The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-13

report for 1870 is not likely to alter this view
of the subject.
GENERAL SCHENCK AS MINISTER TO
ENGLAND.
From the N. Y. World.
After sending the English mission on q six
months begging tour, President Grant has at
last succeeded in finding man willing to ac-
cept it. We will not withhold our opinion
that the appointment of General Schenck is,
on the whole, strong one; surely, in Ameri-
can estimation, great Improvement on MIR.
Motley. General Schenck can indeed make
no pretensions to Mr.. Motley's literary, nor
even his social, cultivation; but, unlike
Motley, he has vigorous native sense tho
roughly American sympathies, and too much
robustness of character to be wheeded by
social Establishments. He is a man of
rather coarse organization, good faculties,
strong prejudices, narrow but clear views,
with the courage, promptitude, and decision
which are among the most valuable qualities
of public man. He is genial enough So
cially, but is in no danger of making social
enjoyment his business instead of relaxation.
MIR. Schenck was minister to Brazil under
President Fillmore, when Mr.. Webster was
Secretary of State. He took an active part,
we believe, in negotiating two or three trea-
ties, acquitting himself with credit, although
nearly twenty years younger than he is at
present. He has sufficient acquaintance with
diplomatic forms to be free from embarrass-
ment on that score, even if he lacked some
thing of his known strength and self-re-
lance
Lord Brougham, in discussing the quali6-
cations of Judge, says that the first requisite
is ability to make just decision but next to
that, and scarcely less important, ability to
satisfy suitors that they have had fair treat
ment. In controversy which excites
| L. ~
important, first, that it be settled on Just
basis, and almost equally important that the
national feeling on both sides shall recognize
| its Justice. In this latter view, the sslec-
! tion of General Schenck is judicious. No
body will suspect him of yielding anything
from complaisance; it is not in his downright
and thoroughly American nature to court the
| appreciation or live upon the plaudits of
| the English nobility and ruling classes. If
he succeeds in negotiating treaty it will
| be judged with candor on this side of the
Atlantic, encountering no prejudice from
| profuse complimentary speech making, like
Reverdy Johnsons, nor from social parasitism,
like Mr. Motleys.
We hope General Schenck may succeed in
| concluding a satisfactory treaty. We shall
indulge in no captious criticism on any part
of his negotiations. 1t concerns the public
interest that the Alabama controversy shall
not go into the Presidential election. If our
political parties undertake to outbid each other
in demands on Great Britain, the successful
| party, whichever it may be, will come into
power pledged to some demagogc extrava-
gance, and the two countries may drift into a
war which the good sense of neither ap-
proves We should be glad to have all our
| party differences ''cease at the waters edge !"
and to see the country unanimous on ques-
tions which concern the national honor
abroad. We deprecate the introduction of
such questions into party politics.
We would fain persuade ourselves that the
appointment of General Schenck is the pre-
cursor of an early settlement of the Alabama
claims. We have confidence in the patriot
ism and moderation of Secretary Fish, and
trust that in the altered circumstances, he
has relinquished his desire to have the nego-
tiations transferred to Washington. There
were good reasons for this preference while
Mr.. Motley was Minister, for even if fair
treaty were negotiated by a man so sub
servient to the English aristocrscy, the
country would have no confidence In it.
Moreover, there is no longer an opportu-
nifty for the American Secretary of State
to gather the kind of laurels he would natu-
rally seek in the settlement of this ques-
tion. If he had at one time laudable ambi-
ton to turn this occasion to profit by iu-
proving the code of international law respect
ing neutral obligations, he must perceive that
the tide has receded and stranded such hopes.
England, by the neY neutrality law p ssed
this year, has done, Of her own free motion,
all that we could demand of her on this head
Mr.. Fish can no longer expect to connect his
name with important ameliorations in the
neutral code; and now that Mr.. Motley is re-
placed by an able minister, there seems nc
sufficient reason for transferring the negotia
tions to Washington.
We interpret the appointment of General
Schenek as a surrender of that preference
We do not believe that apublic man of hi
standing and tastes would consent to take tn,
mission merely to perform routine dutie
: when great controversy is pending Beinl
{ no cipher at home, he would refuse to be
cipher abroad. He has NO such love of gilt
ter as to court the position for social displ ay
> and even if he had that weak taste he has n,
, fortune to support the expense of it; tn
i salary being barely sufficient to maintain tn
> decencies of the position. We do not believ
| that General Schenck would have accepts
the position unless he had satisfied himssl
that he could settle the controversy. w
suppose, therefore, that he must have an un
r derstanding with the administration respect
5 ing the general tenor of his instructions, AM
| that his knowledge of the Senate leads hin