The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-21
WASHINGTON.
Secretary Fish's "Miscellane-
GUS" Opinion.
The Future of Europe Purely
PrObIematical.
What he Thinks Of Senator
SchurZ.

WASHINGTON, November l9.-Secre-
tary Fish said yesterday that recent
news from Europe indicates that Russia
is really in earnest in her endeavors to
abrogate the provisions Of the treaty of
1856, which relates to the neutrality Of
the Black sea, but thinks war will not
inevitably follow. He thinks it possible
and quite probable that the result will
be peace congress of all the great
powers of Europe, at which not only the
Eastern question but possibly the Prus-
sian and French war question may be
settled. Under existing circumstances,
however, the future Of Europe is
purely problematical and there
may be occult influences at
work which may produce aston
ishing and unexpected results. In
the event of peace congress it is not
certain that the existing government in
France will be disturbed or destroyed.
The strength of the new republic lies
with the people themselves, and for
tuitous peace without cession OF territory
will be an equivalent to guarantee
OF its future existence. The empire is
at an end, and the only government that
can follow the republic is kingdom.
Our communications with France are
at present very brief.
Minister Berthenay is recognized here
as the legitimate and only responsible
representative OF the French govern
ment.
Minister Washburne has been
used by our. government as a
medium Of communication for i'm
portant matters, but Notwithstanding
the length of the war there have been
few subjects of Importance requiring
his mediation. His recognition OF the
French Republic is not premature but
in pursuance Of orders, and his present
course is thoroughly in accordance with
the wishes OF the administration. The
e lection OF the Duke of Aosta to he
king OF Spain will not materially alter
the Cuban policy. Spain though slow
in diplomacy in other respects is quick
TO accept war, and the future OF
Cuba is not worth a war to the
United States.
The policy Of England toward her
Provinces has always been Just
and continues to be honorable.
General Buffers scheme for the
annexation Of Canada as an in
cident to the settlement OF the Ala
bama claims, as detailed in his Lowell
letter simply means war, for England
would not submit to it without a
struggle. The Alabama claims must
and will be settled at the proper time,
perhaps very soon Themain objections
to the Johnson-Clarendon treaty was
that private claims were included in
the protocol. The Alabama claims are
held bv the United States to be Of high
er importance and more grave dig
nity than private claims because
they involve important questions
of international law which cannot be
settled by any ordinary convention or
mixed claim commission, such as is
required for the adjustment of the latter.
In regard to the threatened rupture in
the Republican party, the Secretary
said the revenue reformers claim more
than they can prove, and the reduction
of the public debt together with re,
duction of taxation will satisfy the
people better than glitterirg promises,
which an investigation shows cannot
be fulfilled. Senator Schurz is an able
man, but if he still professes to be a
supporter of the Administration he
certainly has a strange way Of showing