The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-23
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EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIcs-ooMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
PROSPECTS OF THE TREATY.

From the N. y. Tribune.
1t is thought that the debate upon the
treaty of Washington will be brief, and the
most careful canvass which has been made of
the temper of the Senate indicates that the
two-thirds majority necessary to ratification
will be readily obtained. The Committee on
Foreign Relations having reported favorably
to the treaty in its entirety, and all its men,
bers having given their adhesion to it, there
has as yet arisen little occasion for any ex-
tended discussions of its principles. The
Senator from Massachusetts, whose duty it has
hitherto been to give utterance either to the
sentiments of the administration or the voice
of the Senate in all matters of internationalim-
portance, for the first time in many years finds
himself in position to regard treaty with no
other sense of responsibility than that which
comes from his own conscientious patriotism
and the weight of his personal character and
influence. 1t is understood that while, with
his usual freedom and aeumen, he has criti-
cized some provisions of the treaty as not in
accordance with the former diplomatic essays
of the Government, he makes no opposition
to it as a whole. He may define his views
by proposing various amendments, but will
probably throw the weight of his name
in favor of ratification in the vote. 1t appears
to be the intention of the Democratic minority
net to make party question of the matter,
not because any transient CLEAN of common
sense or public spirit has entered into their
councils, but simply because it is impossible
for them to decide how anything is to be
made, in political sense, of their votes in
the case. There is, therefore, reasonable
hope that the treaty will be ratified by the
Senate in the course of the present week, and
though 1t is hardly probable that the British
Commissioners, who sail on Wednesday, will
carry with them their completed work, it is
fair to anticipate that the first news they will
receive at Queenstown will be that of the
vote of our Upper House in confirmation OF
the great act of national reconciliation to
which they have devoted the vernal months
of the year.
1t is not likely that any very serious danger
or difficulty awaits the treaty in England.
Earl Russell feels natural anxiety that all
his elaborate discussions with Mr.. Adams
shall not be turned to mere waste paper by
the action OF his own Government, but the
substantial gain to England in the settlement
of this question will be apt to outweigh all
consideration for the feelings of this sensitive
statesman. Neither is it probable that the
mere instinct of opposition will be sufficient
to unite the conservative minority against the
Gladstone government upon this issue. 1t
would be poor policy for Mr. Disraeli to
defeat the Ministry upon grounds which
would be untenable to himself in case of
success. 1t is now clearly evident that public
opinion in England-and by this we mean not
only the popular sentiment, but also the de-
liberate Judgment of the most intelligent men
-imperatively demands that this vexed dis
pute be finally set at rest. The sword of Da-
mocles is to be taken down, sheathed, and
laid away in the armory. After the legisla-
tion of 1871 on the subject of neutral rights
and duties, it was felt by all thinking men in
ngland that the position of the British Gov
MT mn fba Alabama claims wa aqGanfi-
ally false one. 1t is greatly to the credit of
the publicsts who sustained the American
side in the recent conferences at Washington
that they brought the Government of Great
Britain to consent to the retroactive applica-
tion of the new rules of neutral obligation
defined by the treaty. 1t appeared from the
delay of the High Commissioners and their
consultation of the Foreign Office in London
that they were unprepared with instructions
which would authorize the acceptance of an
arbitration based on so searching and COM
plete an exposition of principles. But when
fairly considered the arrangement finally
made appears only the logical and necessary
result of the new statutory law of England,
adopted under the pressure of the discussion
awakened by these Alabama claims. To fix
the vague and conflicting notions of neutral
duty entertained in legal and parliamentary
circles into definite and positive form of
tTthty btlpulhJlOu DotWOOh In&ldAu dHu
another great maritime power, to which the
adherence of other nations might be invited,
was Justly deemed an object of such
moment that its attainment was thought
to be reasonably reached by some
considerable concession. The retroactive
extension of these principles always con-
tended for by us and recently adopted by
England-to the consideration of the Ala.
bama claims, places the two nations on
identical ground in relation to these impor.
tant questions of international law and prac
tice. 1t is q eonsummation in which both
countries find their advantage. 1t is tri
umph of American principles and American
diplomacy; and while England yields the in
defensible position she has formerly held il
this especial controversy, she gains substan
TALLY in guarantees of future peace and secu
rity, and in fixing precedent in internationa
morality which will be benefit to civiliza
tion.
The probability is that the point wher,
most is to be apprehended from the virulenc,
of party spirit is not in Washington or il
London, but among our neighbors on thi
continent. The full text of the treaty ha
been copied from the Tribune into all tn,
journals of the Dominion and the Provinces
and has given rise to q wide and heated dis
cussion. We have already given some detail
OF the line Of argument adopted in the attac
as well as the defense of the treaty by tn
Canadian and New Brunswick papers. A NOR
slgnlheant demonstration is that of the legii
latiVe body Of the latter province, which hs
adopted by unanimous vote in both branchs
q refolution condemning those clauses {
the treaty which affect the Dominic
and provincial interests. 1t is a curior
commentary on the statement of III
Nova Scotians that they are ruined by III
concessions made to American fishermen,