall bring on his motion soon
after the House resumes and he does so with the
assent and even am told, at the instance of the
n T,.-A hofp tha nfn
was sent him that no might arrange to put his mo-
finn first on the paper for an early night after the
House should reassembIe, which it does on the e7th
of Nav. Thursday The 1st of June was the day first
chosen, but Sir Henry Buwer wished to avoid seem
ing to hurry it before Mr. MOtleys arrival and post
poned il 10 the 18th Of June. AS Mr.. Motley is an
nounced to sail on the 10Th Of May, he will have been
here fortnight and have had time to be presented,
perhaps, should the Queen have returned
from Scotland by that time. At any rate he Will
have seen Lord Clarendon, and Mr.. Gladstone, ana
MI Bright. 1t is only Just to Sir Henry Bulwer TO
note the sincerity with which he has endeavOred to
treat this matter 1t was fortunate that he had had
a kind of control over the subject A man Of less
friendly disposition could have done great mischief
nv precipItating the discussion 1t woHld have been
ANYTHING but friendly for instance, to start great
debate in the House day or two before Nr Motieys
arrival Such an act would have seemed like
repetition of Lord Russels discourtesy in issuing
his belligcrent proclamation when Mr. Adams was
known TO be on the way. 1t is safe to predict that
month hence the heat and fury of English feeling
win have subsidized and debate may then do good
instead of the harm it would surely have done this
week or last Nor do 1 think Sir Henry Bulwer will
be found at any time a leader of the extreme party
Helsa man into whose judgments passion does not en-
ter trained diplomatist yet sngulary free from the
technical and narrowing influences of his profession
caring little for traditions and much for the active
forces Of the day. inclined to look for the means OF
solving great question TO public opinion to the mer-
its Of the case TO anything but the tying and unity
ing of red tape the composition Of cunning dis
patches. And viii be in the power Of the speak
er who shall open that debate to color it and guide
it to considerable extent it is fortunate for both
parties that Sir Henry Bulwer is to be the man.
Lord Russells attack on Mr.. Bright in the House
of Lords, on Thursday night, a singular ont
burst of restless and peevish vanity. 1t more
than an attack on Mr. Bright; it was an
attack on the Government itself. Lord Rus
sell cannot forgive Liberal Ministry for being able
to get on without him, and not only to get on but
70 lead larger more compact, and better-discplned
Liberal majority than Lord Russell himself ever
marshaled The old peer wanted to patronze
this Administration as Lord Derby did the Disraeh
Ministry after his retirement; to be its guiding
spirit and guardian angel in the upper house. Mr.
Gladstone perverselY chose however. TO be the real
as he Is the nominal and responsible head of the
Government. Lord Russells counsels have been
neglected; they have not always been even asked
and since he has put out at least three distinct and
discrepant schemes for dealing with the Irish church.
one hardly knows which he expected should be
adopted. SO with the lands and moreover Lord