The New York herald., 1870-01-01
sENGLAND.

sENGLA AND.
The AIabama Controversy Reopened-Brirish
Press Comments-American Cnnards and
How They Swallowed.
LONDON, Dec. 20. 1869.
It is amusing to witness the extreme sensatveness
OF the English press the subject Of the Alabama
controversy. Every rumor that is set anoat, how
ever absurd it may be- is seized upon with avidity
by the English papers and made the topic OF food
OF editorials travelling over and again the well
beaten track OF the merits OF the discussion from the
British point OF view. When penny-a-liner on the
other side OF the Atlantic being short or para.
graph starts a story that the administration
at Washington are desirous that negotia-
tions between the two governments should
be resumed; or when correspondent OF q London
Journal writing from America, throws In a similar
statement as sort OF spice 10 very insipid letter,
stragntway every London editor sharpens his goose
quill and plunges over head and Into the oft
told tale OF what England will do and what Eng
land VIII not do In the matter OF the Alabama
claims.
This industrious patriotism has recently been
called into activity for the hundredth time by q
stupid story set anoat by New York paper OF very
limited circulation and less influence to the effect
that General Grant has expressed wish that nego-
tiations ID regard to the AngloConfederate pirates
should be reopened provided they might be car
ned on at washington instead OF IN London.
Apart from the very bad compliment this
proposition would convey to Minister Motley its
improbability might have been seen al once, coming
1t did on the heels OF the Presidents Message
Congress in which is clearly laid down the doctrine
that America can afford to walt for justice and re-
paration, and tnat England having been guilty OF
great wrongn to friendly government In its hour
OF need, must be prepared to acknowledge her error
and volunteer atonement before any satisfactory
solution OF the difllculty can be hoped. Yet this
cdn0rd has sufflced to open the Alabama foodgates
once again, and every London paper, from the
Times down TO the Pan Man Gazette, has treated
Its readers TO a rehash OF the old story OF
Englands great generosity to the United
States government during the Southern rebellion;
OF what England might have done II she had chosen
70 listen TO the French Emper0rs proposition for the
recognition OF the Southern Confederacy; of the vile
conduct OF the American Senate is exercising their
constitutional right reject the treaty made by the
wary diplomatic dinner eater, Reverdy Johnson; OF
the Willingness OF England to make any reasonable
concessions in the way OF damages for the depreda.
tions Of the British built pirate vessels and Of the
determination Of that Stubborn old gentleman, John
Bull not TO yield inch to the bullying Americans
in any other direction.
Now all this Is doubt very patriotic ana praise
worthy In an English journalist but these gentle
men appear to forget that there Is an American side
to the Alabama question as well as an English SIDE
and that IL Is destined to make itself heard before
any settlement Of the dificuly be reached IL Is
ldle Tor English writers 10 deny That their govern
ment unfrlendly to the Union cause, and as far
a. prudence would warrant, friendly to the South,
during the American rebellion. The American Lega-
ton at the Court Of 81. James is IN position to
know the worthiess1ess or such denials. The
Minister has been changed, 1t Is trHe since the
naer Mr. NJ naiIas was contlnues under ADAMS and
has been SINCE passed over through the diplomatic
records to Reverdy Johnson and Motley. But the
Secretary OF Legation, Benjamin Moran, held the po
stl0n now ILLS before the American war, and has
retained 1t up to the present time. 1t Is his testi
mony, repeatedly given To his friends, that the en-
nifty OF the English government to the Union cause
was shown at every turn and In thousand ways.
In the matter OF the Alabama says Secretary Moran
1t tevnced itselfn the cool indifference, amounting al
most 10 insolence that was exhibited 10y nearly every
Official, with wnom The officers oil the Embassy came
In contact during the collection OF evidence 70 the
piratcal character OF the new vessel. Ii proof was
TO be procured the American Embassy and It's at
tacheS were expected to do the work OF detectives,
and when their sworn aiiidavts were produced tney
were received with supercilious Indifference that
indicated how little efficacy tney would have In pre-
venting the escape OF the pirate. The rebel agents
would never have succeeded as well as they did In
raising money In England, Mr.. Moran believes, had
they not received so much semi-Oiilcal encourage
Ment ana countenance for their negotiations.
How idle, then, must II be for the British govern
ment TO hope to open negotiations with an embassy
SO well posted on Engiands great wrong domg,n
with a meaningless diplomatic assurance OF Eng.
lands frendlness to the republic during the rebel
lion. Indeed even among English writers, despite
their repeated declarations whenever the Alabama
question is touched that the rebels received no sort
OF undue encouragement here, the contrary TACT
often peeps out inadvertently The last SATURDAY
ReUiep, In notice OF Mr.. Dallas letters from Lon
don, says that the "snarling and arrogant tone
OF American diplomacy had produced It's
natural impression when the Northern States
suddenly appeeasea ts to the y sympatny q ENGLAND
favored the cause OF justice in the Russian is
probable that the plausible pretensions Of the Con-
Iederate government woula have been more severely
examlned.n
The Reueso might be reminded that american
diplomacy had up 10 the time OF the civl war been
mainly In the hands OF the men who made and not
OF those who opposed the rebellion, and that hence
the natural impression" made by It's ''snarling
arrogant toner might rather have told against the
South than the North had not The sympathles
OF England been with those who desired
only necessary mere to notice the admission that FOR
some cause or other The plausible pretensions Of
the Confederate government were not severely
examined" by the government OF England.
Now, II may be very true that ia all this we'll
known sympathy with the Southern rebels England
avoided any overt act that might be established
against her, according to the most approved forms
OF diplomatic red-tapesm, but the American people
are accustomed TO recognize the maed .ove on lne
hand oI an enemy, even though 1t may he covered
with the soItest OF kid. They know at heart
that England was their deadly foe during their
struGgle for llie aud they insist, with General
Grant, that an acknowledgment shall be made OF the
.'grcat wrongr done to the United States by England
2s preliminary 10 the settlement OF claims arising
Out OF the depredatlons OF Confederate pirates
Tney make no buster about it; they only say that
bitter experience shall be brought to sense of her
wrong doing and prepared 70 atone for 1t by frank
acknowledgment OF her error.
The truth may as well be known first as last, that
&be so-caled Alabama difficulty stands poor chance
Of belDR settled In any way short OF this, unless IN
moment OF rashness the controversy should pro-
Auce the deplOrable calamity OF appeal to arms.
OF this Is to be hoped there Is no danger; but GER
salnly IL the question - not 10 bs eit an open one TO
Sake tse chancoa OF tue nlSeItGn iutaIs, apa &r5