, 1869-06-14

Alr, Sumner. probably, viii not be ant-
tered ut our saying so, but it is, neverthe-
less, unquestionably true, that, like great
many greater men before him, he has
s'builded better than he knew" Doubt
less he meant, by his speech On the Ala
bama claims, to make sensation, as that is
usually his object when be speaks at MI;
and on this occasion he met with more than
his ordinary success. And, doubtless, he
meant, also, to put the question upon
basis Of settlement; and in this, also, he
succeeded, though not at all we apprehend;
in the way that he intended. He present.
ed thegrievanoes We hare against T-enAna
and assumed that these eie the basis OF
onr c1,jme p. MS mistake was in sup-
,ea;.,g TINT our grievances were our claims,
and the fo1rible way in which he made the
presentation was the most certain wny Of
proving himself in error. The distinction
which be failed to see hns been made nm
mistakab|y apparent in the discussion
which his speech has provoked, and thus
he has contributed, though not at Ill In the
way he meant, to more thorough under
standing OF the whole question OF the Ala
ba1nA claims, md, Of course, TO its ultimate
settlement.
Nor is thisthe only way in which Afr. Sum-
ner's speech has been Of service. Mr..
Reverdy Johnson's course in England, his
utter Misrepresentation Of the feelings Of his
countrymen; his constant assurances that
they had forgiven md forgotten the il-will
Of the English people toward the North,
and their sympathy with the rebels during
the whole four years Of the war; his as
strances Of their belief in the friendship
Of England. and Of their intense anxiety for
hat hatfriendship,-hadso 80 czaspsratei tho peo-
pie Of this country, from the want Of dignity,
the want Of truth, and the want Of seH-respect
which he attributed to them, that it was a,.
solutely necessary some national protest
should be made to restore them to cqua-
ni1rity and good temper. The American peo-
pie were much in the frume Of mind Of the
fellow who is "spiling for 6ght,"-
not SO much that he cares for fight
ing, but because in no other why
could he get out Of false position.
Mt. johnson had placed every loyal
man and woman in so huuiliating posi-
ton before the English people, had not only
SO ignored the Just indignation which We
have all felt for their conduct toward us
through the whole var, bx had made uH
Just objects Of contempt ns people inca
pablo Of any manly resentment, that it was
absolutely necessary somebody should do
something to get us out Of so humlliating
an attitude, And this, whether he meant
to do it or not, Nj. Sumner has done forus,
It is not considered Of much consequence
that he made the n1istnke Of confoundine
our grievances with our clai1ns; that he
failed to make distinction between the
morality and the sentiment-we use the
word IN it's higher sense-of the case and its
legal aspect That was his blunder. But
then it Was happy one. For, really, the
American people cared great deal more Il
have England know TINT they had not for
gotten and had not forgiven her treacher
Gus enmity md hypocrisy during thu
war, and did not mean to d.
either, than they did about any number o
millions Of dollars. They wanted her t.
understand that they were not 3 milton q
funkies, whatever Mr.. Reverdy Johnso,
Ind said and acted to tho contrary; an
when that vas understood distinctly the.
were ready to come down to business AM
settle that little matter Of dollars and cents
And this Mr.. Summers speech did, what
ever he meant by it Ho very happily hi
the public hu1nor, aud John Bull now dis
tinctly understands that our love tor him
Just as great rs our respect, and TINT "
aavc very little Of either. OF course he
very much aatoniahed, and it has taken hin
some time TO eliminate the tw
elssnents OF the situation. But after ampI
discussion he has got at the bottom of tb
subject, and understands now yery clear]
that American contempt and indignation Il
Eng1ands conduct toward US are unabatef
but that we have msde no mistake and hay
not the slightest intention Of putting dow
our feelings rs an item in our little bl
against her.
We published two days age the text Of u
letter Of the Mess1s. Laird on the buildil
Of the Alabena. It is a very conclusi
document, and as such the English pape
are disposed to consider it. The who
discussion, Of which this letter is the late
argument, is narrowed down to the sing
confederation whether English law and En-
Ish officials permitted the escape of reb
cruiser to prey upon American oommerc
end whether the Engaish Government is :
efsa7.s.:.- f.; 10 daz1agea. aue E..yu'