The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-27
ARE THE ALABAMA CLAIMS LIKELY
TO BE SETTLED?

IL DE- DEL
From the NJ y Times.
We cannot arrive at any reasonable an
swer to this question without properly com
pretending the tone of public opinion in
England. Our own position is clear enough.
We know perfectly well what kind of settle-
ment would content us as a people. But az
there is another party to the dispute, it is
necessary to find out in what temper the
subject is approached on that side. And we
cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that
at this moment the English people are as
little disposed as ever they were to make that
full reparation which alone can wipe out the
recollection of the wrong done to us during
the Rebellion.
We do not attach too much importance to
the views set forth by the English press. But
at the same time we cannot deny that if all
the public journals in the country unite in
one expression of opinion, there is fair pre-
sumption that they faithfully reflect the SEN
timent of the people. If we tried to put this
sentiment into a few words, we should say
that it amounted to this:-''We English have
offered to pay all the money claims on ac-
count of the Alabama, but the apology which
is demanded from us we cannot give" When
it is answered, ''Ehen you must take the con-
sequences, the rejoinder comes back, ''We
must make the best of very bad matter, and
stand ready to fight if need be-" Of course
all this is shortsighted and foolish. But
nations have fits of sullenness and ill-temper
like individuals, and England appears to be
in one of them She probably thinks that
while it would be very simple matter to pay
the amount demanded by the owners of the
vessels burned by the Alabama, it is not SO
easy to bear the reproaches which the Secre-
taries of State cast upon her from time to
time.
This, at least, is the tone of all the latest
English papers. The Pail MdH Gazette de-
clares that everything that can be said" on
the subject ''has been said-on both sides,
and great many times over" Consequently
it will think Secretary Fishs long despatch
worse than superfuous The Spectator con-
siders England's concession of belligerent
rights to the South an act of friendship
toward the North-because it prevented hun
dreds of privateers being fitted out for South
ern use. The SdtuTddyRe0ieD snarls at the
Presidents message, and says that the
''reports which attributed to the President
unfriendly feelings to England appear to have
been perfectly correct" We might quote
from every journal, and the general tone
would be found exactly the same.
Unless, then, the English Government is
more plastic than the English people, it is
still doubtful when this long-standing dispute
will be disposed of. Lord Clarendon declined
| to follow Secretary Fish into the details of
the controversy. Practically he says with the
newspapers, ''There has been enough talk on
both sides" The English nature is not def
cient in obstinacy, and that quality is more
perceptible than any other at this particular
moment. Secretary Fish's despatch will not
tend to soften this feeling: If we have come
to deadlock on the subject, we, at least
can afford to stand by and await the issue.
England is not quite so safe in taking that
| course.