Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-02-21
Public Sentiment on the War
FURRY"

Public Sentiment on the War
Furry
kvery lover of peace has reason &C. r5 Dice at
shc general attitude Of the American people
Il reference to the recent hasty outburst into
which Engiand's impulzive prime minister
vss provoked by the taunts Of biz VI lY
antagonist Disraeli Undoubtedly there are
chose among US who cherish feelings towards
England such as are seldom known save ID
feuds between individuals feelings Of deep
lasting hate and il is evident that such men
are ready to seize eagerly any Pretext fer
using caustic and defiant language, magnI-
flying grievances, and pushing misunder-
standing on to alienation, and alienation on
20 war, Undoubtedly, also, there are those
who see, il the blood which would flow la y
strife with a foreign nation, the cement
which would unite the North and the South
together in more than the old-time concord.
Undoubtedly, too, there are, among the
cjrresp ondents and reporters upon whom eii-
tors depend largely for making their papers
attractive and spicy, and so saieabIe, not a
few fippant ink-slingera, so devoid Of con-
scientious scruples, so reckless Of the evil
consequences of their words, as 10 readily
put the most excitiag and alarming inJerpre-
ia ion upon the rumors they pick up, and
with boyish bravado, fume and threaten. and
call exaspersting names.
In view Of the existence among US OF
considerable number of such people, It is all
the moro surprising and gratifying that the
expression of public sentiment given in the
papers of the day, and through other chan
nels, proves to be 50 generally temperate,
dignifed, calm and wise.
Men seem to be obeylng the charge often
given TO children, -" When angry, count
ten before you speak" Most are doing bet
Ter than this,-refusing to get angry till they
know the actual state of the case. The gen
ersl voice seems to be, Let Us wait and see.
- For those unacquainted with all the facts
-(and it is to be noticed that the men on both
sides who arr informed in regard to the mat
ter in dispute are very chary Of public utter
q ices, 80 to clench fists and buster is tie
height of folly. In the settlement rs so
c complicated differences it Il not at all strange
that Misunderstanding should arise, without
blame attaching to either party. They are
Of frequent occurrence II the ordinary course
OF simple business transactions. Men often
honestly attach different meanings to the
same words, as even the various interprcta-
tions given to the constitution of the United
States by 1ur own countrymon testify.
Nov. h.oy,rv 90, N r-.r,If--
spirit The members Of the High C1mm.--
zion consulting together in this spirit planned
peaceful way Of escape from the most rer
picking complications Surely, il the greater
differences between the two nations have been
thus smicably placed IN the way or final
adjustment, any minor differences which may
arise IN the process Of that adjustment. i
discussed in the same spirit, can be, without
serious difficulty. honorably and satisfactorily
settled
Does not the extensive prevalence Of such
sentiments as these prove that cur people
have made good progress towards that con
dition of moral balance in whish alone we
can hope 70 attain that most desirable con
summation, the settlement Of disputes
between nations by Courts of Arbitration.
aud the utter abolition of war
With the public mind remaining IN such
an attitude we can readily believe tha,. If,
upon reviewing the negotiations and decision
at Washington, the representatives Of our
government and Of England, now at Geneva
conclude our " case TO exceed IN some re
spects what was agreed upon, it will meet
with the general approval of our people that
our claim for indirect damages should not
be pressed. And even if our representatives
should feel bound to insist that their . case y
contained nothing but what was in entire
accordance with the stipulations made at
Washington, still they might, with the en-
dorsement of the judieious and far seeing, -
las that distinguished scholar and authority
upon international law, President WOolsey,
suggests waive, for The present, the pre-
sentation of that claim leaving its settlement
for some future tribunal constituted for that
sole purpose.
For thus the Treaty Of Washington, in
which, as happy augury of the dawn Of
peace throughout the world. all civilized
peoples have rejoiced, would be made in the
main a triumphant success, the claim for
consequential damages itself would be made
surer of ultimate, easy and speedy adjust
ment by the remembrance Of the happy issue
Of the negotiations concerning the other
claims, and the war-cursed nations would
have new hope of the early establishment OF
q permanent international Court of Arbitra-
ton, by which disputes between government
should be adjusted without violence, rapinC
and bloodshed, as disputes between indiyid-
uals are now settled in our civil courts
And it seems as if our people saw on the
other hand that if, through our meeting
England's unexpected statements in regard
70 the claims in question with any crustiness
or doggedness, or Dragging defiance, or Shy
lock sharpness, that treaty should be utterly
nullifed, the hand upon the dial of progress.
would be suddenly reversed in its movement
and the newborn hopes of the civilized
world would be crushed to earth.
The motion of Gen. Banks to have an 10
veetigation into the Northern Pacific railroad
tsok everybody by surprise, for nobody sup
posed that corporation needed investigation
Gen. Banks himself says in r,rivat ia couversa