New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-21
I The ENGLLSH NEGOTIATIONS.

Mr.. Chandler is Senator whose fidelity to
his convictions is only equaed by the mar
velous freedom with which lie sometimes ex-
presses them. There is never any doubt about
his feelings. He is nothing if not downright.
Withal, he is SO good man, and has rem
deTed such sturdy service, in times past, to n
good cause which was not then popular, that
we may now regret, but can still forgive, his
extreme demonstrations against Great Britain
Yet since Mr.. Chandler has himself chosen
to remind the country of his past course on
the questions that are now resolved into the
Alabama claims controversy, we may recall the
fact that he has never on this subject repre-
sented the position or purposes of the Ameri-
can people. In 1864, he wanted to de-
clare that the base of the Rebellion was
in the Canadas and to act accordingly.
AS matter of fact very few now believe that
this was true, and as a matter Of policy every
body sees that its announcement would have
been unwise il not disastrous. He tells us now
that he did not make his proposition without
consultation with the military authorities and
calculations as to how soon threats OF this sort
would enable us to collect our claims
from Great Britain. But his cOnsulta-
tions came to nothing, and his resolution was
never reported, one way or the other, from the
Committee to which it was referred. In 1865
Mr.. Chandler wanted to have peremptOTy de-
mand made for immediate payment of our
claims and, this failing, wanted an act of nom
intercourse, and the instant withdrawal Of
our Minister. Probably no one, but the
earnest and patriotic Senator himself, now be-
ieyes that non intercourse was the remedy to be
| employed in 1885, or that tue withdrawal Of
our Minister would have resulted in grayer
discomforts to the British Empire than it
would have inflicted upon ourselves. There
may be those who think with Mr.. Chandler that
such course would have insured settlement
of the Alabama claims, but they canLot be of
the number who remember With us, that our
cousins across the water have nearly or quite
| as much human nature as ourselves. The Sen
ator's next adventure into this field was
proposal to repeal our neutrality laws.
| Surely there cannot be three members
of the Senate who agree with him in regard
| ing the suggestion that we do wrong because
| Great Britain refuses to do right, as any solu-
| ton of our difficulties. In 1867 Mr.. Chandler
wanted to declare our strict neutrality between
| the Governments of Great Britain and
| Abyssinia, in the war then pending,
If anyone besides the Senator now thinks that
the moral position of the United States before
the world would have been improved by such
an abandonment of all the principles we pro-
fessed on the subject we should be at loss
| to know where to look for him. In all these
demonstrations we believe Mr.. Chandler to
have been sincere-and solitary. lie occupies
very nearly the same position now.
The Senator proposes that our newly ap-
pointed Minister should go to London with
demand in one band and threat in the other
eff Great Britain should meet us in a friendly
Esprit, acknowledge her wrong, and cede all
cher interests IN the Canadas in settlement of
"these claims, We will have perpetuate peace
"with her; but if she does not, we must conquer
"peace. We cannot afford to have an enc