The New York herald., 1869-02-13
Hew . sessie she AIab.na Clains.


The United States cannot be responsible for
British insanity. The fact that Earl Russell
said that the escape of the Alabama from
England was s'due to the insanity of the law
officer Of the Crown" has nothing to do with
the case. It may be plea for us to show
mercy in our demands and make them as light
as possible under the circumstances. There
should have been an addition TO the express
sion Of opinion of Earl Russell He should
have stated that the insane law officer was the
best representative Of England that could be
possibly found during onr civil war troubles.
That officer represented lord, merchant, boot
black. He was the exponent of English
sympathy for the great republic, and Of Eng
lish neutrality whenever an ocean port was
found large enough to give shelter to any
privateer that would fulfil the wish nearest to
the English heart-the destruction of Ameri-
can commercial supremacy. But we are will
ing to be gracious to great people with whom
we have so many traditions in common, and
with whom we are linked in ties of religion
and language. We are beyond being salts
fed with few paltry millions of trea-
sure as salye to our wounded ma
tional honor; for the destruction of few
ships was not and is not the point with us.
We therefore propose that we shall do good
for evil. Instead of pressing the Alabama
claims through our gastronomic diplomat now
in England, who will be recalled Immediately
that General Grant takes the executive chair,
we shall propose to England, through spe-
cial commissioner, that we take Canada and
the whole of British North America in ex-
change for all the injuries done by the Ala
bama and other commercial representatives Of
English neutrality, and for all the grievances
which have from time to time been heaped
upon us while yet Great Britain was in the
zenith Of her power.
The far-seeing wisdom of Russia caused her
to sell Alaska to us. She saw the steady
movement of the United States to the west
and northwest, and knew that soon we should
be pressing upon the Alaska frontier. 1t
would be good craftsmanship if England could
have the. same broad view of the march of
events on this Continent, and acknowledge
their inevitable tendency to territorial con-
quest These events are completely beyond
our control. They are the movable force
that sends US onward upon this vast wave of
Western civilization with power that
would swamp the republic were we to
attempt to resist it. If England is still
advised by 'sinsane law officers" she will cling
to Canada instead of yielding it up to the
/ United States. If she cannot see that the
very elements that bind us together as a
nation are elements that laugh at and strike
out boundary lines, it will be because she will
not listen to the teachings of civilization and
to our warnings. The whole Of North America
has been taken possession Of by the modern
forces which the liberal genius of Germany,
called into action. Our Southern States,
clinging to feudal principles which had unfor-
tunatey, been planted upon their soil, tried to
stand in the pathway Of this modern giant.
They were crushed by it. Our constitution
forbade the addition Of territory to the old
Union, and yet we went on adding, first the
valley Of the Mississippi, then Florida then
Texas, until, finally, we debouched upon the
Pacific through California. Our eyes now
turn northward aud southwark. Canada is
essential to us and we are essential to Canada.
The times will have it so, and in stating this
we simply recognize fact. To England
Canada is a burden, and severe one, too. in
view of the present condition of Europe.
Europe, with six millions of men nnder arms,
stands divided against itself, waiting, as it
modern civilization to strike the tocsin which
shall inaugurate the great final struggle be-
tween the relics of feudalism, as represented
in class privileges and great standing armies,
and the liberal progressive movement of this
century. We can bde our time; but, we ask,
can England do the same? She has an Indian
empire to take care Of, which keeps half of
her cotton manufactures in motion. She has
Australia and Ireland on her hands-both
nearer TO the United States by adoption than
they arc to Great Britain by national ties. Is
it not worth consideration on the part Of
British statesmen that, under the administra-
ton Of Grant, we shall always be prepared TO
settle the Alabama and other claims to our
own liking? Perhaps we may settle them ac
cording to the example set US by The mother
country, which sometimes, in late years, has
spoken with pride Of a people who are appa-
rently welded to English habits and customs.
If we undertake this method we promise to
make old England very proud OF u.s. Better,
however, surrender Canada, and By making
the ameade honorable to Us prepare the way 10
friendship, which, in the coming European
struggle, would be the only reliable foreign
element upon which England could depend
SOMETHING Nor ENTIRELY NEw.-rhe re-
port from Washington that General Sherman,
il be desires II, can have place in General