The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-07

it be hoisted into power by the dssension
now in the Republican ranks.
4vt-.. The Back Down.
1t is now very generally believed--for
it is semi.oficially confessed at Wash
ington-that Grant has concluded to
concede to the British Government q
virtual withdrawal of the American
claim for indirect damages. After all
Grants bluster and the attitude of ap-
parent determination and dignity which
he had assumed in declaring his purpose
to sustain the ''case" as presented, his
knuokling now to John Boil intensifies
the humiliation and shame Of the ridicu-
lous and dishonorable position in which
he had placed himself and the Govern
ment OF the United States. is vir-
tual acknowledgment that the incorpo-
ration OF the claim for inferential
damages in the American case was not
prompted by an honest conviction Of
their propriety and justice, but was sug-
gested by spirit OF pettifogging Chi
canery, which sought to create capital for
Grants reelection, at the risk of that
shame and dishonor that has come upon
the country. II England could have
been induced, through fear OF war
with the United States. to submit quietly
to be mulcted in the sum Of hundreds of
millions OF dollars, under the claim for
consequential damages, it would have
been a>great feather in Grants cap. His
foreign policy would then have been
considered scarcely less brilliant than
his military record, for, with their eyes
gloating upon English gold, the Ameri-
can people would not have been over
sorupulous in determining the justice of
the demand upon which it was paid, es-
pecially when the defendants themselves
made no serious objections. But Grant
counted without his host. England,
though averse to war, is not more so
than the people OF the United States.
She has oourteously, but none the less
firmly and manfully. protested against
Grants chicanery, and expressed her
unalterable determination not to CONT
nue. the arbitration. unless the prepos-
tercus claims be withdrawn.
Grant stood out for awhile, and gave
out the impression that he would up.
hold the American case as presented
at all hazards. His reputation for bull
dog tenacity persuaded many that he
would be as good as his word, and Eight
it out on this line, if it takes all sum
mer." But England was not to be
bullied, and Grant has been obliged to
succumb. It is very authoritatively re-
ported now that Grant has proposed not
to prosecute the claim for consequential
dauhBo5, 0n the nominal condition that
England pledges herself not to present
claims of a similar character against She
United States. should the position of
the two Governments be reversed. AS
England has oil along declared that the
claims were preposterous and unreason-
able, there is no doubt but that she will
accept the condition, which has been in
serted merely to ease Grants fall little.
Whether England will be satisfied,
though, with the simple understanding
that the claims are not to be prosecuted,
or will demand their absolute withdrawal
from the American cnse, is not so Ger
tain. Judging from the hopeful and
self-satisfied tone in which the matter is
now spoken OF by the English authori-
ties, we feel pretty safe in asserting that
the difficulty has been arranged, or will
soon be arranged, in manner worry
satisfactory to England and the reverse
to Grant.
TERRIBLE AooDENr.-A private letter
from DR.. 81. Edmunds, at Ridgeway,
Fairfield County, communicates this sad
intelligence:
"a sad accident occurred on Saturday
q