Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-04-12
Ths LnrIn.AmerIean ComnIssIon.
rFrom me London Times1

They are evidently under the ueiu-
sion that our liability for the Alabama
claims Is a settled matter, snd that
the Commissioners will meet for no
other purpose than TO estimate the
amount Of the penalty. to be exaeted
from US. The opinion expressed by
Afr. Fish TO Lord Clarendon is, as we
feared, q foregone conclusion with q
great part Of the American people.
Mr.. Fish assumed, as the principle
on which the case must be decided,
i'tbat the negligence Of the officers OF
the British government was gross and
inexcusabie and such as indisputably
70 deyolve upon that government full
responsibility" No room remained,
he Thought, for debate on this point,
and It should be taken for granted In
all future negotiations with Great
Britain. IL would seem that by dint
OF mere reiteratiOu this "assump-
tom has taken firm root in the
American mind, and II cannot, there
fore, be too often repeated that Il Is
an assumption which we absolutely
We make no counter as
sumption.
WHY LORD RUSsELL's REFUSAL WAS
-. WITHDRAWN.
We have Withdrawn Lord Russellis
refusal TO take into con-
the question Of our respOn-
and we are willing to submit
our case to the decision Of an Impair
tial arbitrator. II, after hearing all
we have TO urge, such an umpire
should allow the justice Of Mr.. Fish's
we are ready loyalty 70
accent the decision and to consider
further what amends are due. But
until such an independent decision
has been pronounced we hold that
the American government has no
claim upon us whatever.
THE POWERS OF THE JOINT HIGH
COMMISSION.
No proposal, therefore, for damages |
can have any standing ground before |
the Joint High Commission. The |
utmost they can consider Is how the !
question of TespOnsibili- !
Iy Is 10 be settled. They are ineOm- 1
1etent to consider even that question |
themselves for we should never al !
low an issue gTaYel-affeeting the 1
honor Of this country to be Judged /
Nv commission, however respecta- I
1le, representing the two parties in
.erested . nor ought the Americans I
10 regard such body of men as COM
1etent to decide one Of the most inn /
1OFtant points ever raised in interna- !
.ional law. The function Of the Com !
in short, in dealing with I
he Alabama claims will be precisely /
similar to that discharged by Lord /
stanley and Mr.. Reverdy Johnson in I
negotiating their ill-fsted convention. +
The powers Of our Commissioners y
spabIe them to treat FOR an agree
nent as to the mode Of the amicable /
OF the differences between /
"a. IL the United States Commits /
iOners should not be prepared to ad-
nit this reserve on the part Of our
all discussion on the I
question must cease. We beg the
Amerieans, therefore, distinctly to (
Understand that all such language as
We have quoted is beside the mark, \
leeause it begs the only question
which is at present in dispute. y
-HE ATTITUDE RESPECTING PRELIaF-
INABY INQUIRY.
But II the Senators aud politicians
4 the United States misapprehend
,ur attitude respecting the prelimi-
fary inquiry, their error with respect
b the kind OF concessions we might
Ultimately make to them Is simply
mazinR. The policy Of the eessiOn
4 British America to the United
,tatss Is earnestly discussed OF I
curse, n such. q suggestion were
made before our Commissioners they
would take care that il was never
mentioned to them again. But the
senators will do well further to un-
Ierstand that they may just as well /,
Npend earnest discussion upon the
.oiiey Of -annexing this island to the
continent of America
he ONLY WAYS BY WHICH ENGLAND
rrLL YIELD HER oOLoSIAL DOSuSIoSs.
If any portion Of our colonial do
Unions Is ever Joined to the United I
ltates IL can only be in one Of two
rays. 1t must be either at the ex-
ress wish Of the eclOnists, orit must ID
e effected by fOrcible annexation as !
be result Of q war. We should never
.ir a finger to retain the colonists If
hey desired to throw of their ale |
lance. They are absolutely their
wn masters in this respect. But so ]
ing as they wish to retain their con-
ection with US, and are willing to (
ear their fair share Of the sacrifices
may involve, they may rely on our
ever entertaining a suggestion TO !
bandOn either them or their rights. {
RE PRUssIAN IDEA "wON'T GO
down. WITH ENGLAND.
It is singular that the idea Of ceding j
,rritory, and transferring the allie I
lance OF its inhabitant without re- I
ard TO their wishes, should appear 50 I
atural and harmless in the New /
World lust as il has lost all eOunte- I
anee in the Old, Prussia, indeed, has
sized Alsace and Lorraine by the
word. But we know what was
lought last autumn Of Of a cool pro-
osal to remodel the map Of Europe
= a private agreement between two '
lvereign Powers. The English peO-
le must have lost oil sense Of honor !
efore they listen to proposals to make
way with their colonies TO suit their 5
alisbury would admit that we are [
ery far from such q pass as yet But
e have not yet touched the limit Of /
SENATORIAL ExTRAvAGANCE.
A resolution has been actually in ,
-odueed into the Senate, discussed 1
nd referred 70 the Committee on {
Oreign Relations, which recon-
lends the Commission ''tO take into
lnsideration the fact that the posses I
on by Great Britain Of the northern Z
srtion Of the Continent Of North q
merica is, in its very nature. an OBJ '
aele TO the permanent harmony OF 1
le two governments and q standing 5
lcitement to persons anxious to in Z
Dive them I'm war" There is cool G
ess about this suggestion which d
,uld not be surpassed. IL can only i
! compared TO q landowner inform
II his nelghbOFs that the possession e
/ land in the country by any one but 5
imself will be q permanent obstacle {
harmony between them, and that O
ley will, therefore, find it better
lietly to give him possession Of their
Olding.