The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-18

man made the town." MATTEL.
Gen. Butler on the Policy Of the
Republican Party.
We reprint from the N. Y. Tribune q
complete outline Of Gen. Buffers views
of what Is necessary to give the Republi-
can party renewed vigor, reference to
which was made yesterday in our New
York dispatches:
The republican party. he says, Is not
now united upon single question of pub.
lie policy. Upon the tariff question Il Is
split in two by the backbone of tho Alle-
ghanies. Upon all financial issues the d.
vision Is almost marked. The party has
no longer any coherent force, and rocog-
nizes no leadership. It gives no support
to the adm inistration 1t has chosen, which
was not able at the last session Of Con-
gress to carry single one Of the measures
It proposed. The San Domingo treaty
failed in the Senate In spite of all tho in
fluence the President could bring to bear.
Mr.. Creswcll's ono idea of abolishing the
franking privilege was lost The Secre-
tary of the Navy did not get tho appro-
priations he asked for to carry on his de-
partment. The army was reduced. not.
withstanding the protests of the War Do
partment. The Attorney. Generals Office
was knocked into pi. Boutwells fnan-
cial measures were badly cut up. There
WAS never before an administration pos
,essng so little influence with Congress
of It's own party. Tho republican party,
Gen. Butler thinks. has been kept alive
for the past two years solely by the un-
willingness of the people to intrust power
to party which sided with tho country's
enemies during the war. These war
memories will not last much longer. how
ever, and cannot be counted upon to fur.
nish political capital for tho presidential
struggle two years hence. BY that time
the Democrats will have fully accepted
the results Of the war.
Reconstruction suffrage, and all domcs-
tic issues growing out of 1t, will have
been fully settled and finally disposed OF,
and will furnish no possible foundation
for the Republican party to construct a
platform upon. There Is one question OF
the war, however, that Is not settled; and
that Is the foreign question. The wounds
rcccivod by our national honor nt the
hands Of Great Britain are not yet healed,
and It Is the duty and true policy Of the
administration. according to General But
Ter, TO at once demand and enforce tho
settlement of the Alabama Claims. Here
Is a question upon which tho President
can lead the Republican party and unite
1t In his support. A vigorous prosecution
of these claims to satisfactory settlement
within the next year would mako the ro-
election of Grant inevitable. The people
would rally to his support with cnthusi-
asm. and the Republican party would be
given immense strength and u new lease
of life. In reply to question rs to the
nature of the settlement no would have
proposed to England and the way Of
bringing it about, General Butler said that
q special agent or ambassador extraordi.
nary should be sent Immediately to Lon.
don and intrusted to put the case to Earl
Granville somewhat In this way: We
have waited long enough for settlement
of these claims, my lori, and Wa propoe
to wait no longer. They are u constant
source of irritation between our govern
ment and yours and between our people
and yours, and no good can come Of longer
delay. Besides, It has become q question
of political policy with lis mt homo and
we are determined tn have settlement
ut once; anicably. If possible; but II not
possible, then by other means. As bc-
tween your government and ours these
claims arc very heavy.
The damage done to Onr commerce by
your pirates was enormous, and the pro-
longat on of the war caused by your cruis-
ers was an incalculable injury to us. No
amount of money which you are able to
pay would make full reparation for Tho
wrong you did ms. Still. rs between our
government and our citizens these claims
arc not large. Most Of our ship owners
who lost vessels were insured. Wo would
not have TO pay them nor the insurance
companies, who were compensated for
their losses by the war-risks they charged
In their premiums, nor would 1t be prno-
ticable to return To ship-Owners the extra
premiums they paid, nor mako good to
the actual losers the great loss sustained
by our commerce In general wny by the
destruction of our ocean carrying trade.
We should only have TO pay our citizens
who actually lost ships or mercandise. and
were not insured. This fact, however,
does not Mt all lessen the magnitude OF
the claim we have rs nation against
Great Britain, but It enables us TO offer
you liberal terms Of settlement. Now
these arc tho terms we offer you. We
will assume tho claims and settle with
our people, and We will take from you all
your provinces north Of tho United States.
They nre only \ brrylon to you. and must
sooner or later gravitate TO us. We want
them now to get rid of the expense and
annoyance Of keeping up custom houses
on a frontier line Of 5000 miles. and to
settle the troubles about tho fisheries.
We do not propose, however. that you
should barter them away or abandon them
In any dishonon.ble manner. We will
have a plebiscltum, and wo will agree to
take only such provinces ~ shall freely
elect to Join the United Stntos. But the
vote must be taken b. provinces, for We
will have nothing to do with your Domin-
ion. which you put to mako an unfriendly
power on our northern border when you
thought We should havea powerful enemy
at the south In successful States. When
the vote is taken, which must bc dono
without the influence Of your government
agents, we will give you . receipt IN fulI
Of all claims We have against you, and
take only such provinces rs vote aye upon
the question. This we consider = very
liberal oder on our part, and Il is our ulti-
matum. If you do not nocopt Il wo pro-
pose to fight" Such course on the part
Of, the administration. General Butler 70
confident would clectrify the whole coun-
try and bring such . powerful public ssn-
timent 10 tho support Of tho President,
that his reelection would DO sure to fol-
low. England. ho thinks, would come 70
terms at once when she found we were In
earnest and determined TO enforce them.
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