The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-28
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2s, 1869.
THE LONDON "TIMES" ON THE
ALABAMA CLAIMS.

The tone Of the British press on the Alabama
claims, with its explanations, its sophistries,
it's efforts to evade the responsibility, its air
of injured virtue, and its evident feeling of
uneasiness, is in melancholy but amusing con-
trast to that adopted at the outbreak of the Re-
beHion and persisted in until it was certain
that the British hopes Of divided Union
would not be realized. The Alabama, which
was despatched with scarcely concealed exul-
tation to destroy American commerce, now
returns as horrible phantom to haunt the
dreams of John Bull. If the whole subject
could be disposed of without the necessity
for confession of bad faith Englishmen of
all shades of politics would be happy,
and the great commotion caused by
Mr. Summers speech and the reiec-
tion of Reverdy Johnson s treaty
was more howl of disappointment than
anything else. 1t was thought that the
whole matter was now practically settled and
done for, and in a manner that gave England
a moro than equal ad vantage, and the fine old
gentlemen of England eat their dinners with a
calm satisfaction at havingso easily rid them
selves of a troublesome job. To have all the
diplomacy bestowed upon the question come
to nothing, and those dreadful claims fastened
once more on his shoulders, was more than
English nature could bear. The excitement
has died out, however, and the reopen
ing of the negotiations is now the question of
interest before the public in both countries.
Mr.. Fish's able and logical statement of the
case has of course attracted much attention in
England, and the London Times
promptly comes forward to an
swer his arguments. BY the cable
we are told that the Times charges Secretary
Fish with arguing that England should apply
different principles to America than to any
let the Union have arms, and denied them to
the Rebels, and should have legislated, if
necessary, against the latter. Now the
Times knows perfectly well that the American
Government has never asked of England
more than it was entitled to on the plainest
principles of international courtesy and JUS
tice. Secretary Fish charges that England
made haste to recognize the Rebellion, for
the express purpose of aiding it in every pos
sible manner, and that during the entire con-
test every effort was made to encourage it and
to supply the Rebels with the means of car
rying ON the war; Our own perception
of what is just and right in such case has
just been exemplified in the case of Cuba.
We have refused to recognize the Cuban in
surgsnts because they have not done enough
for themselves to give us reasonable pretext,
and we have consequently been compelled to
prevent them from purchasing arms, while
allowing their adversaries to do SO without let
or hindrance. Our sympathies are warmly
with the Cubans, but the circumstances are
such that we can extend them no practical
assistance. This is just the opposite of the
course pursued towards us by England and
the attempts at explanation and apology on
the part of the English papers will deceive
nobody, although they doubtless please the
particular public to which they are addressed.