The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-25
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS AND THE
CONF.EDERAT,E. BONDHOLDERH

| The recent ludicrous outburst of fury from
Englishmen of all classes that followed Mr.
Summers speech on the Alabama claims, was
striking proof of the total inability of the
English Government and people to compre-
hend, in the slightest degree the real attitude
of Americans on this subject Although the
Alabama question has been constantly and
thoroughly discussed by the newspapers of
the United States, every citizen knows that it
is seldom referred to in private conversation,
and in reality that it occupies but a small
share of the public attention; not that the
people are Indifferent, but that their minds
have long been definitely made up, and so far
from being in hurry to press our claims,
we are perfectly willing to allow them
to remain unsettled as long as the English are
satisfied with the situation? Mr.. Summers
speech appeared to give the British nation the
first glimmering of an idea as to what Ameri-
can sentiment really was, and having worked
themselves into a state of intense excitement
ndalarm, it was not unnatural that they should
imagine thatwe were on the rampage likewise.
For weeks every breath of air from the other
side of the Atlantic was heavy with wars and
rumors of wars, but finding that there ap-
peared to be no immediate belligerent re-
sponse from our shores, the British lion curled
his tail between his legs, and began to view
the situation in more rational form of mind
The London Spectator, one of the most
friendly journals in England, in congratulate
ing itself that the furry was we'll over without
serious damage to either party, complacently
remarked that the United States had backed
Rrifi
This idea was just as much mistake as that
we were anxious for a war. There has not
been the slightest change in public sentiment
in this country on the subject of the Ala
bama claims. All the position aasuned by
Mr.. Sumner are not sustained ia full by the
nation at large, but there is resolute deter
mination to have the controversy settled upon
just and equitable terms, and that England
shall not be allowed to wriggle out of her re-
sponsibilities.
By some strange faulty that could scarcely
possess any other than British intellect, the
holders of Confederate bonds imagined that
the United States ought to assume their pay
ment, and there was an effort made to set
them off against the Alabama claims. The
hopes of the bondholders grew small by de-
grees and beautifully less until the signing of
the Reverdy Johnson treaty, when the paper
of the dead-and- buried confederacy began
again to have market value, and if the treaty
had been confirmed by the Senate, there is
very little doubt that we would have had these
bonds adjudicated against us. The rejection
of the treaty, however, drove the British Cop
perheads again to despair, and the probabili-
tics of their ever recovering the money SO
freely loaned to Mr.. jeff Davis and his crew
was reduced to minimum.
The British nation having recovered from
their late excitement will probably be willing
to renew negotiations at an early day. In
fact they cannot afford to allow the principle
involved in the Alabama controversy to re-
main undecided; and in the discussion of the
subject with Mr.. Motley, the British Govern
ment will have the advantage of knowing
what our real sentiments are. The prospects
are certainly not favorable for NE Confederate
bondholders, and we accordingly hear by the
cable, that meeting of these gentry was held
on Wednesday evening, in London, to protest
against parts of Mr. Summers speech, and to
petition the House of Commons against grant
ing any compensation for such claims of the
United States, unless they are adju-
dicated by an impartial tribunal on
principles of equity and international
law. All of which indicates very
clearly that there is very decided disposition
among those who did not invest their money
for the support of the Rebellion, to come to am
understanding with the United States and
the Confederate bondholders see very clearly
that, under the next treaty negotiated, their
chances will amount 10 nothing at all This
attempt to set off the Confederate bonds
against the Alabama claims is certainly the
heighth of British impudence, and the Gov
ernment and people of the United States will
undoubtedly, under no circumstances, con-
sent to any arrangement by which they will
be brought into the controversy. We have
not, and never have had. any idea of going to
war with England on this subject; but there
is no evidence of disposition TO abate one
iota of our just claims for the damage done
by the British-built pirate ships, and we can
afford to fold our arms and wait until John
Bull finds it convenient for his own interests
to make a settlement
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