The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-04

question were going to take turn which
would be virtual triumph for America, but
would, perhaps set everybody In England and
the States laughing at the President aud the
Secretary of State in manner that would moi
exactly add to the strength of the republican
party.
For two years nearly have the claims Of
America been hung up by diplomacy. Our
government chose to take line on the subject
which may have been politically glorious, but
was not we'll suited to the pockets of the unfor-
tunate people whose ships were burned by the
piratical Alabama. We had q moral claim
! against Great Britain for her whole attitude
during the rebellion. And we had money
claim in respect of the damage done to us by
ships which her gross and criminal negligence
permitted to be fitted out on Confederate be
half in her ports. Now, on the face of it there
was no reason in the world why these two
| things should have been mixed up together.
! The two claims were utterly different in kind,
and might have been prosecuted, as 1t were,
in separate diplomatic indictments. We
might have said. we require pay
ment for damage done to our citizens
property. That is one thing and besides that,
on separate account we require apology or
money, or territory for the political damage
done by your i'll will, your moral support to
the rebel cause, your premature recognition of
them as belligereuts. General Grant and his
advisers did not take this wise course, and ii
looks very much as though the claimants for
damage done by the Alabama and the British
government were going to take the wind out
of their sails in consequence in very inge-
NOUS, unexpected and sharp witted manner.
The British government has not liked the
question being hung up indefinitely, nor, as is
natural have the gentlemen who are some
thirteen million dollars out of pocket by the
guns of the Alabama. 1t has been known for
some time to those behind the scenes that the
acute British lawyers were casting about for a
way out Of the dilemma; and at last the shell
has been thrown into the camp of the admins
tration. The claimants against the Alabama
have, in short begun to agitate or their own
account, giving the go-by to the Cabiaet Of
Washington altogether for payment Of their
DAMAGES from the British government. And
il is generally understood that that govern
ment is willing to meet their views, being
withheld only by the apprehension that this
course, obviously damaging az it would be to
the prestige Of the President, might still fur
Their exasperate our government and prevent
that thorough, good understanding with this
country which repentant England, waking
up at last 10 common sense and right
feeling. is now anxious to establish.
This direct payment to our citizens would
be flank march on the position Of our gov
erument, the very idea of which has evidently
Hurried them sadly. Under this perplexity
they have warned our people, who want their
money for Alabama Images somehow, and are
not exactly willing to wait till the day of judg-
ment for it, that they would be guilty-save
the mark of misdemeanor in trying to get
it directly from the British government. Mr..
Reverdy Johnson, in the statesman-like letter
we published recently, disposes Of this no
tion overwhelmingly. Our citizens are for
hidden, Us they we'll know, from entering into
political negotiations with foreign Powers
But the Prohibiting act very properly excerpts
from this proceedings taken by citizen to
recover mere pecnniary demand from another
country. Mr.. job nson advises the claimants
to 20 straight forward with their demands, and
pledges his opinion as = lawyer that they are
under no danger in SO doing. We are quite
Of his opinion, and we shall not be surprised
if this question, therefore, receives before
long some very Interesting and novel develop
ments.
Now we have . word Of advice and warn
ing to the President and his Cabinet, which
they will do well to regard. They had better
recede promptly from this untenable ground Of
prohibiting our citizens from getting their
money if they can. They can notify in the most
peremptcry terms to Great Britain that II that
Power chooses to do tardy Justice to our much
injured people in this respect it will still be
held most siringently to the discharge of all
other broader political and international claims
which America may have upon the whole ques-
| ton. The payment therefore, if made by
England, will be received under plain protest
| that it discharges nothing but the bare damage
| done by the Alabama, and that alone.
| And considering the nsolence with which
| England so long repudiated all liability on this
| head, il will be no small triumph to this coun-
| try if she pays at last, all other questions
/ being reserved. And our government is in an
| unsafe attitude in resisting this course. For
| suppose orr damaged citizens do, as Mr..
| Reverdy Johnson advises, ''go ahead?" And
| suppose the British government does pay
down? Why, in that case, our people will have
| too much sense of honor and sense of justice to
| 90 into passion. They will be glad that eur
| injured people have got in their thirteen mil.
lion dollars, and they will be too much dis.
posed to laugh 1T Mr.. Secretary Fish, we fear,