The New York herald., 1871-03-10
ENGLAND.
The Dream Of the New York Herald
Another English Opinion Of the Anglo
American Diniculties-Ihe Alabama Claims.


Another English Opinion Of the Anglo
American DinicuIties-1he Alabama Claims
IFrom the Manchester Guardian. Fep. q41
Inc correspondence we published yesterday be
Secretary Fish fully explains the paragraph in th
queens speech relating TO the appointment OF
High Commission to settle eur outstanding disputes
win America The scope OF the Commission Ii
strictly limited TO The fisheries question and the
Aiabama claims, and there seems TO be not the
slightest ground for the alarm taken by some highly
amicapie discussion Of points OF dinerence
between the two nations must be intended
to prepare the way for the annexation to the
United States Of the provinces OF British
North America. Canada is not iu the humor at pre-
sent 10 he either taken by violence or bought for
price; and II the citizens OF the States hAd large
surplus 10 dispose of probably they might put If 10
better use by applying II in the relief OF shipbDild-
ing materials from taxation, with the view OF re-
vlyng their shipping trade, than in trying par
without. The Commissioners who are about TO meet
81 Washington VIII deal with affairs Of less
moment than the incorporation OF all the states
OF the North American Continent in one great
commonwealth; nor VIII they, We imagine, be
HERALD which, gazing INTO the future further than
he ordinary human eye can see. anticipates an
alliance OF England, The United States and Russia
TO Keep IN order tue whole habltabe globe except
that portion of The Old World known as the Cont
nent Of Europe, which will be left TO the tender care
Cf Prussia The cordial alliance OF England aud the
United S2tes is desirable in the interests Of both
countries and II would, we believe, he strong
guarantee for the progress or liberal principles
throughout the world; but we never heard that
Russia was sn adnirer Of Western ideas Of pro.
Sress, and y fs not easy 10 understand why the
democratic HERALD, Which welcomes the proposed
alliance in the belief that 1t would destroy .feudal.
ISM in England. gbould without hesitation accept
as inc lifting associate OF free nations that Power
which Is the chief bulwark OF arbitrary government
Putting such visionary projects aside, that
their mutual advantage to be good friends without
framing vain schemes for the division o. the empire
some ANXIETY has been fek lest our government, in
consenting to refer the Alabama claims 10 the Com
mission, should have made the mistake OF cempro-
RnSf a A might posssy Ape be
entitled 10 demand satisfaction from US Tor the
Tecognlti9h "a the Confederates as belligerents gn
by her Majesty'e government II js, we think,
clear, from the wording OF Mr.. Fisls first letter,
ssssd sy ass r e amf ssaen n; hss 4 lie s'1s re-
Rebellion in the United States, and which have
mitted by the several vessels which have given rise
Z? the claims generally known Gs the Alabama
CLAIMS. VIII also be essential to the restoration OF
e9rdlal ard aicah,e relations netween the two GOV.
9lppeDts.a rF!SS question whether lSdf government
Eas or was not premature in granting belligerent
grown out Of the depledations OF the Alabama and
other ships which escaped IRON our ports through
.ne neslgence o. the BRUSH authorities; and we
have abandoned claim which would have been
an lnsuperable bar TO the friendly adjustment OF
international differences Tne Commission begins
lts work, then, with fair prospect OF finally
closing an old quarrel; and IL weuld be well il,
when lts speclaI labors are over it could be author
iZed 10 draw UP some general rules OF international
law defining clearly the rights OF neutral States in
time OF war. As America has herself lately occupied
the unenvlahle position or neutral State she must
now be able 10 sympathze with England in the de.
sire 10 lessen rather than to enlarge the mitatlens
placed on the rights Of neutrals. At present when
Powers 90 TO war, they at once assume that every.
thing must give way TO then convenience Neutrals
are pracucally outaWed and forbidden to carry on
their ordinary peaceful avocations, except With
in narrow bounds prescribed by the imperious win
Of the warning States. surely the converse OF tnis
RUE should prevail. II ought TO be admitted that
trade tn itself at least as honorable and lawful as
war anu that Powers which choose TO 20 to war
place themselves beyond the pale OF the common
law Of nations and are bound whatever mischief
they 90 10 one another, 10 avoid infringing the
rights or damaging the property OF neulrais. NO
lhing could he worthler OF England and America,
ihc Two leading commercial nations OF the world
Than to endeaVor 10 frame code OF international
Jaw desgnes for the protection OF neutrals rather
man the qualification ol the anlmosities OF beiger
mi States.