Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-05-05

land must carefully consider The position
lest by yielding unadyisedly she should
establish q worse precedent than ever
that of burning ships on the high seas
by admitting a discussion of demands
utterly untenable and which ought to bC
resisted.
The London Times designates the esti-
mates Of American damages put forth 10y
Mr.. Sumner as portentious. as it has al
ready reached &422, 10000, and may
in the future embrace the possible earn
ings of all the soldiers drawn from the
fields of productive labor by war. The
speech, il adds. is worthy OF Mr.. Sum
ner's ability, and deserves an impartial
consideration. He wants, however,
something more than national repara-
ton from England, asking for contrition
and a public humiliation. The Times as
serts hat in this England is cruelty
wronged, and America has had no useful
object served. Expressions. of regret
and penitence are required by treaty.
Treaties of peace, however, dictated by
~conquerors at the lead of armies are
found to be unemcumbered by such ex-
preSsions. An acknowledgements of
moral liability for these claims. made
before before hand. would PREJUDICE the
controversy and stultify the proposed
settlement. In the event of an arbitra-
4 AhOn NOulN dCNAhA AhE IAlAZAdlu AAOl Adti
TO pay damages, would her apology be
taken back? The view taken by Mr..
Summers argument on these points is
! peurile, unreasonable and unstatesman-
like. The Tunes argues that the cOnces-
sion of belligerent rights to the South
was a simple act and fact not dependent
on the Union blockade. for had there not
been a blockade it would not have alter
ed the case 10 m appreciate degree.
The prevailing tone of Mr.. Summers
speech is characterized as passionate and
and remOnstrative, and his menac be-
trays a one sided ~partizanship lament
able a coming from from q representa-
tive Of q great country Mr.. Sumner
makes, it is said, no complaint against
France, although the Emperor Napoleon
was DESTROYS Of recognizing the indie
pendence of the Southern confederation.
II is alleged that though England is held
forth as the only foreign Power implaca-
bly, hostile to America it is not too much
70 say that n moment during the war
the fate Of the American Union de-
on the voice of England, whose
sword thrown into the scale would have
altered the result. She declined the con-
test. and it evinces a degree of unfairneSs
bordering ON j~nfatuatiOn to Leave this
consideration put of account. 1t is a
common practice with American jOurn-
lists and politicians to yilify England,
and the protective tariff plan is popular
with them merely as likely to infiict an
injury on Great Britain. Let atOnement
be made for the use of insulting Ian
guage by individuals, and il will be seen
whether England and America by a ret
respective Verdictsf public opinion, viii
continue the cultivation of mutual res
pect, which is as necessary Is in the pri-
vate relations of life. Nations, as such.
only deal in overt acts, and these consti-
tute merely possible subjects for pecuni-
airy compensation.
The London Standard, a tory organ,
saws that the American Senate has don
more han reject the treaty. as it has
given the world reason TO belieye by Mr..
Summers speech, which, as endorsed by
that supreme body, overs al questions
of the foreign diplomacy Of the country.
The English people now know what Mr..
Motley will have to aim at in his efforts
10 arrange the Alabama claims on the
former basis, now wasted away. In
some respects good Will ensue from the
candOr which the American Senate dis
plays. Formerly the danger was that
England weuld stop beyond a due re-
gard for the national honor and dignity
and allow the claims; but now when the
demand has assume its present proper
tons they will feel assured that even
with John Bright in the Cabinet they are
safe from a chance of d~isgraceful capitu-
lation. The American claim can hardly
be described in serious language and its
terms not excite indignation. They
might as well argue against a proposal
for American troops to hold the Tower of
London as q material guarantee, or that
the Prince of Wales should be sent 10
Washington and placed in the hands of
-, -.la-ul ,v,Ahn-SFsaz NC a hnzfana fnr
England's good behavior in the future.
The policy Of England on this subject is
10 longer an open question. America
has formally recorded her resolution
that there shall be no settlement of the
Alabama claims short of that England
shall surrender at discretion and submit
to any punishment. which the United
States Senate, in it supremacy over the
affairs Of the world, may choose TO inf1ict.
In other words, she has decided that the
Alabama claims shall not be amicably
settled. whatever may ensue. The inter-
val at the present day is long between
national hatred and bO~mbardment, ii is
useless TO ignore and dangerous 70 forget
that the feeling in America is one Of
intense and unmitieated hatred toward
Great Britain, AID that q war With
England would be regarded as a national
luxury but expensive. England has not
only admitted that such a war would be
expensive, but deplOrable. Under the
circumstances il IL PROBABLE that the
Americans viii elect TO keep tbs Ala
hama claims in reserve and await their
opportunity for revenge more cheaply.
War is not an agreeable solution, though
involving danger rather than dishOnor,
and il may he better To GcG6pt any set
Element which the present adBlinistra-
ton in London may have made il the
attitude of the American Senate was less
ridiculous.
The Liverpcol Post of the 18th ult.
has a long loaded editorial on the sub
ject. which il treats i'll a frank. indepen-
dent manner, 1t says:-
Property has been destroyed. and
somebody should bear the loSs OF some
body should pay for il. The Americans
say the English must bear the loss. for
they permitted the Alabama 10 leave an
English port and commence the destruc-
ton of property, Such destruction of
property had not. and could no. have.
the remotest influence on the war. Ii
exercised no such influence. But we
must not disguise from ourselves the
fact that Jonathan has got the right end
of the stick in his hapd, and that there
fore h sooner we adjust the matter the
better. Experience has shown that in
CHtAN HAd4Af1 Win uS At dlNaN1 Wits.
In this case the common sense Of
mankind is on his side, and perhaps it
would he wise to pay the money and
have done with it; for paving the money
would have a better effect, would seem
honorable, than Directing IL de-
tails and automatically Directing here
and there, which objections Will ulti-
mately come to nothing.
We cannot afford a big quarrel with
America; we can, perhaps, still less af-
ford a little quarrel. We want tradei
we want cotton; We want a market for
our manufactures; and a quarrel, little
or big, will interpose, little or much, to
our disadvantage in this affair. The
apprehension of a war will affect the
growth of cotton in the Southern States
Of America; the apprehension of a war
vail encourage extravagant expenditure
IN American manufactures. in order 10