The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-23

anu peace, we were uSpOSed 10 exact inc pen
alties of war. This is the view of the English,
and this view is eagerly pressed by the English
newspapers in America. Because the English
people are angry and passionate and, through
the timidity Of the Ministry and the apathy OF
their press, absolutely ignorant of the charac-
ter of these negotiations because Mr. Glad
stone lacks the moral courage to tell his coun-
trymen the truth and assume the responsibility
OF the truth, our government is censured as
having deceived England and taken an un-
manly advantage of its generosity.
The third landmark, which the English
press at home and abroad fails to see, is that
England herself presented claim for conse-
quential damages against the United States
under circumstances that reflect little honor
upon the Ministry. By our constitution we
absolutely forbade the payment of the confed-
crate debt in any shape or form. When
the correspondence took place between Mr..
Fish and Sir Edward Thornton, preceding the
Joint High Commission, our Secretary was
careful to insert an express stipulation that no
claim for the payment of such Confederate
bonds as had been purchased by Englishmen
should be pressed on the part Of England.
To this stipulation Sir Edward assented, and
it became solemn compact between two
nations. And yet when the Board of Asses
sors met at Washington this claim for the pay
ment by the United States of Confederate
bonds, purchased by Englishmen who gave
their money to aid in destroying our govern
11u fad oh
regard it as claim for consequential damages,
and our government pleaded and accepted
judgment. Now, here was o claim infinitely
more annoying to us than any claim
we have made could be to Eng
land; claim that if admitted might have
led to our assumption of the whole
Confederate loan. Did Mr. Fish publish this
claim to the world? Did he excite the press
to invective and denunciation? Did he
pander to an excited and sensitive public SEN
timent by creating prejudice against England?
Did he call upon the people to resent the dis
honor attempted to be put upon the country?
Did he seek a popularity that would have
swiftly come to him by perilling the treaty?
He protested against the course Of the British
in presenting the claim, and met the obliga-
tons of the treaty by pleading before the
tribunal to it's merits and accepting judgment
He did what he expected Mr.. Gladstone to do
The Judgment was in our favor in this in
favor of England at Geneva. ALI Of this is
matter of record-of plain, intelligent history.
It throws living light upon the whole discus
sion and does great honor 70 our management
of the question.
We shall be glad, in the interest of peace
and magnanimity, to have this whole question
settled in manner that will be honorable to
both nations. We deplore the differences that
have overshadowed the two countries with the
darkest clouds that have been seen since 1912.
We mourn for that harmony and good feeling
and alliance that but yesterday seemed to draw
America and England together as one nation
to bring them nearer than at any time
since the Revolution. We shrank from the
calamity-we might say the crime-of war be-
tween the great English speaking nations.
We saw with pain the paralysis and atrophy
of business that seemed to grow from
year to year, and the interruption of
which has cost us more in money
the Geneva Tribunal. Above all, we grieved
to think that the principle Of arbitration, as q
substitute for war, which seemed about to be
hallowed into compact of international law,
should be cast aside. And we felt that the end
of the discussion would be to throw both ma
hool Coz az sy, %ho
path Of progress, and postpone indefinitely
the achievement Of that splendid destiny for
which true men in both countries have prayed
SO long. And if Mr.. Field and the volunteer
curbstone statesmen in Washington can show
us any way to avoid what we fear and undo
are among the blessed. But we cannot hope
for peace through dishonor. We cannot
submit to the imputation of having in
any way deceived England, especially when
the record shows the contrary Mr.. Fish is
nothing General Grant is nothing. Let
them be hurled out of place. if it can be
shown they are in any way responsible for the
misunderstanding. But no such responsibility
attaches to them. So far as we can see they
have shown delicacy and kindness If the
treaty is to stand England must recede. If, as
we fear, it will fall, then we are simply where
we were before it was made, no better and no
worse, conscious that we have done our part
in an honorable, brotherly, generous spirit,
and waiting calmly for rulers to arise in Eng
land capable Of understanding the two coun-
tries and of making treaty with America,
honorable to both nations, and not the means
of insult to either.
The Proposed New Atlantic Cable.