The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-25
.,6 the United States.

england and the United States.
NM arriyal Of the Grand High Commits
.,n,crs Of Great Britain to debate WIN
those Of our Government the question OF
the Alabama claims, IS an event OF h'o.n
interest In the history of our relations win
what was once called the mother eo"n|s.
We have no doubt that the result VIII os
settlement, honorable TO both Saoes' Ana
equally to their satisfaction. IL ~ Ao. 9"
wi to be supposed that either desires "a'.
The sharp speeches and defiant oepo,tme"
an onr side. which were met so spunki! y"
tho ether. were only intended 10 lpSpiie
wholesome respect and to secure 'he o.s'
farms. Those who spoke tor INC
Tinted States were coarse enough !"
their blufhng. The English o'pioin"tis's
could see through them very easily, Out
while they did not think there was any
GOOD reason to apprehend war, common
1r,,dence dictated that at least they should
renresept England as ready for war II this
country desired it. SO that information
is cover,ly conveyed in the speeches oil
some, and more directly disclosed III the
remarks of others, Mr.. DIsRAEL1, for IN
stance.
But all will be settled, we are sure, ana
10 war will occur about the Alabama.
Neither country desires war, and there VIII
be none. Nations are not SO ready 10 go 10
war as they were q half-century since. we
shall likely soon receive the message an
uouncins the settlement Of matter that
has thus so recently occasioned good deal
of bravado.
Nevertheless, we venture to predict that
a little more ground will be CONCEDED py
Great Britain than by the United States. IL
is altogether in accordance with the conol-
ton of the two nations that this should
be 90. Great Britain has reached the high
est point in her upward career, and can.
not, in the providential course of national
life. do more in the future than maintain
her position. The next stage in the history
of that great nation must be, it would
seem, a slight decline in the downward
way that all nations must take after reach
ing the climax of their power and rcnoWn.
Indeed, it Is not clear that that step has not
already been taken. The breaks may not
have been put on because the inclination OF
grade is not yet sharp enough to neca II
but the world has no doubt come to the
conclusion that the attitude of England
with regard to the French and Prusslan
war has been detrimental to her prestige.
In this yiew-and us it is not usual for an
aged and ripened power, whose hesltancy
has been productive of embarrassment, to
attempt to retrieve the error by rushing
into a war with dangerous rval-we may
anticipate that as to the matter of given
amount of money Great Britain will not
sickle, and will consider peace cheaply
purchased by "planking down the rhlno."
In addition to the prudential considerations
that are natural to a nation clrcunstanced
as she is, there is Canada SO entirely IN our
grasp that she will expect TO part with ii
as the first act in the course OF hostllities
between her and the United States.
On the other hand, the United States is a
young nation, just beginning to feel its
strength, and so conscious is it of that that
it Is now entirely ready to fight any power
on earth. 1t has recently passed through
the ordeal of Il struggle with the tendency
to disruption at home, and has triumphed
over it. This but assures ii OF it's power to
resist hostility from abroad. So that, full of
conceit OF its prowess, it will be bold in its
demands and firm in its terms. England
will trust to diplomacy, the United States
to assurance and a reckless manifestation Of
Indifference between settlement and fight.
England understands all this well, and
Of course will rather humor youth and i'm
pudence little than engage in strife with 1t.
We might improve the occasion, how
ever, by just Slipping in here remark
which we wish could reach the ears of the
brusque and rather short-sishted politicians
who have their political science much dis
torted by the tricks and impulses of the
civil war, that, in view Of the possibility
even Of foreign war, it would be excel |
lent policy to do all things that can be done |
to harmonize the country by establishing |
equality and contentment amongst the |
States and the people of the Union. This |
policy, good in time Of peace, is vitality |
important in view of the possibility OF |
war. Public men may be vicious, |
they may be vindictive and cruel; but
assuredly they can hardly be 50 blind as to
consider it safe or wise to provoke HOSTILE |
ties with foreign nation while the inter-
nal affairs Of the country are vexed by par
tiahties, and inequalities of civil admins. |
tration that are extremely unjust to large
part of the nation, and well calculated to
excite discomfort and reluctance to rush to
the defence Of Il Government from whose
measures they are thus brought to humilia-
tion and distress.
We trust that the reflections of the men
controlling the affairs OF this nation may be
directed to this grave subject.
Mr.. BLAIR.-The Augusta (Ga.) Constttu-
ttonalist has not seen the official report OF