The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-21
RTTFFYC.ITTO.vOF THE TRE.gTX,.


We may fairly hope that we have turned a
new page in the history Of our relations with
Great Britain. The exchange OF Publications
OF the Treaty OF Washington in London closes
the history Of a series Of negotiations perhaps
without parallel in diplomatic annals. Ten
years since England openly evlnced the desire
u her ruling classes for the disruption OF the
Union nearly ten since British anger at the
seizure OF the Trent was so cunningly infamed
by Lord Palmerston as almost to provoke war
between England and the United States. And
j: Is about nine years since the Alabama-''built
in the eclipse and rugged with curses dark y
stole out OF Liverpool to carry havoc among
American vessels the werd over, and to plant
the seeds of bitterness which only now is
rooted out and cast away to perish. IA
We hail the contamination with joy we Go
not care to conceal We have won. as the
English themselves are frank to admit, con
siderable triumph; but it is not in the spirit OF
triumph that we welcome the completion OF
this Treaty. 1t is enough for US to know tina :
the honor and the interests OF our country
have been perfectly guarded IN the negotiations
amply secured In the Treaty itself. That il a
nghtful subject Of congratulation. Beyond
that is the conviction that settlement has
been reached which marks distinct stage in
The progress of international law, and we shall
venture TO add. OF civilization. The Alabama
question was of kind which half century
ago could scarcely have been settled without
tla rol- limo ar
pride, we shall say that the real credit OF avert
ing the calamity belongs not to us but to the
English For the first time in the history OF
modern nations, England has shown herself
great enough to offer an apology not extorted
by military defeat. For the first time In the
history OF diplomacy, confession Of wrong
and declaration Of regret have been embodied
IN a Treaty. England has right to be proud
tnat SO great an act was done in orr behalf,
and that England thus puts on record her ad-
mission of the business OF the remonstrance
that we long urged unavailingly.!
of course. we have not got all we wanted.-
No nation ever did, whether by treaty without
war. or by war ending, as all wars must, in
treaty.. A treaty is compromise, and a COM
promise involves concession. and we have con-
coded some things which we thought should
have been conceded 10 US. Three years ago
we might have had better Treaty. There was
time when it was possible to obtain from
England en- absolute admission for her liability
in respect of the damages done by the Alabama
and her consorts. She was ready to admit the
Liability and to go before tribunal charged
only with determining the amount and validity
Of each separate claim. So urged Mr.. John
Stuart Mill IN the House Of Commons, ond
Lord Stanley, then Foreign Minister, sat by
consenting while Mr. Mill put that construction
upon the words Lord Stanley had just uttered.
Prompt diplomacy would have secured us that
and would have made treaty embracing in the
first place the Alabama Claims only, leaving
British claims to be considered after ours had
been adjudicated and paid But instead of di-
plomacy came that era OF good feeling which
our Minister inaugurated followed by the dis
astrous breakdown which brought on an era OF
feeling not good but the contrary, and which
threatened at one time to land Us in war
that sad history is only worth referring to as
proof how much we have now to be thankful
tor, and as an evidence Of the calm good sense
on both sides winch out OF so many difficult
ICES brought forth treaty which two great ma |
lions could honorably accept.
The essential thing is that there should be
concord instead OF discord between two great
nations, speaking one language, covering half
the globe, and everywhere bound together by
IDENTIFY Of interests and community OF ideas |
We have some reason to know thatsthe English
Government has been Influenced by views not
lass broad than these. No doubt it feels itself
less strong in Europe than when it fought one
half the continent and subsidized the other
No doubt 1t looks eagerly for an ally, or at
east for nelghbor on whose good will it can
count when the struggle begins, as 1t must be-
e,iu, for that Empire which reaches round the
world But both IN London and in Washing
ION the idea prevailed that Engish-speaSng |
people ought to be friends and not enemies 4;
that they are natural allies that they ought to
contribute something 70 the law whose prlnci-
lies all civilized nations profess 10 obey; that
,hey ought to recognize the principle Of arbi
ration; and that they ought to ma Ike a Treaty |
which should stand as beacon-light for diplo-
macy in the future. The debate in tho House
Of Lords Is all that need be cited to show that
We 10 not rate too highly the purposes and
motives that have guided the English Govern
ment. There will be evidence enough some
day of similar character. if 1t were wanted, |
20 vouch for what our own Government meant
and when the whole record is spread before the
World, England and America will alike be able |
to point to it with pride, and coming genera
;ons will remember with gratitude the effort |
that resulted in n hearty friendship between |
;vo of the greatest nations on the globe
fHe temperance Quesii0H G3d ihr Press
very significant movement relatiug to the |
importance question has been inausurated in
Iassaohusetts recently. It's SPECIAL suggest I
igsnoes resides in the fact chat it originates
NTH the friends OF the 1.aine law, and is
.aclt acknowledgement OF the iu0ompctoncy /.
tdst Law to fulfil the she purpose for which
], was designed. 1t is now determined to bring
% The aid OF that law the old temperance ma
cnnery, so long thrown into disuse By the OK