The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-08
EARL RUSSELL ON TIE AMERICAN
TREATY,
From the London Spectator.

From the London Spectator.
On Monday next, we are pleased to see,
Earl Russell is to move humble address to
Her Majesty praying that she will refuse her
assent to any agreement with the United
States containing any rules ''by which the
arbitrator or arbitrators will be bound, other
than the law of nations and the municipal
law of the United Kingdom existing and in
force at the period of the late civil war in the
United States, when the alleged proceedings
took place" We say we are pleased to see,
because Earl Russell is the right man to bring
forward the motion, he being mainly respon-
sible for the escape of the Alabama, because
the motion expresses courageously feeling
of discomfort with the provisions of the
treaty which is felt in many quarters, and
which, however weil-founded, ought to be
removed, and because we detest that con-
spiracy of silence in regard to foreign affairs
in which Parliament appears to usIof late to
have been engaged. What with its grow
ing dread Of expense, its newborn
timidity of thought, and its accidental
deficiency in knowledge of the subject, the
the department of Foreign Affairs altogether
out of its programme, to leave the MiRistry
to do as they like, and to express its displea-
sure at their action only by ill-tempered votes
on minor but safer subjects of dispute. No
one rises to censure a tame despatch or an
undignifed abstention from interference, but
everybody irritated by the blunder rushes to
pay of the Foreign Office by voting down
some proposition made by the Woods and
| Forests. Members vote for the Epping
| beeches because France ought to have been
| protected, and win not hear of match-tax
| because Russia can put her ships once more
| on the waters of the Black Sea. If the House
| of Lords does not break the spell, the discus
sion of the foreign relations of the country
| will be left altogether to irresponsible
| journalists without official information, the
nation will upon one grand subject of poiti-
cal thought be left without guides, and our
| important branch of politics be shown to have
broken down. Ii the practice of public dis
cussion upon the foreign affairs of the em-
| pire is dangerous or inexpe6ient, or super
| tluous then the whole machinery of Parlia-
mentary government is pro taRt0 a failure,
and we had better organize this great depart
ment anew on some exceptional basis. To
keep up the appearance of responsibility to
Parliament for all agreements or disagree
ments with foreign States, and forego all Par
| liamentary discussion of those transactions,
is to surrender all the advantages which q
silent and persevering diplomacy might Sc.
cure, without receiving any one of the benefits
which may be derived from the constant and
interested support of the nation in every
serious TRANSACTION. Let our diplomacy either
be freed from the necessity of consulting en-
ill-informed popular opinion, or let 1t be
strengthened by the conviction of all foreign
ers that this opinion, whether wise or foolish
is at all events behind the Minister for Foreign
Affairs. Let us either have harmony ol
volume in the voice of our Foreign Office
and not, as at present, feeble warble, broker
by occasional roars.
We repeat, we are pleased to hear that Ear
Russell will propose, without disguise or Cir
cumlocution, the rejection of the Washington
Treaty, for that treaty must then be debated
out and shown, as we are certain it can be
shown, to be for the best and most perma
nent interests of both the peoples concerne 4
Nothing could be more dangerous to the cor
diality of our relations with the United States
than for the electors to fancy that their Gov
eminent had betrayed the country into al
undigniied attitude, and they are sure, with
out full debate, to entertain that fancy. Ear
Russell will tell them so plainly-he does tel
them 30, in the very words Of his motion