The Montana post., 1869-06-11
THE NBw ISSUE.


dow much of truth there is in the
lnumation that the Alabama question
is 70 become an issue in the approach-
ing political campaign, is difficult to
say. lt is not improbable. however
that 1t will be introduced and an ex.
preston OF the people obtained in those
States holding elections. This is desir-
aole In one way; in another it is not.
The Senate took very decided and
somewhat unexpected position on the
johnson Clarendon Treaty, endorsing
Summers position fully. The vote was
virtually unanimous. There was no
party division upon it, aud in fact it
should never be permitted to become a
partizan question, although as import
ant national questions have been made
SO. There was but one alteration sug>
gested in the wording of Senator Sums
ners speech That suggestion was
made by Democrat and was at once
accepted by Sumner. 1t was a great
national question. decided by the high
est Legislative authority of the nation:
question involving the rights and dig
nifty of the Republic as against an en-
croaching power, and to Grabble it as
party issue in the mire and flth of a
local struggle for place, is unworthy;
will weaken the position of the Admins
istraiion and Minister Motley, if they
sh 70 -
lean basis, and possibly through party
affiliations defeat the conscientious ex~
preston of the people upon il. Still,
having become one of the vital ques>
tioDs with which the Administers
ton has TO deal, the position
of the Senate being Indignantly
assailed over Summers head by the en-
tire British press, and America being
ask ed not only 10 bear the injury but
TO lay supinely under the incessant as
saults of those who have injured us, il
would be well TO see in how far the
people endorse or condemn the views of
the Senate as presented in Summers
speech. that, after having been fairly
before the country, the administration
may know the steady beat of the popu-
lar heart. and trend its course accord-
ingly. Itwould therefore be injudicious
TO give out before hand any predeter~
mined course of either party, as not even
the representative men of a party are
warranted in pledging il to a platform
until il has been considered and adopted
by the party in Convention. The re-
ported variance between Grants views
and those of Sumner we do not believe
If there is a variance Grant has changed,
and letting up on a resolve is not one of
his characteristics. There is really but
one sentiment on this matter in the
American mind. England has done us
grievous injury. Principle says ''de>
mand Immediate, full redress" Expe-
diency says get il if you can pesceably,
if not, either take the best you can get
or cherish the grudge until you can have
revenge in kind" Ii one party adopts
the Principle" and the other the "Ex>
pedience' platform, we will get in a
delightful muddle. The proper course
would seem to be, that the people should
express the principle" and leave the
4 question between that and "expedien>
cy' wholly to the Judgment of the heads
of the government, TO whom their res
sponsible and administrative powers are
tor the time delegated, and with which
foreign powers have to deal, and of whom
alone they have official knowledge.