The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-15
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sasard y aIornins, nay l6,I 1889.

as, Saturd ~ ygmornlng, gmor nay 10, lu0o.
Europe conbtn,ns Against ,hs Radlcals.
The news received from Europe, and pub
lished yesterday, is most important. Eng
land, France and Spain are about to form,
or have already entered into, an alliance
offensive and defensive on the subject Of the
Alabama claims and the Cuban rebellion.
The proposition is to resist the demands of
the United States Senate in settlement of
the Alabama depredations, and to secure
Spain in her possession of the island of
Cuba as against all aid to be furnished, d-
rectly or through connivance. by the Go
vefnment of the United States If this
foreign alliance has really been formed, in
what plight does it leave the Govern ment
OF the United States? Through her ac-
,knowfedgedrepresentatives, she has rejected
the Johnson treaty in q manner hardly com
porting with decenoy, while Massachusetts
Senator pronounced speech which all
agreed contained the settled views and
uhin,atuH, of the Executive and both
branches Of Congress. That declaration Of
. opinion and intention has gone forth to the
world as the deliberate policy OF the Go
.verhrnent, and here. we haYeit confronted
and opposed by the bayonets and war ships
of the three leading nations of Europe!
; What are we to do, asks tho Savannah Re
pa6Hcca? To fight thom successfully, or
either Of them, except Spain, on the seas,
) is moro than we can do with safety, while
1.-the idea of contest with all combined is
simply preposterous. 1t is evident that wo
have a lion across our path" and one that
we have put there by our own disreputable
bravado and mismanagement. The Go
vernment in the hands of statesmen and
honest mon, we could have settled all. dis
putes with England, and secured possession
of Cuba, without ill-feeling or an angry
word; but under the counsels of the radical
leaders, the country has been wickedly
thrust into position where it has no alter
native but to fight hopeless war OF inglo-
,riously back down. And the result is Just
what every sensible man in the country e4-
pected. Which horn of the dilemma shall
we grasp? That is the question now 1t is
evident that this humiliating condition of
affairs is not the work Of the people of the
United States. It has been brought about
by party leaders, who have been governing
the country with despotio hand, and with
out the slightest regard for popular opinion
or desire for the last six years. It's not the
peoples quarrel, nor the peoples humilia-
tion, and we speak the honest sentiments
Of large majority in both sections Of the
Union when We utterly repudiate all re-
sponsibIity for their conduct, and demand
a radical change in theft policy. The
people want nothing that is wrong. They
are honest themselves, and desire that the
Sforeign relations of their Government shall
be conducted by The strctcst rules of po-
<litical ethics and equity. 1t is no back
,down in Gleaa,, nothing derogatory to the
national honor, to insist that their public
agents retraco all false steps and do INTO
others as we would ihave them do unto us
President Grant. is not yet too far compli-
Gated with this business--at least so fur as
the world knows-to reject the evil counsel
of radical politicians, and obey the voice of
the people; and we trust he will do it forth
with and extricate the Government from
the false position into which designing
knaves have rccklessly forced it.
~ The advices from Washington indicate
that little or no reliance is to be put on the
cable report. Yet there is probably, as the
Baltimore .Sun suggests, considerable feel
ing and apprehension in Europe on the
subjee s referred to.
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