The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-25
Better Ihuu War.
PORTLAND.

To-day three gentlemen will quietly meet
toe ether in Washington 10 settle finally inter-
ma. onal disputes the adjustment" of which
would formerly have been effected only by
the nterpositon of hundreds of thousands OF
infantry and cavalry, hundreds of cannon,
tn loss of hundreds of thousands OF lives
ami the expenditure of billions OF dol
la These gentlemen are Judge Frazer Of
Indiana, Russell Quincy, Recorder of London
al Member of Parliament from Southamp-
ton and Count Corti, the Italian minister at
Washington. They constitute the commits.
Sion provided for in the twelfth article of tho
treat, of Washington for the settlement of al,
claims between England and the Irni,od
S ates, except the Alabama claims which oro
t. be adjusted by a still more imnor,art o.
isSion which is to meet at Geneva Hon
Robert D. Hale OF New York is agent and
counsel Tor the American claimants Henry
ho"'Td Is the agent and James w. Carlisle
Tie counsel OF the British claimants
The spirit in which at least one Of fine COM
nilssiohers approaches his labors is disclosed
hl the following remarkable extract from a
speech made by Mr. Quincy in reply to an
address presented TO him by the citizens of
southampton on the eve of his departure for
America, 1t is an occasion for sincere
thankIulness that an Englishman and an
English Tory-for Mr.. Quincy does not asso-
Cate himself with the ruling faction in Eng
fish politics-can make such declarations rs
these:
DO not go as the advocate of British or AS
Inc opponent OF American claims We are IN
eohsiuer every clam brought before us with
nut considering Tor single moment by whom
mat claim is preferred, or by whom il is on
posed, and in SO dong believe shall be CON
hullln9 the best interests of both countries. IL
IS matter oil very small importance to a
country like Great Britain or the Unified
Dtates whether smaller or larger sum of
money be paid or received by one country or
lhe diner; but what is important to both of
them is thai the people OF both Countries
should believe that the questions that have
arisen between them have been talrlv and
justly decided.
Ii This lofty judicial spirit is shared by the
other two members of the Commission its de-
csions will be SO conspicuously wise and lust
that the whole world will fall in love with
the new method of settling the disputes OF
cations. Perhaps a settlement will not be
speedily reached, and it is probable that all
Inc claimants will not think they have Oh
tanned justice. But how much speedier or
more complete justice would have been OBJ
tanned through the arbitrament of war? I'm
less the issue of the armed conflict were diff.
erent from that which is reached in ninetv-
nine cases out of hundred no claimant
would have received an indemnify either
immediately or at any future time. II is a
fact recognized by every thoughtful student of
history that, in spite Of the readiness of ma
tons 10 resort to war for redress of GREW
ances, the remedy is neuer an effactual one
Millions besides those Immediately interested
are involved in wars great ruin, and even til
umph is barren of compromising advantages.
There is, then, no extravaganza in the Ian
euage OF the address presented to Mr.. Cur
ney at Southampton, declaring that the treaty
OF Washington marks a new era in the histo-
ry of civilization.