The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-27
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.


thor and lecturer well known in this as
! well as his own country, recently deliY-
cred an address in Cleveland, Ohio, in
which he took occasion to discuss at
| considerable length the Vexed ques-
| tions relating to the Alabama claims.
/ The views exposed by Mr.. Smith seem
SO candid and withal so just, that we
! reproduce a short extract for the graft
! fication of our readers. 1t will be OBJ
served that this position differs quite
materially from that taken by Senator
Sumner, who in his hot-headed haste to
create a sensation and have himself
talked about, advocated a highly ag-
gressive as well as an extremely exact
| ing policy. To the credit of the Amer
lean people, however, Sumner found
but short-lived endorsement. A lit
! tie investigation showed plainly his
position to be not only untenable, but
one likly to lead to endless discussion
if not to open hostilities between the
two countries. Under the circumstan-
ces it is pleasant to know, while it may
to certain extent be humiIiating to
our craftsmanship, that an Englishman
possessing the force and influence of
Mr.. Goodwin Smith has suggested so
simple and plain manner of settling
these disputes. 1t is also pleasant to
observe that the English press have so
far advanced in this matter as to admit
that wrongs were done this country by
reason ofthe escape of the Alabama, and
that their government are to a certain
extent at least responsible therefor.
But here is the extract to which we
referred, in which specific course is
recommended for EngIand's adoption
If we go before an arbitrator, there
will no doubt be long and tough de-
bate between the lawyers on the two
sides. The English advocates will cite
the cases of Walker, the f1libuster, of
the FeIian invaders of Canada, of the
Cuban expeditions. International law
is, with reason, indulgent to neutrals,
on whom the onerous duty of prevent
ing violations of their neutrality bV
belligerents is cast-by no act of their
own, and without their own consent, ill
addition to the loss and annoyance gem
orally inflicted on them, and inflicted on
England in the highest degree in the
present case--by the existence ola war.
do not feel sure the legal position of Eng
land on the Alabama question is so I'M
tenable as it is generally assumed to be.
But for my part, l have never wished to
see this question treated merely as le-
gal question; / have always wished
that it would be treated as such a ques-
ton should be treated in private life
among friends and men of honor The
Alabama ought not to have escaped.
The escape led to consequences at once
most serious, as regarded the destruc-
ton of American property, and most
irritating to the feelings of the Ameri-
can nation. She, in fact, though not
with our appreciation or conniVance,
made our shores the base of her opera
tons, and carried on a war of deYesta-
nTuT lnIsf1 .cI<>
her by British sympathizers with the
Confederate cause, both in England and
in the colonies, though merely that of
private and irresponsible partisans did,
i'll appearance, somewhat compromise
the nation. And all this took place at
the moment of your national agony,
when wrong was most bitterly felt and
when your resentment was naturally
most keen. Under these circuDlStan-
ceS, u L had any C0ice IN the matter, I
aGoutd do the same thing achich aCOuld
do undeT analogous circumstances Ia
private life. IaCould, qcithout discuss
SION, and VpOSSi6Ie, GCSthOut the inter
centton Of an arbitrator, pay the achote
ofthe alabama claim. / have always
advocated this course before my coun-
trymen; am advocating it now. But
1t is difficult for such counsels to find
their way to the hart of proud nation,
when it is being at the same time load
ed with exaggerated reproaches and
threatened with unlimited demand, and
when it has reason to apprehend that
reparation might not be received in a
kindly and generous spirit. but with a
burst of exultation over its PROSTATE
honor. While the war was going on,
heartily supported the great English
Liberals who were trying to do justice
to England now. l was told the other
day that | was sitting between two
stools, and that should come to the
ground. l am not politician, and
have no party objects in view, and
wish not to sit upon any stool, but to
stand upon my own feet, and to uphold,
as far as l can, what is true and just in
the case before me. Ii do not utterly
mistake the principle of freedom, this
is the best homage which | can render
to free people"