New-York tribune., 1869-05-13
ENGLAND AND rHE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: win you allow mo little of your space to
say a few words in reference to your London CORE
,poudent's remarks on the state Of feeling which
Nr. sumner, speech has created IN England When
the journals on both sides of tho water begin to talk
Of war and such absurd and fantastic cdHGrds as the
story of an alliance between England, France, and
Spain against the United States, are published and
find believers on this side 10 seems not unnecessary
that British subject happening TO be in New-iork,
and intimately acquainted with English politics
aud English feelings, should endeayor to explain how
England comes 10 be so excited vehement. and so
unanimous on this subject, and what her present
state of mind is likely to lead to.
On the day that you published Mr. Summers
speech several Ncw-York friends asked me, What
will tho English people think OF this speechT l
answered "They will regard 1t ns declaration OF
warp Nv friends were much surprised, and declared
that tho speech seemed to them eminently pacific in
tone. So, from the American point of view it
naturally seems So Mr.. Sumner undoubtedly in
tended it to be- 1t is only calm. explicit statement
of grievance. personally do not think Mr. Summer
has overstatcd the case, But Mr.. Sumner
ia looked upon In England as tho
most pacific the 'calmest, tho most enlightened OF
American Senators, and the warmest friend OF En-
gland. Whou therefore, this declaration came from
him. of all men, English public opinion ut once ac-
ccpted il rs the most moderate utterance any Amer
lean could make, and naturally assumed that when
Charles Sumner hoped the question could yet be set
tied without war, tho vast mass OF tho American
people must hayo determined to settle II at ence,
even IL needs be at the cost of war; am not con-
tending that this view of the question is reasonable
and inst. But am satisfied that it is the English
view Of the question England is just now con-
WINGED that Gen. Grants Government means to put a
l.. I.a,1 Of nd
settlement of the Alabama claims. l am sure you
know England too well to believe that she is likely
to enter INTO any negotiations under Such ciIcunl-
stances.
To you, who know that neither the Government
nor the people of America has any inclination TO
force on hideOus and barren war, this view oil MI
Summers speech will doubtless appear extrayagant
To mo here it likewise seems unfounded' but 10
people there in England it appears the only rational
the only possible view. Now, l think II you ana
other American journalists of influence VIII endeaVor
TO make it little clear that the American peo-
ple are not presenting a pistol at Lhglahu
head you will do moro than any diplOmatlst
can do toward the satisfactory settlement of this
question One thing is certain: II America does not
want n war. England does not. The leading MEM
bers of the present English Government and the
whole mass of the English working population Will
|
America has actually declared war against England
But the Alabama claims will be settled nevertheless
Tho English public mind Lhas for some time been
waking up to the fact that England did you heaVy
wrong This fact will weigh more and more upon
! tbo public conscience and people begin to
think moro and more about it, and. despite
| The Times and The PdH Mall Gazette, 1t
will lead in the end to n generous admission oi
error, and to just reparation. Reyerdy johnson
r,;ssion was downright misfortune because it led
the English people utterly astray-quite into fooFs
aroAiseand people don't like TO be even driven out OF
n fools paradise. But. with little time and thought
Englishmen viii begin to understand hist' VIVA,
the United States really claims and next their Just
grounds for claiming it. AT present, tho conviction
IN England is that the United States want nothing
lint war with England, or Englands utter and ablec'
humiliation. This is MISUNDERSTANDING WiiCn III
one can help TO remove so well as JOURNALIST HA'
Yourself. am, Sir faithfully yours,
JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
ST. Derds Hotel, NewYork, hay H.