The New York herald., 1869-05-01
rhe Alabama Claims-Senat0r Summers
Speech and En8Iand,s Position.

Spcoco anu Sn&i0utb fOsitiOue
By special telegram through the Atlantic
cable, dated in London yesterday, and our
mail report Of the 18th of April we have
reflex of the effect produced in Great Britain by
the publication of Senator Summers speech on
the Alabama claims difficulty, as well as of the
initiatory agitation commenced by the English
press on the receipt of the intelligence of the
rejection by the United States Senate of the
Johnson-Stanley treaty or convention Of set
tlement, negotiated by these ministers
when Minister Johnson first arrived in
London. The matter is of serious import
and worthy the attentive consideration of our
Executive and the people at large, as it
shadows forth certain position likely to be
adopted by England in reply, in the words of
her Cabinet ministers and the expression of
influential writers of her press. The English
journals yesterday commented extensively on
the subject. The London Star, the organ of
Mr.. John Bright, and which as such exercises
a very considerable influence over the minds of
the people of England, asserts that Mr.. Sum-
ner's demands are "new and startling" in their
character, and must be regarded merely as
enormous" and that if they only
shadow the instructions given by the Cabinet
in Washington to Mr.. Motley that
gentleman will stand in very different posi-
tion in London from that occupied by Mr..
johnson, who is classed as ga genial diner
out, now about to bid adieu to the Court.
President Grants desire for the continuance of
peace between the countries is, as alleged, of
doubtful sincerity, and as he wants the natural
ability of the late Mr.. Lincoln, being neither
a lawyer nor politician, he is by nature Sin
tensely American" The Star, having thus
induced the inference that General Grant may
become dangerous, goes on to deplore the
escape of the Alabama, perceiving, as is ac-
knowledged, that that fact established
a very dangerous precedent in the
event of the future occurrence Of
national contingency similar to that
which existed in America at that period. Mr..
Motley's rejection as American Minister to the
Court is again threatened in case his instruc-
tions should approach towards Mr.. Summers
expressions either in verbiage or tone. Such
demands are utterly untenable, and her
Majesty's ministers must be careful in enter
tanning them. Such is the sum and substance
of Mr.. Bright's advice as conveyed in the
London Star, and in it we can perceive full
measure of Quaker repentance, Manchester
commercial caution and words of ministerial
evasion, such as are used by all British minis
ters when seated in the council room in Down
ing street.
The London Times publishes an article
breathing forth spirit of war in defence of
the treasury cash, CHASING Mr.. Summers
money estimate of the damages as ''porten-
tous" and enormous" and although his ad-
dress is worthy of attentive consideration
expressed or endured by England; for if such
were to happen the case would be prejudged
against her and any project of an equitable
settlement defeated. The Senator's argu-
ments are in this respect feminine" ''unrea-
sonable' and ''unstatesmanlike, description
in the accuracy of which the Lon
don Times will find it difficult to
make Americans believe, and to which the
English people evidently do not assent, as
shown by the great pains which are being
taken to divert their judgment from a con-
sideration of the real points at issue by infam-
matory defamation. We are next told that
Engand's having ''thrown her sword" on the
side of the Confederates during the war
would nave altered the issue as IN favor OF
the Union-a statement which we may be
permitted to more than doubt, and of the
truth of which her rulers were certainly not
convinced at the time, as shown by
their hesitating policy towards both
belligerents, the neutrality proclamation,
blockade running and general game Of
''fast and loose" without action. The Lon
don Times takes fling at American "jour-
nalists," the ''vilifers" of England, and makes
way for the London Standard, a tory organ,
which breathes forth spirit of defiance to our
people, and will resist a "capitulation by