New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-18
CONCESSION FROM ENGLAND.

The important statement is made IN Ihe
London Times that should Mr.. Motley make
proposal for the settlement of the Alabama
claims, through negotiations at Washing
ton instead of London, it will be ac-
cepted. The English organ speaks as by
authority. The promise which it offers Is the
only well -defned advance in the spirit OF con-
cession which has been made by any news
paper claiming to speak for the English
Government since Mr.. Summers speech
aroused tumult of opinions and prejudices
in our calculating friends across the Atlantic.
Without surrendering anything OF the sub
stance in controversy, the remark OF 1he
Times indicates measurable step IN fair
play and good feeling. Whatever worth
Mr. Summers speech may have had
in English eyes as the amplest as well as
the EXTREMIST statement of our case cannot
have been left out of reckoning in the new
announcement. Doubtless it is to the fact that
we value our cause in the matter of the claims
as earnestly as we rate them highly, that we
owe considerable part of any concession which
Engishmen can make; but we trust that there
is also q natural and magnanimous desire III
both countries to have our difficulties fairly
and squarely adjusted.
The shape which the proposal in question
has taken in some quarters is sufficiently
humiliating to the national spirit which made
a good part of Mr.. Summers speech its stand
ard, and, perhaps, accepted it wholly as n
moral statement Of our position. 1t was
suggested that the negotiations should
take place in Washington because our peo-
pie would be better satisfied that the
English Government could not elabo-
rately deceive our representatives. In other
words, Mr.. Motley would be saved from
being served up at dinners like another
Mr.. Johnson, and the people would not
be hoodwinked. A proposition of this shape
and quality simply dishonors the diplomacy of
both countries. Our ambassador is fit to do
vigilant battle for our cause, fit to represent
our claims at every changing phase of diplo-
macy, or he ought not to be sent abroad.
Our English contemporary labors under the
grave error that now, after victory in q great
contest wherein we regret not to have been
able to count as friends and helpers those
for and with whom it labored. we
have any Craving for sympathy" We
do, indeed, make the proper charge that
the governing classes of England odd
mot show proper feeling toward us during
"the war;" for that was n time of agony and
death throes, when to have our anti-Slavery
kindred laying wagers upon our downfall, in
stead of aiding us, was another torture. But
any such Idesre for sympathy is long past. We
now ask for justice certain that most unwhole-
some precedents will be established if justice
is refused. We cross out of the account cheer
fully any fancied claim upon the score of SYM
pathy; we shall even ignore more sentimental
means of reconciliation than those which have the
multiplication table for their basis, if our
contemporaries desire it. Not willingly would we
forget Mr.. Peabody's benefactions, but we
have no wish to count them among our claims,
nor have we any disposition to ignore Eng
lands recognition of them.