The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-05-13
GREAT BRITAIN.
The Alabama Claims Question.
LONDON, April 30,

pages with comments on the speech lately
delivered by Mr.. Sumner 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 STAR, John Bright's organ, says
the claims of Mr.. Sumner are so new,
startling, and so vaguely put, that they
must be regarded simply as enormous, and
withal unexpected, and that if they cen
vey merely the shadow of the instruc-
tions to- Minister Motley, he will come to
the English metropolis in very differ
ent official guise from that under which
Minister johnson arrived. The STAR
deplores the rejection by England of the
early overtures made by ex-Minister Ad-
ans for settlement of this question, and
that President Grant is not, as is said, a
whole souled lover of peace, as was Presi.
dent Lincoln. He has intense determine
ton of character, but is Western man.
without that natural genius which served
Lincoln, who, instead of reading had a
natural experience of the world.
President Grant has no training, either
as a lawyer or politician, and he is in
tensely American, and the entire world is
acquainted with his resolute purpose
After defending England from the charge
of general sympathy with the Confeder-
ates, the writer confesses that the escape
of the Alabama from England was both
deplorable and disgraceful, forming the
worst precedent Great Britain could es-
tablish for the future in in such like con-
tingency. The STAR expresses, however,
its amazement at the character of MIR.
Summers demands in reparation, and
says that if Mr.. Motley instructions are
will be fruitless, as the extravaganza Of
the proposition will strike the public at
once and that every one knows how anx-
ious the British people are to deal fairly
on the subject; but they justly consider
that if her concessions are to be be merely
used as stand point for further and, at
present, unreasonable demands. England
must carefully consider the position, lest,
by yielding unadvisedly, she should es-
tablish a worse precedent than that of
burning ship on the high seas, by ad-
hitting to discussion demands utterly un-
tenable, and which ought to be resisted
The TINES designates the estimates of
American damages put forth by Mr.. Sum-
ner as portentous, as it has already reach
ed e4l2, 00O 900, and may MIXTURE embrace
the possible earnings of all the soldiers
drawn from the fields of productive labor
by the war. The speech, it adds, is wor-
thy of Mr.. Sumner, and deserves an i'm
partial consideration. He wants, however
something more more than national repa-
ration from England-asking for contri-
ton and public humiliation. The TINES
asserts that in this England is cruelty
wronged, and America has no useful OBJ
ject served. Expressions of regret and
penitence are required by the treaty.
Treaties Of peace. however, dictated by
conquerors at the head of armies, are
bound to be unencumbered by such ex-
pressions, and an acknowledgement of
moral liability for those claims, made be-
forehand, would prejudice the controversy
and stultlfy the proposed settlement.
The Times argues that the concessions of
the belligerent rights to the South was a
simple act, and the fact was not depend
ent on the Union blockade, for had there
not been blockade, it would not have
altered the case in any appreciate degree.
The prevailing tone OF Senator Sumner S
speech is characterized as passionate and
remonstrative, and his menace betrays a
one sided partisanship, lamentable, as
from a representative of a great country.
Mr.. Summer makes, it is said. no COM
plant against France, although Napoleon
was DESTROYS of recognizing the independ-
ence of the Southern Confederation 1t
is alleged that though England is held
forth as the only foreign power implaca-
bly, hostile to America, it is not too much
to say that at one moment during the war
the fate of the American Union depended
on the voice of England, whose sword
thr own into the scale world have altered
the result. She declined the-contest, and it
evinces degree of unfairness, bordering
on infatuation, to leave this consideration
out of the account. 1t lis common prac-
tice with American journalists and politi-
cans to vilify England; and protective
tariff plan is popular with them merely
as likely to inaict injury on Great Britain.
Let atonement be made for the insulting
language by individuals, and it will be
seen whether England and America, by
the retrospective verdict of public opln-
ion, will continue the cultivation of that
mutual respect which is as necessary in
private relations as in the life of nations
as such only deal in overt acts, and
these constitute merely possible subject
for pecuniary compensation.
The London STANDARD TORY organ)
says: 1.-The American Senate has done
more than reject the treaty, as it has civ
en- the world reason to believe, by Mr..
Summers speech, which, if indorsed by
that supreme body, covers all the ques-
tons of the foreign diplomacy Of the
country. The English people now know
what MIR. Motley will have to aim at in
his efforts to arrange the Alabama claims,
on basis now wasted away. In some
respects good will ensue from the candor
which the American Senate displays.
America has formally recorded her reso-
lutions that there shall be no settlement
of the Alabama claims short of that Eng
land shall surrender at discretion and sub
nit to any punishment which the United
States Senate, In its supremacy over the
affairs of the world, may choose to infict.
In other words, she has decided that the
Alabama claims shall not be amicably
settled, whatever may ensue. The inter-
val at the present day is long between ma
tional hatred and bombardment.
1t is useless to ignore and dangerous to
forget that the feeling In America is one
of intense and unmitigated hatred toward
Great Britain, and that war with Eng
land would be regarded as national
luxury, but expensive. England has not
only admitted that such war would be
expeusived, but deplorable. Under the
circumstances, it is probable that the
Americans will elect to keep the Alabama
claims in reserve, and await their oppor-
tunity for revenge more cheapIy. War is
not an agreeable solution. though involv-
ing danger rather than dishonor, and it
may be better to accept any settlement
don may have made. Is the attitude of
the American Senate less ridiculous?
Mr.. Summers speech creates an intense
axoitarent In nolitical circles At a