The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-01

mics OF England. As leader OF the opposluon
he prevented, during the whole course of the
civil war, the adoption by bis party OF any
motion which could have been unpaataole 10
the Federal Government The studious ana
delicate neutrality of both Houses OF Parila-
ment may be remembered with feelings OIL JUST
complacency in contrast with the late ouCra-
eeous vote of the House iof Representatives.
"Ifit was desirable to appoint commission,
no objection can be taken to the selectlon Oh
the members who are to compose 1t. Mt'
Gladstone and Lord Granville deserve credit
for their appointments OF two Canadians on a
commission OF four members. The douotiul
policy of eager attempts to conciliate Ameri'
can hostility would become utterly un1ustlhaole
if it involved any slight to the DOMINION ol
Canada. General Butler and General urau'
have committed an obvious olunder IN louna-
i,o one of their pretexts for quarrel with Eng
land IN a Canadian grievance and it would be
O cn,nable act OF weakness to relieve them
from the consequences of their error oy divert
inc the indignation of Canada from America
IN England. The allegiance Of the ooonists
would be dangerously shaken If they had rea-
son to suspect that their interests were about
to be bartered for the relaxation OF American
demands In the Alabama matter. AS the ne
gotistlon on the fisheries has already COM
menced, there is some reason to hope that the
Canadians will be contented With the arrange
ment which may be concluded by the commits
sion.
rThe choice of American commissioners
concerns the government of the United States,
and the names which were mentioned by Ar,
Gladstone are not specially Objectionable 70
ENGLAND. The main objection to the whole
scheme is the want of an arbitrator who may
decide questions on which the commissioners
are divided A joint commission, though 1t
NAV be we'll qualified to settle matters OF de-
tall, must necessarily come to stahdstill
when the main issues between the two coun-
tries arise. Mr. Gladstone declares that the
instructions furnished to Lord De Grey and his
colleagues will prove that the honor OF Eng
land has been carefully guarded; but Mr.. Clad
stone sometimes holds peculiar views of ma
tional honor, and it is not yet certain that his
government may not have yielded the only
points which were really in dispute. Since
the time of Lord Russell. concession after COR
cession has been made to American erigency,
,oith the un,torm result Of prouoEiag more un-
reasonable and more ofer,stre demands. 1t
will be singularly unfortunate If 1t should ap-
pear that the president Of the council has been
sent out 10 America like the citizens.of Calais
when the town was surrendered to Edward
III, with rope round his neck, in token of
submission and OF appeal for mercy. A capt.
ulation Immediately tolloUing the Presidents
message and the uote of the House Of Repre-
sentatiues aoould no: even purchase lasting
peace at the expense Of national humiliation.
The fisheries grievance and the St. Lawrence
have been recently started, and the politicians
of the United States have an inexhaustiole
store of similar complaints in reserve. The
,chole history Of diplomatic transactions be-
tueen England and America consists Of dggres-
s,ons and threats on the part Of the United
States, too often provoked by esceSsive English
pliaJitity. II overbearing r,tdeness prores to
be once more successful, it may be predicted
that the neat demand ,ciN e1!end TO the anne1a-
ton of the English don,inions in North Amer
icd''