The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-01
Its Effect ON the People and
Government.
WHAT ENGLAND SHOULD DO IN REPLY.
A Cabinet Council and Opinions Of John Bright,
Lord Clarendon and MIR. Gladstone.
SPECIAL REPORT BY TIE ATLANTIC CABLE
TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.


LONDON, April 80, 1869.
The London papers this morning open their edito-
rial pages with comments on the speech lately de-
nvered by Senator Sumner IN the United States Sem
ate on the subject Of the Alabama claims and the re-
lauons generally existing between Great Britain
and America. The writers suppress the text Of the
speech, however.
The London star, John Brights organ says that
the claims Of Mr.. Sumner are so new and startling
and so vaguely put that they must be regarded SIM
ply enormous and witha unexpected; that If they
convey merely the shadow OF his instructions Minister
Motley win come to the English metropolis in a
very different Official guise from that under which
Minister Johnson, the genial diner out, now about
TO bid adieu to the Court and people, arrived. The
star depores the rejection by England Of the early
Overtures made by eX-Minister Adams for settle
ment OF this question President Grant is not it is
said, whole sOuled lover OF peace was the late
Mr.. Lincoln He has intense determination Of char
acter but Is Western man, without that natural
genius which served Mr.. Lincoln, whO instead Of
reading had actual experience OF the world. Presi-
dent Grant has no training either as q lawyer
or q politician. He Is intensely American
ana the entire world is acquainted with his reso-
luteness Of purpose After defending England from
the charge Of a general sympathy with the rebel
conederates the writer confesses that the escape Of
disgraceful, forming the worst precedent Great
Britain could establish for the future in such like
contingency. The Star expresses, however, Its
amazement at the character OF Mr.. Sum-
ner's demands in reparation. II Mr.. Motleys
instructions are couched in q similar spirit
his mission will be fruitless, as the extra
vagance Of the propositions will strike the
public at once Every one knows how anxious
the British people to deal fairly on the subject;
but they justly consider that If her concessions
70 be merely used as standpomts for further and at
present unheard Ofdemands England must carefully
consider the position. lest by yielding unadvsedly she
should establish worse precedent than that OF
burning ships on the high seas by admitting dis
cusson Of demands utterly untenable and which
ought to be resisted.
The London Times designates the estimates of
American damages put forth by Mr.. Sumner as por-
tentous, as 1t has already reached f422, Oo0 600,
and may in the future embrace the possible
earnings of all the soldiers drawn from
the fields OF productive labor by war. The
Speech it adds, is worthy OF Mr.. Summers ability,
and deserves impartial consideration. He wants,
however something more than national reparation
from England, asking for contritiOn and public
humiliation. The Times asserts that in this England
n cruelty wronged, and America has had no useful
object served. Expressions OF regret and penitence
are required by treaty. Treaties of peace however,
dictated by conquerors at the head Of armies are
found to be unencumDered by such express
sions. An acknowledgment OF moral liability for
these claims, made before hand would PREJUDICE the
controversy and stuify the proposed settle
ment In the event Of arbitration court declaring
England not liable to pay damages would her apo
IOgy be taken backi The view taken by Mr.. Sum-
ner's argument on these points is peurile I'M
reasonable ana unstatesmanike. The Times argues
that the concession OF begerent rights to the South
was simple act and fact not dependent on the
Union blockade, for had there not been q blockade
It would not have altered the case to any
appreciable degree. The prevailing tone Of
Mr.. Summers speech Is characterized as pas
sionate and remonstrative and his menace betrays
q one sided partisanshlp lamentable as coming from
representative OF great country. Mr.. Sumner
makes, 1t is said, no complaint against France,
although the Emperor Napoleon was DESTROYS Of re-
cognizlng the independence Of the Southern con-
federation 1t is alleged that though England is held
forth as the only foreign Power implacably hostile
to America 1t is not too much to say that one mo-
ment during the the fate OF the American Union
depended on the voice Of England whose sword
thrown into the scale would have altered the
result. She declined the contest, and 1t evinces
o degree Of unfarness bordering in infatuation
20 leave this consideration out OF account. IL Is
common practice with American Journalists and poll
tlcians to Willy England and the protective tariff
plan Ia popular with them merely as likely to innct
an injury on Great Britain. Let atonement be made
for the use OF insulting language by Individuals and
It will be seen whether England and America, by a
Retrospective verdict OF public opinion. will continue
the cultivation Of mutual respect, which is as ne
cessary In the private relations OF life. Nations
M such, only deal in overt acts, and these const
tute merely possible subjects for pecunlary compen-
sation.
The London Standard, O tory organ says that the
American Senate has done more than reject the
treaty rs 1t has given the world reasons to believe
by Mr. Summers speech, which. as endorsed by that
supreme body, covers all questions OF the foreign
diplomacy OF the country. The English people now
know what Mr.. Motley will have to aim at In his ef
forts to arrange the Alabama claims on the former
basis, now wasted away. In some respects
good will ensue from the candor which the
American Senate displays. Formerly the dan
ger was that England would step beyond
o due regard for the national honor and
dignity and allow the claims; but now when the
demand has assumed Its present proportions they
will feel assured that even with John Bright in the
Cabinet they are safe from chance OF disgracefu
capitulation. The American claim can hardly be
described In serious language and its terms not ex-
cite Indignation. They might well argue against
proposal for American troops TO hold the Tower OF
London az material guarantee, OF that the Prince
of wales should be sent to Washington and placed
IN the hands OF the federal authorities as q
hostage for England's good behavior In
the future. The policy Of England on this
subject is no longer an open question. America
has formally recorded her resolution that there shall
he no settlement OF the Alabama claims short Of
that England shall surrender at discretion and SUBJ
init TO any punishment which the United states SEN
ate, IN Its supremacy the AFFAIRS Of the world.
may choose 10 innct. In other words she has de-
cded that the Alabama claims shall not be amicably
settled, whatever may ensue. The interval at the
present day IL long between national hatred and
bombardment II Is useless to ignore and dangerous
20 forget that the feeling In America liz one Of intense