The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-01
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Senator Summers Speech in England =
Its Effect on the People and Gov
ernment - What England
Should Do in Reply.
Opinions of John Bright, Lord Cla-
rendon, and Gladstone.
FROM ENGLAND.

LONDON, April 30.-IThe London papers this morn
ing open their editorial pages with comments on the
speech lately delivered by Senator Sumner in the
United States Senate on the subject OF the Alabama
claims and the relations generally existing between
Great Britain and America. The writers suppress
the text of the speech, however
The London Star, John Bright's organ, says that
the claims of Mr.. Sumner are so new and startling
and so vaguely put, that they must be regarded
simply as enormous and witha unexpected; that if
they convey merely the shadow Of his Instructions
Mr.. Motley will come to the English metropolis in
very different official guse from that under which
Minister johnson, the genial dner-out, now about
to bid adieu to the Court and people, arrived. The
star deplores the rejection by England Of the early
Overtures made by eX-Ministcr Adams for settle
ment OF this question. President Grant is not, it is
said whole-souled lover of peace, was the late
Mr.. Lincoln lie has intense determination of char
acter, but is Western man. without that natura
genius which served Mr. Lincoln, who, instead of
reading, had actual experience Of the world. Pres-
dent Grant has no training, either as a lawyer or a
politician. He is intensely American, and the entire
world is acquainted with his resouteness Of purpose
After defending England from the charge of gene
raj sympathy with the rebel Confederates, the writer
confesses that the escape OF the Alabama from Eng
land was both deplorable and disgraceful, forming
the worst precedent Great Britain could establish
for the future in such like contingency. The Star
presses, however its amaZement at the character of
Mr.. Summers demands in reparation. If Mr.. Mot
ley's instructions are couched in similar spirit
his mission will be fruitess as the extravaganza OF
the propositions will strike the public at once
Every one knows how anxious the British people are
to deal fairly on the subject but they justly consider
that if her concessions are to be merely used as
standponts for further and at present unheard-of
demands, England must carefully consider the posi-
tion, lest by yielding unadvisedy she should esta-
blish a worse precedent than even that of burning
ships the high seas by admitting discussion of
demands utterly untenabe, and which ought to be
resisted.
The London Times desgnates the estimates OF
American damages put forth hy Mr. Sumner as pOr-
entous, as it has already reached e422, 100000 and
may in the future embrace the possible earnings OF
all the soldiers drawn from the fields OF productive
labor by war. The speech, it adds, is worthy of Mr.
Summers ability, and deserves an impartial consde
ration. He wants. however something more than
national reparaton from England, asking for con-
triton and public humiliation The Times asserts
that in this England is cruelty wronged, and Anne
rica has had no useful object served EX-
pressions Of regret and pentence are re-
dictated by conquerOrs at the head of armies,
found to be unencumbered by such expressions. An
acknowledgment OF moral liability for these claims,
made beforehand, would PREJUDICE the controversy
and stultify the proposed settlement In the event
of an arbitration court declaring England not liable
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 Times argues that the concession of bel
ligerent rights to the South simple act and fact
not dependent on the Union blockade for had there
not been a blockade it would not have altered the
to any appreclabe degree The prevailing tone OF
Mr.. summers speech Is characterized as passionate
and remonstrative, and his menace betrays one
sided partisanship lamentable as coming from re-
preventative of great country. MI. Sumner makes,
1t is said, no complaint against France although the
Emperor Napoleon was desirous of recognizing the
independence of the Southern Confederation. 1t is
alleged that though England is held forth as the only
foreign power mplacaby hostile to America Is not
too much to say that one moment during the
pended on the voice OF England, whose sword
thrown into the scale would have altered the
result. She declined the contest and it eyinces
degree of unfairness bordering on afatuation to
leave this consideration out Of account. 1t is COM
mon practice with American journalists and polit-
clans to Yilify England, and the protective tariff
plan is popular with them merely as likely to intict
an injury on Great Britain. Let atonement be made
for the of insulting language by individuals, and
it will he seen whether England and America, by a
retrospective verdict OF public opinion will continue
the cultivation of mutual respect which is as ne
/ Is ne
as such, only deal i'll overt acts, and these conSt-
tute merely possible subjects for pecunary compen-
satiOn.
The London Standard, a Tory organ, says that the
American Senate has done more than reject the
treaty. as it has given the world reasons to believe
by Mr.. Summers speech which, as endorsed by that
supreme body, covers all questions Of the foreign
! diplomacy Of the country. The English people now
know what Mr.. Motley Will have to aim at in his
efforts TO arrange the Alabama claims the former
basis % now wasted sro, away, IN some & respects
| American Senate displays. Formerly the dan
| ger was that England would step beyond
! q due regard Tor the national honor and
| dignity and allow the claims; but now when the
demand has assumed its present proportions they
will feel assured that even with John Bright in the
| Cabinet they are safe from chance OF disgracefu
| capitulation. The American claim can hardly be
described in serious language and its terms not eX-
cite Indignation. They might well argue against
proposal for American troops to hold the Tower of
| London as material guarantee, or that the Prince
| Of Wales should he sent to Washington and placed
| in the hands OF the Federal authorities a
| hostage for Englands good behavior in
| subject is no 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 10
! any punishment which the United States Senate, in
its supremacy over the affairs of the world, may
| choose to innict In other words, she has decided
that the Alabama claims shall not be amiCaby set
tied, whatever may ensue. The interval at the pre-
sent day is long between national hatred and bonn
baTdment; IL is useless to ignore and dangerous to
forget that the feeling in America Is one OF intense
| and unmitgated hatred towards Great Britain, and
that war with England would be regarded as a
| national luxury, but expensive. England has not
| only admitted that such war would be expensive,
hut deporabe. Under the CircumstanCes,Sit is pro-
| bable that the Americans viii elect to keep the Ala
| bama claims in reserve and await their opportunity
fer revenge more cheaply. War Is not an agreeable
solution, though involving danger rather than dis
honor, and may be better TO accept any settlement
| which the present administration in London may
have made If the attitude Of the American Senate
was less ridiculous.
MIR. Summers speech creates an intense excite
ment in political circles.
At Cabinet meeting yesterday the subject OF the
/ snepch was informally discussed,
Mr. Bright declared that the embarrassment which
IFS publication produced served England very prop
ery but he agreed not 10 consent 10 entertain the
terms of settlement fOreshadOwed by Mr.. sumner.
Lord Clarendon expressed his belief that the actua
negotiations going on between the two countries Oh
the subject were Of lar less extreme character lnal
the sneeches of American Senators or articles in the
| nnblfc nress He hoped 10 ma Mr.. Motley as cOur
| icons as Minister johnson had been The present
| administration was eager for iasnng continuance
| of friendly relations win the Inlleu states. s -
| Mr. Gladstone professed to have good assurance
from reliable quarters that the recent reJectlon
the treaty on this subject by the AMERICAN LeBlst
| ture was purely political movement. Inc pIeseh
administration VIII endeaVor 70 selte une 5ntsin
the tone OF the English people Is antl-Ahlerlca hu
more 30 since having read only parual puphoatloi
OF Senator Summers argument,