The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-30
THE ENGLISH MISSION.

The recall of Minister Motley from England
appears to have been definitely determined
upon by the President, although as yet no
satisfactory reasons have been given for
making change. 1t is matter of the very
greatest importance that our Minister to Eng
land shall be first-class man in every respect
and it will be difficult to find any one who
fulfils all the desirable conditions to greater
extent than Mr.. Motley. His appointment as
Minister to the British Court was a subject
for the sincerest congratulation on both sides
of the Atlantic, and it will be a real mis-
fortune if any one less worthy of the
cordial respect and esteem of the English
people is made his successor. The only
reason we can assign for the proposed action
of the President in this matter is that Mr.
Motley has not pressed the settlement of the
Alabama claims with as much vigor as is con-
sidered desirable. 1t is certainly of some
consequence that the English Government
should be made to understand distinctly that
we do not intend to recede one inch from the
position we have taken with regard to its
liabilities, or to allow the subject to die out
of mems minds through our neglect to agitate
it. 1t was understood that Mr.. Motley's ap-
parent inactivity with regard to the
Alabama claims was owing to the
instructions he received from the
State Department. If, however, his re-
moval will be of any advantage in procuring
prompt settlement of our differences with
England, by all means let him be superseded
as soon as possible. 1t is to be hoped, how
ever, that the English mission is not to be
made a reward for political services, or a
token of personal esteem on the part of the
President for some faithful public servant
like Secretary Fish. While we have the very
highest regard for MIR. Fish, it scarcely needs
argument to prove that the mission to Eng
land should be given to a younger and more
energetic man, one who is up with the spirit
of the age, who understands what the neces-
sites of the nineteenth century are, and who
has both physical and mental strength to
push our claims with vigor. Mr.. Fish has
been mentioned as the probable successor of
MIR. Motley, and estimable as the Secretary of
State is in every way, such an appointment
would not be considered at all the best that
could be made.
Another rumor with regard to this matter
to Ex-Governor Morgan, of New York. With
out considering him to be the best possible
choice under the circumstances, he is at least
better suited for the position than Mr.. Fish,
and if Mr.. Motley must come home we would
rather that Governor Morgan should be ap-
pointed to succeed him than run the risk of
worse selection being made. Governor Nor
gan is in the prime of life, and he has ell
joyed of late years greater facilities for
studying the temper and disposition of the
people of the United States than either Mr.
Fish or Mr.. Motley. He knows exactly what
the feeling is with regard to the Alabama
claims, and if the administration wishes 10
adopt more decided policy with regard to
them, it will probably find in him fitting
instrument to impress upon the British Cabi-
net the necessity for speedy settlement.