Evening star., 1869-05-03

.
a'oT Summers speech, anu the corresponding
action of the Senate iu rejecting the Alabama
treaty. show OBJ the whole a more philosophic
Isrrper than might have been expec,eo ths,
n. on the assumption that they had taken an v
stock III the delusIon that all was serene in re
gard 10 that treaty. The London !S'dr the or
gan OF John Bright. paper always friendly
4 tnlS country, but which now speaks with
some caution as representing to some ex-
teEt the British Government, regards
'he CLAIMS made by Mr.. Sumner As
new, startling. and vaguely enormous" :"
SLd it pictures NI. Motley as coming IN far
ether guise than 4 'genial diner.out" Pres
1deni Grant il holds as less a peace man than
Nr Lincoln, and consequently liKely TO put
his "resoluteness OF character aud ssintense
determination" into practical share The StGy
comedies the escape of the Alabama as q dis.
grace 10 England. but it repudlates Mr. sum.
n-T's claim based thereon. and IL remarks ths,
Angland must consider her position and not
'-esiaoiisn worse precedent than the burning
oi SHIPS at sea, by admitting tue discussion of
demands which are utterly uutenabls and
ought 10 De resisted" Obviously the Glad
stone ministry do not mean 10 lose prestige at
nome by conceding the claims of this country
too readily.
The Tines regards the speech as able. and the
demands as "portentous Itthinks Mr.. sum-
aer wants an expression of contriton from
England. and thar such a desire is ..feminine'-
md uns:atesmanlike The Times estimates the
jamages of Mr. Summers bill at f22,OOO 600, or
say two thousand millions of dollars In gold
so far, and that il may be indefinitely enlarged,
and urges that In a settlement of these claims
we ought not to forget that during our civil
war the fate OF the Union depended upon the
voice of England, and that, had she yielded to
the wish OF Napoleon, there would have baen
end to the United States. Perhaps not
England ana France both did us all the mis-
chief OF which they were capable without an
open rupture, that would have swept their
commerce from the seas like ehaff. and deprived
them OF their territorial possessions on this side
Of the Atlantic. England had the dread too. of
losing ireland, and Napoleon of losing his
fhrCne, IL the event of 4 war with the United
States. The game they played was a much
safer one for them, and did us really more
mischief. But we have settled already with
Napoleon. The promptness with which he ate
his humble-pie over his failure to cripple us ON
me side Of Mexico showed tha, he appreciated
TIE fu,- pas he had made, and meant 10 allow
10 considerations of pride or dignity TO prevent
tim from beating retreat while u was nos
sEle- The "loU Get p" "You Betr' aIacrity
With which he abandoned NJ 'xico upon our
alert
less retreat shown by he California bur-
clar when confronted bY a sIx-shooter Slow
SCirg England, caught N the a Z. is too clumsy
tc make = graceful retreat or reparatior.
The StaadGrd considers Summers speech as
Jts voice CT the Senate and the Instructions of
Dir. Motley. Il remarks that - now when the
demand has reached its present proportions
We feel that even the Bright Cabinet is SAT.
from the chance OF dissracetul capitulation-
The claims now put forth can hardly be de-
EC-Ieed IN serIous language and not excite IN
s.gnatiOn. We might as well argue against a
proposal that American troops hold the Tower
q London As maternal guarantee; or that The
Prince OF Wales proceed 20 Washington and
surrender himself into the hands of the Fed
eIal authorities as a hostage for our good be-
havior." u says war is expensive and de-
JlOrabIe. and that America Will probably Keep
the Alabama quarrel in reserve and await an
opportunity.
The Cabinet also discussed the question.
and Lord Clarendon expressed his belief
that the actual negotiations on the part of
The American Government would De far les
extreme IN character than speeches OF Senators
and articles in the press.
The StordGTd suggests whist is probably the
secret dread of Great Britain, tha- our Govern
ment Will pursue a course OF masteTIy iuactiy-
Iiy IL regard 20 the settlement of these claims.
I be question Is a Damocle's sword that Eng
land breads TO have suspended over her head
4; we content ourselves with simply present.
il = TIE bill without vent or passion, a. a legal
and equitable claim necessary 20 be paid BE-
lore the two countries can come 10 a satisfsc.
ierE understanding. England VIII sooner or
later came TO the conviction that she had better
settle. IL the meantime, we can 90 on with the
vork CT Sipins out our little war debt When
ttat Il done asd We are ready for ..the rext
Wal" Great Britain will doubtless hold uS m
considerable respect.