The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-23
ENGLAND ANXIOUS TO PAY.

ENGLAND ANXIOUS TO PAY.
A PAINFUL anxiety is now being exhibited by
the leading English journals without regard
to politics, to have the Alabama claims and
the other matters of controversy between
England and the United States settled upon
o basis satisfactory to this country at as
early day as possible. These journals un-
doubtedy represent public opinion very
accurately in this matter, although there
must be an uneasiness among all classes, and
dread of having the United States, in the
event of England becoming involved in war
with Russia or any other European power,
play the part that England did towards us
during the progress of our Rebellion that finds
no adequate expression iu the public press.
The wealthy merchants and ship-owners who
aided the Rebels to the full extent of their
power, and who encouraged the fit
ting out of such piratical craft as
the Alabama, in order that the
the commerce of the United States might be
destroyed, and that of England gain new
lease of prosperity, now tremble lest they
should be destroyed by their own devices.
The standing menace that exists on this side
of the Atlantic, without a single belligerent
word being spoken by our Government, un-
doubtedly had a wholesome effect in restrain
ing England from engaging in war with
Russia; and it was curious to see with what
unanimity the leading representatives of
English opinion jumped at the conclusion
that there was an understanding between this
country and Russia. At the present time,
the English papers, with the Times at their
head, are singing the praises of Minister
Schenck, man about whom it is very evil
dent they know little. General Schenck is
one of the least likely among all the Ameri-
can public men of the day to play the
role of Reverdy johnson when he arrives in
England; and unless he is under express in
struetions to yield certain points, the proba-
bilities are that the English Secretary of
Foreign Affairs will find him particularly un-
impreisable to any diplomatic suavities.
General Schenck is not noted for excessive
polish, but rather for a certain bluntness of
manner that admits of very little doubt as to
his meaning when he breaches a subject, and
his utterances on the Alabama question will
probably have the merit of being unmis-
takably clear in their meaning, even if they
are deficient in rhetorical graces. If the En-
glish feel moved to get rid of the Alabama
claims as soon as possible they can undoubt-
edly do so, but if they are disposed to let
them remain upon our books, we can
well afford to allow the debt to run
on and exact payment in our own
fashion when we get good opportunity. We
believe that the majority of the American
people would be heartily glad to have these
claims finally settled and done for, but if
there is any yielding to be done England is
the party to do it, and it is useless for Eng
lish politicians and editors to disguise from
themselves and their constituents the fact
that there is deep seated anti-British senti-
ment in this country that even the payment
of the Alabama claims will do but little to
remove, as it is the product of a series of oc-
currences of which the Alabama affair is but a
single item.