New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-10

in most cases they have now assumed posi-
ton of candid expectancy which Is much more
reasonable. The tone of tho debate was
doubtless instrumental In bringing about this
change. As long as they feared policy
of menace or coercion to compel the
acceptance of the Treaty by the Dominion,
the Canadians were lashing themselves up to
a fine frenzy to resist this outrage upon their
rights and dignity. But in every word which
was said in debate by the representatives of
the Government and the Commission, there
was the most careful disavowal of
any intention to interfere in the
least with the fullest exercise of the
constitutional privileges of the Dominion
Parliament in its treatment of the question.
Lord Granville said it would be the duty of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies to
urge upon the Canadian Government the pro-
priety of adopting an arrangement which he
believed would be so honorable and
advantageous to them but that this
would be done in terms of the
greatest possible respect, and of the
highest regard for the autonomy of the Do
mnion. Lord Derby deprecated any attempt to
influence the vote of the Canadian Parliament
by any Government pressure, and the Earl OF
Carnarvon who was formerly Colonial Min
lister, admitted the Improperly of saying any
thing to PREJUDICE the decision of the Canadi;
ans. Lord Cairns and Lord RipOn, from
different sides of the House, were equally
decided in their assertions of the right of the
Canadian Legislators to a free and untram-
meled consideration of the matter though diff
fering essentially as to the Treaty itself. And,
in short, every one who spoke gave utterance to
the same liberal and respectful sentiments.
These expressions have had great weight
upon the opposition journals in Canada,
and some of them, which were originally
ready to accept any responsibility in their
hostility to the Treaty, now speak OF 1t entire
ly dispassiOnately as a mere question OF equiv
alents, and intimate that if they lose
anything by the Treaty they can look to
the Home Government for compensation.
All preliminaries being now favOrably dis
posed of, the question of the appointment of
Commissioners to represent the United States
i'm the several Boards of Arbitration created by
the Treaty is now to be considered. The
names which have been already mentioned for
the Geneva Conference are of the very highest
character; but it may well be doubted
whether Mr. Fish or Mr.. Adams would be willing
to accept position of so much labor and so
little 6ciat. With either of these or with Mr..
Bancroft Davis, who has also been referred to
in the same connection, it is needless to say
that the interests and the honor of the country
would be safe. There is little doubt that some
one will be chosen for Geneva who will repre-
sent us worthlly and ably; the danger is that the
equally important appointments on this side
of the Atlantic may be given to men of inferior
caliber. remnant of ancient subservi-
ence to foreign influences still induces our
diplomatic aspirants to prefer the posts of
idleness in Europe to the places of usefulness
upon this continent. Ii is not long since
very worthy gentleman called upon
the Senate to protect him against
the outrage of promotion from Stockholm,
where he was doing nothing but contemplate
the midnight sun, to Bogota, where very
important negotiation was in progress. The
true field of American diplomacy is in the
Western Hemisphere but until this fact is
recognized by the Government and the office
seekers, we must continue with representa-
tives to our sister Republics who are unfit for
ANYTHING at home. We hope no such errors
will be made in the appointment of our
Commissioners who are to settle our inter-
national affairs with our Northern neighborS.
They should be men not inferior in culture,
ability, and tact to the late High Commission.