The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-03
English Opinion on Summers Speech
John BulIBeIIIEereat.

John Bull IBelIIgereRt.
NEW YORK, May !:
The Herald has the following Cable
LONDON, April 30.-London papers
open their editorial papers with CONS
ments on the speech lately delivered
by Senator Sumner on the subject oi
the Alabama Claims and the relations
generally existing between Great
Britain and America. The writers sup.
pressed the text of the speech, however.
The Star, John Bright's organ says:
1.-THE claims of Mr.. Sumner are so
new, startling and so vaguely put that
they must be regarded simply as enor-
nous, and withal unexpected. If they
structions, Minister Motley will come
10 the English metropolis in very
different guise from that under which
Minister johnson the genial diner, now
about to bid adieu to our Court and
people, arrived" The Star deplores
the rejection by England OF the early
overtures made by ex-Minister Adams
for the settlement or this question.
"President Grant is said to be whole
souled lover of peace as was Lincoln.
He has an intense determination, but Is
a Western maH without that natural
genius which served Lincoln, who in
stead of reading had actual experience
of the world. President Grant has no
training either as a lawyer or politi:
clan. He is intensely American and
the entire world is acquainted With his
resoluteness of purpose"
After defending England from the
charge OF general sympathy with tho
COnfederAtes, the writer contesses that
the escape OF the Alabama from Eng
land was both deplorable and disgrace
full, forming the worst precedent Great
Britain could establish for the future in
such like contingency.
The Star expresses, however, its
amaZement at the character of Mr.. sum
ner's demands, in reparation. If Mot~
ley's instructions are couched in slm1-
lar spirit his mission will be fruitless,
as the extravaganza OF the propositions
will strike at once. Every one knows
how anxious the British people are to
deal fairly on the subject, but justly
consider that if her concessions are to
be merely used as standpoint for fur
Their than the present unreasonable de-
mands, England must carefully con-
slider her position lest by yielding un-
advisedly she should establish a worse
precedent than that of burning ships on
The high seas by admitting the discus
sion Of demands utterly untenable
and which ought to be resisted.
The Times designates the estimates of
American damages. put forth by Mr..
Sumner as portentous, as 1t has already
reached e422, 900, 600 and may in the
future embrace the possible earnings of
all soldiers drawn from the fields of
productive labory by the war. The
speech, it adds, Is frothy. Mr.. Summers
deserves an impartial consideration,
He wants, however, something moro
than national reparation from England,
asking for resraction and public hu-
initiation. The Times asserts that in
this England was cruelty wronged and
America has had no useful object
served. Expressions OF regret and pen
itence are required by treaty. Urea
ties of peace, however, dictated by con-
querors at the head of armies, are
found to be unencumbered by such ex-
pressions. An. ack acknowledgement of
moral liability for these claims made
beforehand, would prejudge the con-
troversy and stultity the proposed set
tlement. In the event of an arbitra.
ton court declaring England not liable
to pay damages, would her apology be
taken back? The views taken by Mr..
Summers argument on these points is
futile, unreasonable and unstatesman-
like. --'yt
The Times argues that the concession
of beIligerent rights of the South was
a simple act and fact not dependent
on the union blockade, for had there
not been blockade it would not have
altered the case to any appreciable de-
| gree. 2'uI0a
Mr., Summers speech is characterized
as passionate and remonstrative, and
his menace betrays one sided partt-
sanshipT damnable as coming from
q representative of q great country.
Mr.. sumner makes, it is said, no COM
plant against France, although Napo.
leon was desirous OF recognizing the
Southern confederation. 1t is alleged
that though England is held forth as
the only foreign power implacahly hos
tile to America, it is not too much to
say that at one moment during the wal
| the fate OF the American Union depend
ed on the voice Of England, whose
| sword thrown into the scales would
| have altered the result. She declined
| the contest and it evinces a degree o.
| unfairness bordering on an infatuation
to leave this consideration out of &C
i copnt. 1t is q common practice witt
| American journalists and politicians
to villify, and a protective tariff plar
is popular with them merely aE
likely toS inhict injury on, GreaI
| Britain. Let atonement be made
for the use OF insulting Language
by individuals, and 1t will be seer
whether England and America by a
retrospective verdict of public opinion
will continue the cultiyation OF mutua
respect, which Is as necessary as In the
private relations of life. Nations as
suchronly deal in overt acts, and these
constitute merely possible subjects i9i
peeuniary compensation Inc ssani dNi
can Senate, shas done more than
reject the treaty, as it has civ:
en- the world reason to belieye, by
Mr.. Summers speech, which Is endorsed Sc
by that supreme body, 1t covers al tlit tne
questions OF foreign diplomacy OF tnls
country: The English people PIE 70 nov aiG
at in His efforts to arrange the Alaoama
claims on a basis now wasted away IL
some respects. Good will ensue from
the candor which the American Senate