The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-16
SPIRIT OF Tzn PRHss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topios-compiIed Every
DAY for the Evening Telegraph

THE ANGLO AMERICAN COMMISSION.
Frsyn the London Saturday RsU'ew.
If the American Government, Tor whatever
reason. really desires a settlement of the con-
troversy the scheme of commission may be
useful in superseding troublesome questions
of consistency. In the worst event failure,
which will certainly not be due to any alb
sence of conciliatory disposition on the part
of the English commissioners, will convince
both Englishmen and impartial observers
that an equitable arrangement is for the pre-
sent impossible. The season which has been
chosen for the renewal or opening of negO-
tiation scarcely seems to be opportune. The
President has lately exhibited the most
unfriendly disposition; the House of
Representatives has deliberately offered wan
ton affront to the English Government and
nation; and the commissioners will divide
public curiosity, though they cannot pretend
to compete in popularity, with the DIS
charged Fenian convicts; yet the fixed belief
of all Americans that Englishmen are incapa-
BILE of understanding their institutions and
their character may perhaps be justified by
the success of an anomalous experiment. 1t
is possible that the press of the United States
may neither express nor affect the public
opinion of the country. The New York jour
nails which are principally read in England,
including the Tribune, the Times, and the
Herald, have of late been, if possible, more
malignant than on ordinary occasions
in the tone which they have
adopted in dealing with English affairs. 1t
is easy to foresee that the commissioners will
be described in the newspapers as supplants
coming to appeal to American generosity and
compassion; but it cannot be supposed that
Mr.. Fish and the other American members of
the commission will receive their English
colleagues with open insult 1t is, unfortu-
hot 4
may not have occasion to repel overtures
which it would not be consistent with the
dignity of England that he should even re-
port officially to his Government. 1t would
have been well if Lord Stanley had repeled
with stronger expressions of indignation some
hints to the same effect which were thrown
out by Mr.. Reverdy Johnson.
Since the appointment of the commission
some of the American papers have circulated
a rumor that their Government was about to
make proposals for the purchase of the Eng
lish dominions in North America. The New
York Times had previously contended that
the fishery dispute might be most easily set
tied by simple annexation. 1t is perhaps not
surprising that a proceeding which offers q
puzzle to simple English politicians should
suggest to American writer's startling and
complete solution. The despatch of five emil
nent English negotiators to the United States
with instructions to enter on the narrowest
possible inquiry would be fully explained if
they had received Observation-Disclosures to- make on
behalf of their Government sacrifice which
would be little less than reasonable. The
Interpretation might be supported by the
course which the President adopted on re-
ceiving the original proposal of the English
Government. One of the motives for pre-
venting settlement of the Alabama dispute
has been the belief that it might possibly
facilitate some territorial acquisition. 1t was
hardly to be expected that any English COM
missloners would offer to surrender Canada
for the sake of preventing lawless trespasses
on Canadian fishing grounds. Accordingly
it may have been thought expedient to
throw in the Alabama claims on the
chance that, if transaction were manH ed,
they might form a part of the
purchase-money. If American journalists
have reasoned too rapidly, it cannot be de-
MED that the facts of the case, though they
admit of different explanation, gave some
color to these theories. The menace of an
nexation has not proceeded exclusively from
irresponsible writer's. The President lately
received deputation protesting to represent
seditious inhabitants of the Red River terri
tory, who requested a protection against
their own Government. With a con-
tempt for national courtesy which
would be inconceivable on the part of
the bead of any other government, the Pre-
sident expressed to the malcontents his salts
faction in the growing desire of the English
subjects for annexation to the United States.
If Napoleon III had year ago received and
encouraged a deputation of Rhenish Ger
mans offering their allegiance to France, he
would not have committed grosser act of
improperly, though he might have incurred
more imminent danger.
If either the President or his supporters in
the press believe that the commissioners are
about to sell Canada, they will probably not
accept an assurance that they are utterly
mistaken. When the people of Canada at any
time become the subjects of bargain and sale,
they must negotiate the contract themselves
and receive the price of the transfer. If the
bitterest and coarsest American enemy of
England asserted that Lord Palmerston had
confded to him his wish to sell Canada, Mr..
Gladstone would perhaps repose in the word
of General Butler the same confidence
which he extended to General Ignatieff ;
but when the disruption of the English
Empire was in question, the decision would
rest, not with the Minister, but with the ma
tion. If any liability for the captures of the
Alabama attaches to the English Government,
the debt has no relation to Canada, nor is il
possible that the entertainments of American
fishermen can give their Government any
title to the territory of the Dominion. Ever
if it were possible to suppose that Mr.. Glad
stone and his colleagues contemplated a dis
graceful bargain, they would have met with
some difficulty in finding suitable agents
The commissioners are men of honor, anC
one of their number confers al
obligation on his political oppo
nents by acting under them for tn,
benefit Of the public service. The extrava
CANT expectations which prevail in the ITnitad