The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-04-27
The Alabama Claims Question.

LONDON, April 19-The Times, in an
article on the appointment of Mr.. Mot
ley as Minister to England, says: 1t is
likely that assuming the present Alaba-
ma convention to be set aside, Mr.. Mot
ley will be instructed to open negotia-
tons for any other, differing somewhat
in machinery, but embodying similar
principles. Should this be the case, our
Government will be ssready to give the
proposal a fair consideration. Should
it on the other hand be the desire of the
Americans to keep the question still un-
settled, the British nation having fully
manifested its good disposition, will not
feel bound, however, to initiate fresh ne
gotiations. In any case we shall wei
come Mr. Motley not only as an old
friend but as one who has the confidence
of really powerful executive and of the
most powerful political party of the
United States.
This country has gone to the extreme
of concession in the matter of the Ala
bama claims. 1t has agreed to refer
everything except its own honor 70 the
arbitration and to the judgment of a
mixed commission. 1t has agreed to
give Americans, who profess to have
been wronged, every opportunity to as
sert their claims, by providing that the
commission shall hold its sittings at
Washington. Except absolute submis-
sion to every demand the Americans
may choose to make, there is nothing
further that could be conceded. The
Convention in all which this is stipula-
ted has been the work of their own
Minister and Secretary of State and has
received the assent of their own Presi-
dent If they now set It aside our duty
will simply be to abstain altogether from
further overtures and let any proposal
for renewal of negotiations proceed
from the American Government As
for that downright demand for payment
which our Philadelphia correspondent
describes as being advocated in the Uni
ted States, this country would of course
know how to treat it. But we have not
the smallest belief that President Grants
Government contemplates course of
action SC unfriendly and offensive.
Lord Stanley, in recent speech at
Glasgow, said in reference to the Ala
bama treaty: Notwithstanding the fail
ure of the late negotiations, do not
think / can bring mysclfto take a gloomy
view of these relations. For my part,
l have very great faith in the good sense
of the American people, and do not
think they can wish to increase their
difficulties by getting into any fresh
quarrels Whatever happens. we have
secured the main point. We have salts
fed our own consciences and we have
put our country Enthusiastically in the
right / will only add that to my mind
questions affecting the internal relations
of the country, questions which in their
results may involve the issues
of war or peace, are incomparably great
er than any other with which politicians
in our day have to deal. We may quar-
rel among ourselves and make it up
again probably with not much damage
on the one hand if not with much gain
on the other. But whatever may be our
feelings or position in reference to new
disputes, it is the duty of all of
us as regards the outside world to see
that our country shows a united 'front.'
Certainly ifauy diplomatic difficulty
should arise l should feel it my duty 80
far as l conscientiously could to endow
and to strengthen the hands of whoever
might be the Foreign Minister Of the
day;
New YORK, April 19.--The new club
house for women will he opened on the
18th Of May, and will be occupied by
the Sorosis, the Workingwomen's Asso-
citation, artists studios, the Revolution
office, and as sleeping apartments for
women visiting the city who may not
desire to 60 alone to the hotels.